Perfect Tense

Present perfect tense

Usage:

1.    To talk about a completed past action at a non-specific time.

Example: I have read that book before.

2.   It is used to express personal experience there is not a definite time given.

Example: I have never been to Japan. 

3.   To talk about something that began in the past and continues to the present.

Example: I have studied at this school since last june.

Structure :

(+)s+have/has+V3+o

(-)s+have/has+not+V3+o

(?)have/has+s+V3+o?

	Positive	Negative	Question
I/you/we/they	I have written my letter	I have not written my letter	Have I written my letter?
He/she/it	She has written her letter	She has not written her letter	Has she written her letter

For irregular verb, use the participle from(see list of irregular verb, 3^rd columm). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Adverbs:

1.   For refers to a period of time.

Example: I have known him for many years.

2. Since refers to the time when the events started.

Example: I have learned English since 10 years old.

3. Already means that something happens earlier that expected.

Example: He has already handed in the assignment.

4. Just means that something happens a moment ago.

Example: She has just left the school.

5. Yet means that up to the present time something has not happened (only in question or negative sentences).

Example: he hasn’t sent the letter yet.

Past perfect tense

Usage:

We use the past perfect to talk about an action which happened before another action in the past

Structure:

 (+)s+have/has+been+v.ing+o/c

(-)s+have/has+not+been_v.ing+o/c

(?)have/has+s+been+v.ing+o/c?

Example:

1.    I hadn’t studied English when she came to my house last night.

2.   He had washed his uncle’s car before his uncle arrived last Sunday

3.   Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?

Adverb:

1.    Last night

2.   Last week

3.   Last month

4.   Last Saturday

5.   Yesterday

Future perfect tense

Usage:

We use future perfect tense to express an activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future.

Structure:

(+)s+will/shall+have+past participle+o

(-)s+will/shall+not+have+past participle+o

(?)shall/will+s+have+past participle+o?

	Positive	Negative	Question
I/you/we/they (will/shall)	I will have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow	I won’t have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow	Will you have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow?
He/she/it        (will)	She will have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow	She won’t have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow	Will you have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow?

Adverb:

1.    By 7 o’clock tonight

2.   By 10 o’clock tomorrow

3.   In a week