What is perfect tense?

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Perfect tense 2

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Perfect tense

Perfect tense describes an action that is completed, was completed or will be completed. It has a form of the

verb to have plus the past participle of the main verb.present perfect past perfect future perfect

I have slurped I had slurped I will have slurpedCesar has slurped Cesar had slurped Cesar will have slurpedthey have slurped they had slurped they will have slurped

The perfect tense is great for describing:• past events that are relevant to the present

he has had an accident• actions that took place before something else took place

they had arrived before I did

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Perfect tense

Which sentence describes a completed action?

He ran.

He had run.

We walk.

We have walked.

I will ride.

I will have ridden.

The running occurs in the past but he might still be running.✗

He has completed his running.✓

They are still walking.✗

The ride has yet to happen.✗

They have completed their walk.✓

The ride has been completed in the future.✓

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Perfect tense

Which sentences are in the perfect tense?

It has been a long day.

The movie had ended already.

They will have eaten by 10 pm.

Mali is writing very quickly.

It’s present perfect: the day is completed or continues up to the present.✓

It’s past perfect: the movie ended at a time earlier in the past.✓

✗It’s simple present tense: Mali hasn’t completed her writing yet.

It’s future perfect: they will have completed their meal by a future time.✓

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Perfect tense

Complete the perfect tenses of these verbs.present perfect past perfect future perfect

I have flown I I

you have knitted you you

it it had broken it

they have succeeded they theyhas broken

had flown

had knitted

had succeeded

will have flown

will have knitted

will have broken

will have succeeded

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Perfect tense

• A verb shows action or being.• A verb’s tense tells when the action

takes place. • Perfect tense shows action that

is completed, was completed or will be completed.

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Perfect tense

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