This is a lesson about the perfect tenses for children in 5th grade. Here you can learn how to use the Perfect Tenses in English. Some tips will help you enrich your writing and speaking skills. It will undoubtedly help you recognize and use the Perfect Tenses in the right way.
There are many situations in our everyday life when we need to describe events that have happened recently or connect actions in time, showing which action happened first. The perfect tenses can be helpful at these moments. Using them, you have more ways to express yourself.
So here is a tip: Want to make sure your speaking sounds great? Using the perfect tenses can help you become a great companion.
The English Perfect Tenses help to describe events having some connection. Below you will read about several types of them: Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect.
Let's start with the Present Perfect tense. This tense connects the past to the present and shows a result.
Example 1: Sue is looking for her phone. She can't find it. She has lost her phone.
The action happened in the past, but it relates to the present, because she still doesn't have her phone.
Example 2: -Would you like something to eat? - No, thanks. I have just had lunch.
The action has already happened. I`m not hungry and this is a result of this action.
Also we use the Present Perfect when the situation has happened for the first, second or third time.
Example 1: I'm so excited. This is the first time I have flown an airplane. I have never flown an airplane before.
Example 2: I'm starting to be nervous. This is the second time I have called her. She doesn't answer.
Here's a tip for you:
We say: Alex has been to London several times. It means that he visited that place and has come back.
But we say: Alex has gone to the bank. It shows that Alex has gone and he's on his way there.
How do you build the Present Perfect? Use ‘have’ and ‘has’ + past participle.
Remember using “have” with I, you, we, they and “has” with he, she, it.
Example 1: I have forgotten my umbrella.
Example 2: She has forgotten her umbrella.
It's common to use short forms in a spoken language:
I`ve, you`ve, we`ve, she`s, he`s. I haven`t, you haven`t, we haven`t, she hasn't, he hasn't.
How do we form past participle?
- see the list of irregular verbs: I - been, have - had, go - gone, etc.
- add “ed” if it's a regular verb: play - played, wash - washed, etc.
Here are some tips how to recognise the Present Perfect:
The Present Perfect is often used with the words ever, never, just, already, yet, this morning, today, this week.
Example 1: I don't want to go to the cinema. I've already watched this film.
Example 2: I`m so tired. I've just finished studying.
We don't use the Present Perfect in the following sentences:
What is the Past Perfect?
The Past Perfect connects two actions in the past showing which one happened earlier.
Example 1: When I got home Kate had already made lunch.
It means that Kate had prepared it some time before I came back.
Example 2: When Steve got to the station the train had already left.
It means that Steve was late and the train had gone.
How do you build the Past Perfect?
Use “had + past participle” or “had+not+past participle ” for a negative form.
Example 1: The sun had set before we got home.
Example 2: Ben hadn't finished his homework when I called him.
What is the Future Perfect?
The Future Perfect connects two actions in the future. It helps to tell about actions that will finish by a certain moment.
Example 1: Jane will have finished her studying by 5 o'clock tomorrow.
Example 2: Will you have made this doll by her birthday?
How do you build the Future Perfect?
Use “will+have+past participle” or “will+not (won`t) + have+ past participle” for a negative form.
Example: I won't have bought this book by Friday.
Word-tips: before, by then, by next year, by 3 pm, etc.
We wish you happy studying and suggest checking yourself.
Complete the sentences using the Perfect tenses:
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