Perfect Tenses¶

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future Perfect

The Past Perfect tense is used to talk about an action that was completed before another action or specific time in the past.

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Subject`+`had`+`V3`	I had played with my dog before dinner.
Negative	`Subject`+`had not`+`V3`	I had not played with my dog before dinner.
Question	`had`+`Subject`+`V3`?	Had I played with my dog before dinner?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Object`+`had been`+`V3`	The game had been played by the team.
Negative	`Object`+`had not been`+`V3`	The game had not been played.
Question	`had`+`Object`+`been`+`V3`?	Had the game been played?

Grammar Focus

Had — indicates the action was completed before another past action
Been — used before V3 in passive to show the action was completed before another past event

The Present Perfect tense is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past but are connected to the present.

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Subject`+`have/has`+`V3`	I have played with my dog today.
Negative	`Subject`+`have/has not`+`V3`	I have not played with my dog today.
Question	`have/has`+`Subject`+`V3`?	Have I played with my dog today?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Object`+`have/has been`+`V3`	The game has been played by the team today.
Negative	`Object`+`have/has not been`+`V3`	The game has not been played today.
Question	`have/has`+`Object`+`been`+`V3`?	Has the game been played today?

Grammar Focus

Have/Has — have with I/you/we/they; "has" with he/she/it
Been — used before V3 in passive, shows the action is still relevant to the present

The Future Perfect tense is used to describe actions that will have been completed by a certain point in the future.

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Subject`+`will`+`have`+`V3`	I will have played with my dog by the time you arrive.
Negative	`Subject`+`will not (won't)`+`have`+`V3`	I will not have played with my dog by the time you arrive.
Question	`will`+`Subject`+`have`+`V3`?	Will I have played with my dog by the time you arrive?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`Object`+`will`+`have/has been`+`V3`	The game will have been played by the team by the time you arrive.
Negative	`Object`+`will not (won't)`+`have/has been`+`V3`	The game will not have been played by the time you arrive.
Question	`will`+`Object`+`have/has been`+`V3`?	Will the game have been played by the time you arrive?

Grammar Focus

Will have — indicates an action will be completed before a specific future time
Been — used before V3 in passive to show the action will have been completed before a future event