Perfect Tense Verbs

Perfect Tense Verbs

That's right, verbs have even more tenses

• And they can still time travel

What's the perfect tense?

• It's one action that's been started or completed before another action.

There are three types:

• Past Perfect

• Present Perfect

• Future Perfect

Let's break them down

Past Perfect

• Past perfect shows an action that happened before another past action.

• To form the past perfect tense, use the helping verb had with the past tense of the main verb.

Past Perfect Examples

• Before going on vacation, we had read travel books about Italy.

• Mom had bought museum tickets before arriving in Florence.

• Notice how had is before our main verb. This lets us know the time of the action taking place.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the past perfect?

• My dad has taught me how to say "hello" in Italian.

• I will have visited many of the art museums.

• We visited a site that our guide had suggested.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the past perfect?

• My brother has eaten gelato every day so far.

• Before our visit, Jill had planned to see Venice.

• My mom has traveled a lot over the years.

Present Perfect

• The present perfect tense shows an action that happened in the past and continues in the present.

• To form it, use the helping verb has or have with the past tense of the main verb.

Present Perfect Examples

• Since I was a child, I have collected pictures of Italy.

• For years, my family has wanted to visit Florence.

• Notice how have and has are before our main verb. This lets us know the time of the action taking place.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the present perfect?

• My dad has taught me how to say "hello" in Italian.

• I will have visited many of the art museums.

• We visited a site that our guide had suggested.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the present perfect?

• My brother has eaten gelato every day so far.

• Before our visit, Jill had planned to see Venice.

• My mom had traveled a lot over the years.

Future Perfect

• The future tense shows an action that will happen before another future action.

• To form the future perfect tense, use the helping verb will have with the past tense of the main verb.

Future Perfect Examples

• By the time we reach Florence, I will have studied its art history.

• We will have completed our tour of the Duomo by lunchtime.

• Notice how will have is before our main verb. This lets us know the time of the action taking place.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the future perfect?

• My dad has taught me how to say "hello" in Italian.

• I will have visited many of the art museums.

• We visited a site that our guide had suggested.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the future perfect?

• My brother has eaten gelato every day so far.

• Before our visit, Jill had planned to see Venice.

• By the time we leave Italy, we will have tasted more than 20 different kinds of pasta.

What patterns do you see when making the perfect tense?

Patterns

• It will use the helping verb had, have/has, and will have

• The main verb will be in the past tense (-ed ending or the past tense form (e.g. buy to bought in the past))

PRACTICE TIME!

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the past perfect?

• Allison and Ben have sent postcards to their friends.

• I saw paintings that I had learned about in art class.

• Soon, I will have taken over 100 photographs.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the present perfect?

• Allison and Ben have sent postcards to their friends.

• I saw paintings that I had learned about in art class.

• Soon, I will have taken over 100 photographs.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is using the future perfect?

• Allison and Ben have sent postcards to their friends.

• I saw paintings that I had learned about in art class.

• Soon, I will have taken over 100 photographs.