THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE AND

THE PAST PERFECT TENSEWAJ3022 : ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY 1

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

THE PAST PERFECT TENSE

• We use the present perfect tense, like the simple past tense to talk about completed actions.

• Patrick has conducted a workshop for young working adults. (completed action with no exact time)

• The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

• We can use the present perfect tense with words like since and for to refer to an action that began in the past and is still going on at the point of speaking.

• I have studied in this college for five years. (I am still there)

• We use the past perfect tense for an action or situation that happened earlier, and the simple past tense for the action or situation that took place later.

• The secretary had prepared all the reports.

• We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

• The government has become more interested in arts education.

• The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.

• We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

• Our son has learned how to read

• We use the past perfect tense with time words and phrases such as always and more than once to refer to repeated actions in the past.

• Mom had always coaxed us to eat more vegetables when we were young.

THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

THE PAST PERFECT TENSE

HAVE / HAS + past participle

HAD + past participle

The army has attacked that city five times.

You had studied English before you moved to New York.

EXERCISE1. I have seen that movie six times in the last month.2. We were not able to get a hotel room because

we had not booked in advance3. My car has broken down three times this week.4. Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had

visited the city several times.5. I did not have any money because I had lost my

wallet.