Perfect tenses in English
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[edit] Introduction
The Perfect tenses in English are formed with a form of the auxiliary verb "have" and the past participle. They express the idea of something having been done before a given point in time. As many other languages don't have perfect tenses, this can be one of the most confusing aspects of English grammar for students and one of the most frustrating for teachers, especially native speakers.
Perfect tenses generally express an event prior to the main event.
[edit] Introductory examples
Past Perfect: "By the time I found her, my sister had eaten all of the chocolate." (the action is finished before the sister is found)
Present Perfect: "I have never visited Turkey." (the action is finished before the moment of speech)
Future Perfect: "By this time next week, I will have finished my essay" (the action is finished before this time next week)
Each of these can also become Continuous in which case they (usually) express an action continuing until just before the main event. e.g. "My sister had been eating chocolate when I found her" (She stopped when she heard me coming)
"I have been playing tennis" (I am leaving the court as we speak)
"By the end of the month, I'll have been teaching for seven years." (This exact period will have ended)
[edit] Advice for native speakers
[edit] Think about it
Grammar books can be useful but often no amount of swotting up on the official "rules" of the English language will give you the full understanding required to field those awkward questions. It may be more useful to sit and think for half an hour. Ask yourself, "Why do I use this grammar?".
