Verb Perfect Tense

By Abhishek Tomar on Aug 19, 2009 with Comments 0

The Perfect Tenses: An Intro

Sometime the verb has to be changed in the single sentence according to the time period. Let see the situation when the person stating the story is in the present but the story the person is telling is of the past than what tense you will use. Yes, correct PERFECT Tense. This logical switch is done by using Perfect tense.

Example

He IS thin now because he SPENT the last six months on an intensive diet.

The first verb is in the present tense (IS) where as the second verb (SPENT) is in the past tense. Now you understand this logical switch.

Sometime the action that has been started in the past continues in the present, that is PERFECT TENSE. Now there are two perfect tense:

1. Present Perfect Tense
2. Past Perfect Tense

Moment in the PAST ———-> The Present Moment

We use this in our day-to-day life. If you started you story in the past and continued in the present, you are using present perfect tens. Here is the formula MIND IT :

Present Perfect = Have/ has + Past participle

Just like the old days how do you find the verb is in past? Regular verb ( to walk, to jump and to dance) or very simple way, words ending with -ed such as walked, jumped and danced. Some advance level verbs (to go, to throw and to be) have unique participles such as gone, thrown and been.

Some example in action of present perfect tense

My family HAS OWNED this farmhouse since the early nineteenth century.

Our country HAS ENFORCED strict immigration laws for thirty years

They HAVE BEEN in town for several days

Each of the above example involves an action that began in the past and continued in the present. All the above example involve situation that started in the past and continued in the present.

Past Perfect Tense

So when we use Past Perfect Tense. Here is how we find out when we have to expect past Perfect Tense, when the action occured in the past and ended in the past. Confused !!!

let’s make it easy for you, look at this time scale:

EARLIER Past Action —>LATER Past Action—>Present Action

If you have more than two action taking place in different time period in past, you are recommended to use PAST PERFECT TENSE. Here is a formula to learn:

Past Perfect = HAD + Past Particlple

Now let’s see some example that are close to the GMAT Sentence Correction

Several teachers THOUGHT that Jimmy HAD CHEATED on the exam.

The movie HAD ENDED, but we REMAINED in our seats.

Both the sentences are showing past action. One action is in earlier past and the other action is recent past as discussed previously.

Perfect Tense: GMAT Precaution

Always remember in the GMAT exam, no complex sentence can take place of the simple sentences. Think to remember GMAT PREFERS SIMPLICITY. Yes, you know where to use perfect tense and use them correctly, but GMAT use perfect tense unnecessarily. Let see some example where GMAT use unnecessary perfect tense.
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Incorrect: I think that ancient people HAD BELIEVED in many gods.

Correct : I think that ancient peoples BELIEVED in many gods.

You should use perfect tense where it is justified and where the rules apply.

Remember : If the action began in the past and continued in the present use
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

If the action began in earlier past and continued in later past use PAST PERFECT TENSE