Perfect Times in English

Past and Present

 Let’s remember the verbs!
Regular verbs form Simple Past and Past Participle
by adding -ed to the infinitive.
Irregular verbs don’t follow any rule and you must learn them by
heart.
 Past
Perfect In Spanish it is
equivalent to:
yo había cantado,
The past perfect is used to describe one tú habías
action that happened before another cantado, etc.
action in the past.

The auxiliary The main verb is used

“had” is used in past participle

Example:
The snow had started to fall before Christmas
Eve

La nieve había empezado a caer antes de la Nochebuena

- Why couldn't you get in your car? - Because I had left the keys inside.
- ¿Por qué no pudiste entrar en el coche? - Porque me había dejado las llaves dentro.
 How to used Past Perfect?

AFFIRMATIVE

SUBJECT +
AUXILIARY + VERB IN PAST + COMPLEMENT
“HAD” PARTICIPLE
• WE • HAD • BOUGHT • THIS GLOVE
TO SUPPORT
THE TEAM

Often contract
the subject (the
person or thing
that had done
the action) and
had:

WE’D

Nosotros habíamos comprado un guante para apoyar al equipo

 How to used Past Perfect?
NEGATIVE

SUBJECT AUXILIARY “HAD” + VERB IN PAST + COMPLEMENT

+
+ NOT or HADN’T PARTICIPLE

• ANA • HADN’T • MADE • THE TASK AND

GOT BAD NOTE

Ella está brava porque ella no había hecho la tarea y

obtuvo mala nota
 How to used Past Perfect?
INTERROGATIVE
AUXILIARY SUBJECT + VERB IN PAST + COMPLEMENT
+
“HAD” PARTICIPLE +?

• HAD •I • SAVED • THE

CHANGES OF
THE WORK?

ANSWERS

I had saved the

No, I hadn’t.
changes of the
work?

¿Yo había guardado los cambios

del trabajo?

Yes, I had.
 We tend to use the following time expressions
with the past perfect

ALREADY JUST AFTER

She had already She had just seen After dinner I felt really full
seen that film that film because I had eaten three
portions of ice cream
NEVER
Julia had never been to an
opera before last night BEFORE
BY THE
TIME AS SOON
UNTIL AS
By the
time he phoned her, she I didn’t say She set about doing HomeWorks, as
had found someone anything until she had soon as she heard that her mom had
new. finished talking. arrived
 USES OF PAST PERFECT

ACTION FINISHED
CAUSE AND
BEFORE ANOTHER
PAST ACTION EFECT

I got stuck in traffic

When I arrived, the film because there had been
had started. an accident
 USES OF PAST PERFECT

EMPHASIZE THE Actions that

RESULT OF AN should have
ACTIVITY IN THE passed, but it
PAST wasn't.

I had been to London I wish I hadn’t

twice by the time I gone to bed so late
got a job in New York
 Present
Perfect
In Spanish it is equivalent in
most of its uses to the
Is used to refer to actions that began in perfect preterite in Spanish:
Yo he comido, tú has
the past and continue in the present. comido, él ha comido, etc.

The auxiliary
The main verb is used
“has/have” is in past participle
3° Person used

Example:
They have painted their bedroom
She has written amazing stories

Although it is called present

perfect it is not a time of the
present but of the past.
 How to used Present Perfect?

AFFIRMATIVE

SUBJECT +
AUXILIARY + VERB IN PAST + COMPLEMENT
“HAS/HAVE” PARTICIPLE

•I • HAVE • BEEN • WITH MY

MOM WHILE
SHE MADE
SHOPPING

Often contract
the subject (the
person or thing
that had done
the action) and
had:

I’VE
SHE’S

Yo he estado con mi mamá mientras ella hacía mercado

 How to used Present Perfect?
NEGATIVE

SUBJECT AUXILIARY VERB IN PAST COMPLEMENT

+ “HAS/HAVE” + NOT or + PARTICIPLE +
HASN’T/HAVEN’T
•KATE AND JHON •HAVEN’T •TRIED •SUHI BEFORE

Kate y Jhon no han probado sushi antes

We haven’t tasted
sushi!
 How to used Present Perfect?
INTERROGATIVE
AUXILIARY SUBJECT + VERB IN PAST + COMPLEMENT
+
“Has/Have” PARTICIPLE +?

• HAS • MARIANA • FINISHED • HER

HOMEWORK?

ANSWERS

No, She hasn’t.

¿Mariana ha
terminado su
tarea?
Yes, She has.
 With present perfect you are used to using the
following time expressions:

JUST

ALREADY They have just done

an exam. SINCE
Mary I haven't smoked since last
has already washed week.
the dishes.
YET
My sister hasn't arrived in
London yet.
EVER FOR
Have you ever eaten HOW We have been
snake meat? LONG married for two years.
How long has Paul
taught in this school?
 USES OF PRESENT PERFECT
EXPRESS AN ACTION THAT HAS BEEN
PERFORMED AT SOME INDETERMINATE POINT
OF THE PAST THAT HAS A RESULT IN THE
PRESENT. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO KNOW AT
WHAT EXACT MOMENT THE ACTION
OCCURRED.

Michael has organized his

room
 USES OF PRESENT PERFECT

TO EXPRESS
EXPERIENCES

She has flown in a balloon, she has

done parachuting and she has
swum with dolphins.
 USES OF PRESENT PERFECT

REFER TO THE SAME ACTION THAT HAS

TAKEN PLACE AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN
THE PAST, THAT IS, IT HAS HAPPENED
MORE THAN ONCE.

I have lost my wallet four

times.
 USES OF PRESENT PERFECT

ACTIONS THAT
BEGAN AT SOME
SPECIFIC POINT IN
THE PAST AND
CONTINUE IN THE
PRESENT.
My mom has worked
at the same bank since
1985