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| "PRESENT PERFECT TENSE" |
Usage:
1. To talk about a completed past action at a non-specific time.
Example: I have read that book before.
2. It is used to express personal experience there is not a definite time given.
Example: I have never been to Japan.
3. To talk about something that began in the past and continues to the present.
Example: I have studied at this school since last june.
STRUCTURE:
(+) S + Have/has + Past Participle + O
(-) S + Have/has + Not + Past Participle + O
(?) Have/has + S + Past Participle + O +?
| Positive | Negative | Interrogative or Question |
I/You/We/They | I have written my letter. | I have not written my letter. | Have you written your letter? |
He/She/It | She has written her letter. | She has not written her letter. | Have you written your letter? |
For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
ADVERBS
1. For refers to a period of time.
Example: I have known him for many years.
2. Since refers to the time when the event started.
Example: I have learned English since 10 years old.
3. Just means that something happened a moment ago.
Example: She has just left the school.
4. Already means that something happens earlier than expected.
Example: He has already handed in the assignment.
5. Yet means that up to the present time something has not happened (only in question or negative sentences).
Example: He hasn’t sent the letter yet.
PAST PERFECT TENSE
Usage:
We use the past perfect to talk about an action which happened before another action in the past.
STRUCTURE:
(+) S + Had + Past Participle + O
(-) S + Had + Not + Past Participle + O
(?) Had + S + Past Participle + O +?
Example:
1. I hadn’t studied English when she came to my house last night.
2. He had washed his uncle’s car before his uncle arrived last Sunday.
3. Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
Adverb:
1. Last night.
2. Last week.
3. Last month.
4. Last Saturday.
5. Yesterday.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE
Usage:
We use future perfect tense to express an activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future.
Structure:
(+) S + Will/Shall + Have + Past Participle + O
(-) S + Will/Shall + Not + Have + Past Participle + O
(?) Shall/Will + S + Have + Past Participle + O +?
| Positive | Negative | Interrogative or Question |
I/You/We/They (Will/Shall) | I will have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow. | I won’t have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow. | Will you have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow? |
He/She/It (Will) | She will have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow. | She won’t have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow. | Will she have studied English by 10 o’clock tomorrow? |
Adverb:
1. By 7 o’clock tonight.
2. By 10 o’clock tomorrow.
3. In a week.
