65 min
Perfect forms 2
1 topic
2 tasks
1.
Be careful with SINCE:
- I’ve known her since we were at school together. (we aren’t at school anymore)
- I’ve known her since I’ve lived in this street. (I still live in this street)
- You’ve drunk about ten cups of tea since you arrived. (you arrived in the past)
- You’ve drunk about ten cups of tea since you’ve been sitting here. (you’re still sitting here)
- We visit my parents every week since we bought the car. (we bought the car in the past)
- We visit my parents every week since we’ve had the car. (we still have the car)
2.
There are some common fixed phrases that use Present Perfect.
- They've made it! = They've succeeded.
- I've had enough. = I'm fed up. I don't want to do it any more.
- You've had it! = You're in trouble.
- That's torn it! = You, we, etc. have done something that someone else will complain strongly about.
- Now you've done it! = You've done something seriously wrong.
- She's arrived. = She's achieved fame, success, acceptance, etc. at last.
- He's lost it. = He's lost his patience or self-control.
- You've got me there! = Good point: I've no idea what the solution is.
3.
Past Perfect:
advanced points
advanced points
If the time sequence of events is clear, both Past Simple and Past Perfect are possible. At other times, Past Perfect is essential to understanding the sequence.
- I got to work after Simon arrived / had arrived.
- When I arrived, they'd already started. (they started before I arrived)
- When I arrived, they started. (I arrived before they started)
BUT
- When I had opened the windows, I sat down and had a cup of tea.
- When I opened the window, the cat jumped out. (the cat jumped out straight away)
- When I had written my letters, I did some gardening.
- When I wrote to her, she came at once.
4.
Unlike Present Perfect, we can use Past Perfect with a definite time reference:
- I arrived at nine o’clock but he had got there at eight.
5.
BEFORE
There is one exception to the time sequence rules on Past Perfect. When we use before, the verb in Past Simple can refer to something that takes place before the verb in Past Perfect. The first action may prevent the second from happening:
- The waiter took my plate away before I'd finished eating.
- I was blamed for it before I'd even had a chance to defend myself.
6.
Past Perfect for unfulfilled plans
We use Past Perfect with report verbs and with hope, intend, expect, etc. to talk about plans that have not yet been fulfilled. Had is usually stressed in speech with this use:
- I had hoped to talk to him but he was too busy to listen.
- I had thought of phoning him but decided against it.
7.
Predicting
We can also use will have done to say what we think has probably happened. Here the verb WILL has no future reference.
We can use should / ought to / may / might instead of will if there is some uncertainty about the prediction of present or future:
- There's no point phoning: they'll have gone out.
We can use should / ought to / may / might instead of will if there is some uncertainty about the prediction of present or future:
- I should have finished making this cake by the time Sue comes home. (I think I will have, but I'm not sure)
END OF GUIDE
Don’t relax just yet — graded assignments are coming up.
Go ahead and move on to the task; you need to hone what you’ve learned.
Go ahead and move on to the task; you need to hone what you’ve learned.
