Do you know what the perfect tense is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on perfect tenses, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Walden, there are many different forms of verbs in the English language:
Bare infinitive tense
Present perfect progressive/continuous tense
Subjunctive tense
Simple past tense
Past perfect progressive tense
Indicative tense
Gerund tense or gerund phrase
Conditional progressive tense
Conditional perfect tense
Future perfect progressive tense
Future progressive tense
Imperative tense
Future perfect tense
Conditional tense
Simple future tense
To-infinitive tense
Simple conditional tense
Past progressive/continuous tense
Past participle tense
Present perfect tense
Perfect passive tense
Present participle tense
Simple present tense
Present progressive tense
Past perfect tense
Conditional perfect progressive tense
Imperfect tense
Today we will take a look at the perfect tense. According to Grammar Monster, the perfect tense is a category of verb tense used to describe completed actions, and s sometimes called the complete tense. The perfect verb tenses include the past perfect tense, the present perfect tense, and the future perfect tense. These conjugations can refer to the recent past, an unspecified time, a specific time, and more. The perfect tenses or perfect aspect is formed using a form of the auxiliary verb “to have” and the past participle of the main verb. There are some irregular verbs that use a different form of the verb, but for the most part the past participle of a regular verb is used in English grammar. The perfect tense is used in translations all over the world into languages like Italian in Italy, French in Canada and France, and German in Berlin, Germany. Perfect-tense verbs are very versatile.
What are examples of the perfect tense?
Below you will find examples of present perfect tense, the past perfect tense, and the future perfect form of a verb used in the following ways from Your Dictionary and Soft Schools:
Jeff tried to hide the vase because he had broken it. (past perfect)
I have put the money in the machine. (present perfect)
The bus had just left when we got to the stop.
I had just gone outside when it started to rain.
The teacher asked if we had studied for the exam.
By the time I am 8, I will have saved over $,000. (future perfect)
He had just put the dog on the leash when we got there.
By the time the show is over, Marie will have danced for 40 minutes. (future perfect)
I wished I had told the truth.
My sister has taken martial arts lessons for six years. (present perfect)
The usher asked if we had purchased our tickets.
I had fallen asleep before eight o’clock.
I had watched almost all of the show before the power went off. (past perfect)
Anthony had met Ryan before you introduced him to us at the party.
You had studied Italian before you moved to Rome.
They lost many of the games because they had not practiced enough.
They had gotten engaged before last year.
He had never played football until last week.
She had just left the scene when the ambulance arrived.
Will had won the race every year until this year. (past perfect)
My neighbor asked if we had seen her dog.
We wished we had purchased the winning ticket.
By the time I get my paycheck, my bank account will have dipped into the negative (future perfect)
She wished she had seen her friend.
She had established her company before 2008.
I had finished my homework before mom called me for dinner. (past perfect)
The boss had said it would be a long meeting.
She stayed up all night because she had received bad news.
The class has been outside for recess. (present perfect)
The boy wished he had asked another question.
Do you think the lunchroom will have cooked enough pizza for all of us? (future perfect)
What are other grammar terms?
There are many different literary and grammatical techniques and devices that you might see when you are reading prose or poetry. It is important to recognize these terms because they are always used for some purpose. Knowing these devices can help readers understand the author’s deeper meaning and why they are using such a device. Take a look at the below list of grammatical devices from OED and see how many you know! Then try researching ones that are unfamiliar to you.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
December 4, 2021
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