Section 2 - Other Perfect forms
Past Perfect
Not always necessary
Past Perfect emphasises that we are talking about a period before a time in the past. If the time sequence is clear (e.g. because we use after), both Past Simple and Past Perfect are possible. At other times Past Perfect is essential to understanding the sequence, and we often add already, as soon as, or until:
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)
With definite time
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.
With 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.
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.
Past Perfect emphasises that we are talking about a period before a time in the past. If the time sequence is clear (e.g. because we use after), both Past Simple and Past Perfect are possible. At other times Past Perfect is essential to understanding the sequence, and we often add already, as soon as, or until:
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)
With definite time
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.
With 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.
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.
Future Perfect
With by
We can often use Future Perfect with the preposition by or the phrase by the time meaning 'at some point before the time mentioned or indicated':
It's taking her so long to write that book that by the time she's finished it people will have forgotten the incident it's based on.
Predicting
We can also use will have done to say what we think has probably happened:
There's no point phoning: they'll have gone out.
We can often use Future Perfect with the preposition by or the phrase by the time meaning 'at some point before the time mentioned or indicated':
It's taking her so long to write that book that by the time she's finished it people will have forgotten the incident it's based on.
Predicting
We can also use will have done to say what we think has probably happened:
There's no point phoning: they'll have gone out.
- We can use should / ought to or may / might instead of will if there is some uncertainty about the prediction of present or future:
Uses of perfect infinitives
We use Perfect infinitives:
She was felt not to have met the standards required.
- after link verbs like seem and appear to refer to a previous time period (an ordinary to-infinitive will usually refer to the present or future):
- after phrases expressing emotions and feelings:
She was felt not to have met the standards required.
Perfect -ing forms
When talking about results and time, we can use a Perfect -ing form to emphasise that one thing happens before another:
I didn't remember having met her before.
Having finally grasped what I meant, he got down to work.
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Watch out! Perfect passives can sometimes be confusing because we use both be (=passive) and have (=Perfect) as auxiliaries:
The refugees have been prevented from entering the country. |
Check!
Which of the points in this Section do these examples illustrate?
a. 'How did you become a teacher?' 'I'd intended to be an actor, but things didn't work out.'
b. I turned on the computer, but before I had managed to log on there was a power cut.
c. After he told me what he wanted, we talked about the plans for the next day.
d. The exhibition will have finished by the time I get around to seeing it.
e. They appear to have accepted most of your terms.
b. I turned on the computer, but before I had managed to log on there was a power cut.
c. After he told me what he wanted, we talked about the plans for the next day.
d. The exhibition will have finished by the time I get around to seeing it.
e. They appear to have accepted most of your terms.