Posted by: Carlo A. Sangutan
Sources: English Plus A Communicative Approach by Ida Yap Patron
English Grammar Notes c/o Prof. Rufina C. Esagre
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This module intends to let the students:
- distinguish and identify what perfect tenses have expressed;
- complete sentences using correct tenses of the verb; and
- differentiate perfect tenses from simple tenses.
Introduction
"Practice makes perfect. Yet nobody's perfect. So why practice?" This is what Ai Ai de las Alas quoted in her movie, "Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat." What a funny quote as how she said it but what she quoted is a truth. Everyone around the world aims to be perfect but no one ever stepped to that level. Some of us often describe individuals that they are perfect. Others idolize a person for they think that idols are perfect. Again, nobody is perfect. But in English grammar, being perfect is described to the tenses of the verbs.
Language Focused
The third set of tenses is the perfect tenses. This set is also divided into three: present perfect, past perfect and future perfect tenses.
Q: If we talk about present perfect tense, how is it formed?
The present perfect tense is formed by using either has or have and the past participle form of the verb.
Examples:
☻has + win(past participle) = has won
☻have + finish(past participle) = have finished
Q: What does it express?
This tense is used to express:
1. An action that began in the past and continues to the present.
Examples:
☻Benjamin Suarez has won in the elections consistently since 1990.
☻The school has granted scholarship since its foundation.
2. An action that took place in the past on conditions that the definite time in the past is not mentioned.
Examples:
☻He has gone around the world.
☻I have seen the rock opera, Tommy.
3. An action that has just been completed. (The word 'just' is usually seen.)
Examples:
☻Jasmine has just finished compiling a comprehensive report on the life and ways of Igorots.
☻The delegates have just voted in favor of the parliamentary form of government.
Q: For further knowledge about present perfect tense, what are some time expressions that are commonly used to express its tense?
The time expressions with the present tense are:
1. Since + a time reference shows that the action began in the past and continues to the present.
2. For + a time reference shows the duration of the time the action has been going on.
3. Expressions like recently, lately, from time to time, and all frequency adverbs when used with the present perfect tense indicate an indefinite past time.
4. Other time expressions commonly used with the present perfect tense are: already, yet, and just.
*already (w/ the present perfect tense) → means that the action has been completed ahead of time
*yet → means "up to this time" (affirmative) or "not up to this time" (negative)
*just → expresses an action completed in the immediate past or just completed.
Q: What makes it different from the time expressions used with the simple past tense?
The time expressions used with the simple past tense express a definite past time.
1. A time reference + ago indicates the length of time measured from the present into the past.
2. Time expressions like yesterday, last year, in 2008, when I was 2 years old indicate a definite past time.
Q: There is also what we call past perfect tense. How is it formed?
The past perfect tense is formed by adding had(past form of have) to the past participle form of the verb.
Examples:
☻had + tame(past participle) = had tamed
☻had + lose(past participle) = had lost
Q: What does it express?
This tense is used to express the earlier of two past actions. In other words, if one action happened before another action in the past, the past perfect tense is used in the first action and the simple past tense in the second action. Since there are two past actions being referred to, a complex sentence or two clauses are produced. The connectives before, after, or when may be used to join the two clauses.
Examples:
☻Ernesto Maceda had been a cabinet member before he became a senator.
☻Mr. Gomez received another loan after he had settled his final obligation.
☻He had understood the value of loving and caring when he left the fox.
Q: What can be figured out from the examples given above?
First Sentence : had been is the 1st action and became is the 2nd action
Second Sentence : had settled is the 1st action and received is the 2nd action
Third Sentence : had understood is the 1st action and left is the 2nd action
From these sentences, the first action does not always come at the beginning of the sentence. Sometimes, the second action begins the sentence like what is stated in the second sentence.
Q: Aside from the two perfect tenses, there is also future perfect tense. What does it express?
The future perfect tense is very rarely used. It is used to show an activity that will be completed at some specific time in the future. In other words, it is used to express an action that shall be completed before a definite time in the future.
Q: What is its structure?
It is actually made up of either shall have or will have and the past participle of the verb.
Structure: will have + do(past participle) = will have done
shall have + meet(past participle) = shall have met
Examples:
☻By March next year, you shall have graduated.
☻The Philippines will have completed its industrialization program 2050.
Note: All sentences containing future perfect construction must also include a time expression usually beginning by when or by, such as by this time next year, or when I go back to my hometown.
Example:
☻When I go back to my hometown, my neighbors will have harvested their first crop of mangoes and durian.
Test of Learning
A. Complete the sentences by using the present perfect tense of the verbs given in the parentheses.
1. The President _____ (deliver) his speech.
2. I _____ (study) the details of the case.
3. Both the La Salle and Ateneo teams _____ (practice) well.
4. The Chairman of the Board _____ (notice) the sluggishness of the new janitor.
5. The students were singing a while ago but now they _____ (stop).
6. The fowers were still blooming beautifully but suddenly they all _____ (wilt).
7. Ramon _____ (visit) his grandparents for 5 years.
8. Our instructor _____ (teach) in this institution for 12 years.
9. She told me that she _____ (support) the Kilusan ng Wastong Pagkain.
10. I remarked that I _____ (eat-not) this sort of delicacy yet.
B. Give the past perfect tense of the verbs in the parentheses.
1. The Pope said that he _____ (oppose) the legalization of abortion.
2. By the time she left the College, she _____ (be) with it for thirteen years.
3. The Chinese tourist were unable to leave as the airplane _____ (develop) engine trouble.
4. The Peace Corps volunteer _____ (learn) the native language of the people before she came to the Philippines.
5. We did not attend the premiere of that movie because we _____ (see) that film before.
6. The porter said that the lawyer _____ (just leave) for the office.
7. If you _____ (study) diligently, you would have passed.
8. Archbishop Sy _____ (speak) on the social obligation of the church.
9. If the teacher _____ (know) that you were ill, he would send you home.
10. The doctor _____ (expect) the patient to report back.
C. Give the future perfect tense of the verbs in the parentheses.
1. By the time you finished dressing, the taxi _____ (arrive).
2. On July 14, my parents _____ (marry) for thirty years.
3. The English class _____ (visit) the museum tomorrow.
4. The group _____ (terminate) its session next week.
5. In two years or so, Mandy _____ (forget) the fellow who broke her heart.
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