Present Perfect, Past Perfect, & Future Perfect

February 1, 2011

Present Perfect
Something happened (or never happened) before now, at unspecified time in the past.

[has/have + past participle]

For Example

They have moved into a new apartment I have never seen snow.

Ever, Never, Already, Yet, Still, & Just

are frequently used with the present perfect.

Describe your experience

Have you ever celebrated Halloween?

I have driven many times in the past month.

Since or for since +a particular time for +a duration of time

We often use since or for to expresses a situation that began in the past and continues to the present
I have been here since seven oclock. I have lived in Vancouver for 2years.

Check if task is completed

Still waiting for the action to happen.
Have you eaten your lunch? Yes, I have eaten my lunch. No, I havent eaten it yet.

Multiple Actions at Different Times

To talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. The army has attacked that city five times. I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.

Active / Passive

Many tourists have visited that castle. Active

That castle has been visited by many tourists. Passive

Present Perfect Continuous

The tense express the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues action to the present. [has/have + been + ~ing]
You have been waiting here for two hours. Have you been waiting here for two hours?

Past Perfect

We are talking about two different events at two different times in the past.
[had + past participle]
I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Saipan. I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

Duration Before Something in the Past

We talk about something started in the past and continued another in the past.

We had had that car for ten years before it broke down. By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years

Specific Times with the Past Perfect

She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time

She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

You had previously studied English before you moved to New York. Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?

Active / Passive
George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Active Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive

Past Perfect Continuous

Something started in the past and has continued up until another time in the past.

[had been + ~ing]

She had been working at that company for three years. She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

Future Perfect
Something will happen before a specific time in the future.
[will have + past participle] The train will leave the station at 9am. You will arrive at the station at 9.15am. When you arrive, the train will have left.

Future Perfect Continuous

[will have been + ~ing]

Something will continue up until a particular event time in the future.

You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives. He will be tired when he arrives. He will have been
travelling for 24 hours. .

Adverb Placement
always, only, never, ever, still, & just.
You will only have learned a few words. Will you only have learned a few words? You are only going to have learned a few words. Are you only going to have learned a few words?

Active / Passive

They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active The project will have been completed before the deadline. Passive

Summary
Present Perfect describes unspecific time in the past before now. Past Perfect is talking about two different events at two different times in the past. Something happened before a specific time in the past.

Future Perfect shows something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Reference
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentp erfect.html English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar edurizon.com/about-2/my-delta-assignments/