The Perfect AspectThe Present Perfect, The Past Perfect and the Future

Perfect

The Perfect Aspect is used for a past The Perfect Aspect is used for a past happening which is seen in relation to a later happening which is seen in relation to a later

time or event. time or event.

The Perfect Aspect is used for a past The Perfect Aspect is used for a past happening which is seen in relation to a later happening which is seen in relation to a later

time or event. time or event.

This morning, I have drunk three cups of coffee.

Past actionPast actionPast actionPast action

Present timePresent timePresent timePresent time

The Present Perfect

By ten o’clock this morning, I had drunk three cups of coffee.

Past actionPast actionPast actionPast action

Past timePast timePast timePast time

The Past Perfect

By ten o’clock tomorrow morning, I will have drunk three cups of coffee.

Past actionPast actionPast actionPast action

future timefuture timefuture timefuture time

The Future Perfect

All three perfect tenses—present, past and future— can be used in the continuous form:

I have been drinking

I had been drinking

I will have been drinking

The continuous form indicates the The continuous form indicates the (limited) duration of an event and (limited) duration of an event and

that the event might not be that the event might not be complete.complete.

The continuous form indicates the The continuous form indicates the (limited) duration of an event and (limited) duration of an event and

that the event might not be that the event might not be complete.complete.

The Simple Present Perfect

• actions occuring at an indefinite time in the past; She has eaten at that restaurant.

• actions occurring in an incomplete period of time; I have done my homework today.

• incomplete actions; they have been in that restaurant for two hours (or since 8:00 o’clock).

• recent actions; they have just finished eating.

The Simple Past Perfect

• an action which occurred before another action past time or action;

Before he started breakfast, he (had) made a big pot of coffee.

After she (had) corrected her students’ exams, she entered the marks on her computer.

When Stephanie arrived at the arena, the team had finished its practice.

The Simple Future Perfect

• an action which will be completed before another future time or action;

By the time we next see each other, I will have graduated from college.

The Simple Present Perfect vs. The Present Perfect Continuous

The Simple Present Perfect

The Present Perfect Continuous

Incomplete period of

time

Incomplete actions

Indefinite time She has eaten at that She has eaten at that restaurant.restaurant.

She has been eating She has been eating poorly.poorly.

I have done my homework today.

They have been They have been studying hard studying hard this this

yearyear . . They have been in that

restaurantfor two hours.

We have been We have been dancing dancing for hoursfor hours..

Unlike the Present Perfect Simple, the Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the;

• duration of an action; She has been sleeping poorly (for a couple of weeks now).

• continuation of an action; They have been studying hard this year (as they always have).

• temporariness of an action; We have been dancing for hours (we will need to stop soon).

The Past Perfect Continuous

• an ongoing action which occurred before another past time or action; It had been snowing heavily for two days when the police finally closed the roads.

The Future Perfect Continuous

• an ongoing action which will be completed before another future time or action; By the time I finish College, I will have been studying for more than a decade!

Present perfect vs.simple past

1. I (attend, not) ______________ any parties since I came here.

haven’t attended

Present perfect vs. simple past

2. Al (go) ___________ to a party at Sally’s apartment last Saturday night.

went

Present perfect vs.simple past

3. Bill (arrive) ______________ here three days ago.

arrived

Present perfect /progressive?

Epidemiologists (warn)_________ that the next pandemic could sicken one in every three people on the planet.

Present perfect or progressive?

Epidemiologists have warned that the next pandemic could sicken one in every three people on the planet.

Present perfect or progressive?

Epidemiologists (warn)_________ for some time that the next pandemic could sicken one in every three people on the planet.

Present perfect or progressive?

Epidemiologists have been warning for some time that the next pandemic could sicken one in every three people on the planet.

Future perfect simple or continuous?

They (talk) __________________ for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.

Future perfect simple or continuous?

They They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.

Past perfect simple or continuous?

(Study you)_____________English before you moved to New York in 2005?

Past perfect simple or continuous?

Had you studied English before you moved to New York in 2005?

Past perfect simple or continuous?

Had you studied English before you moved to New York in 2005?

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