i've finished my homework and i'm going to bed now

Past Perfect Simple Tense: How to Use It, With Examples

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Olivia Drake

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What is the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe an action that was completed before another action took place in the past. In other words, it is used to show that one event happened before another event in the past.

It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, “had eaten” is the past perfect tense, and it indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

When to use the past perfect tense?

The past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another action in the past. It is often used to provide background information in a story or to show the order of events. Here are some common situations where the past perfect tense is used:

To describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had finished my homework before I went to bed.”
To describe a cause-and-effect relationship in the past. For example: “She was tired because she had been working all day.”
To describe a hypothetical situation in the past. For example: “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake.”
To describe a past action that happened before a specific time in the past. For example: “By the time I arrived, they had already left.”
To describe a past action that happened before another past action that was interrupted or happened suddenly. For example: “I had been cooking dinner when the power went out.”
Overall, the past perfect tense is used to show the relationship between two past actions or events, with one action being completed before the other.

How to form the past perfect tense?

To form the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here is the formula for forming the past perfect tense:

Subject + had + past participle

The past participle is formed by adding “-ed” to regular verbs or by using the third form of the irregular verb. Here are some examples of regular and irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

Regular verb example: I had walked to the store before it started raining.The past participle of “walk” is “walked.”
Irregular verb example: He had eaten breakfast before he left the house.The past participle of “eat” is “eaten.”

It’s worth noting that there are some irregular verbs that don’t follow the standard pattern for forming the past participle, so it’s important to learn the past participles of irregular verbs. For example, the past participle of “go” is “gone,” not “goed.”

How to make a negative form?

To make a negative sentence in the past perfect tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “had” in its negative form, which is “had not” or “hadn’t”, before the past participle of the main verb. Here’s the formula:

Subject + hadn’t + past participle of the main verb

For example:

I hadn’t eaten breakfast before I went to work.
She hadn’t finished the report by the deadline.
They hadn’t seen the movie before, so they were excited to watch it.

In these examples, the negative form “hadn’t” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that the action was not completed before another past action.

It’s important to note that when using the negative form of the past perfect tense, the word “not” should be included after the auxiliary verb “had” in order to indicate the negative meaning of the sentence.

How to make questions?

To make a question in the past perfect tense, you need to invert the subject and the auxiliary verb “had”. Here’s the formula:

Had + subject + past participle of the main verb?

Had you eaten breakfast before you went to work?
Had she finished the report by the deadline?
Had they seen the movie before?

In these examples, the auxiliary verb “had” is used before the subject, and the past participle of the main verb is placed at the end of the sentence. This formula helps to indicate that the question is in the past perfect tense and helps to form a grammatically correct question.

It’s important to note that when making a question in the past perfect tense, the auxiliary verb “had” should be used at the beginning of the sentence, and the main verb should be in its past participle form. Additionally, the question mark at the end of the sentence indicates that it is a question.

What is the difference between the past perfect and simple past tenses?

The past perfect and simple past tenses are both used to talk about past events, but they are used in different ways.

The simple past tense is used to describe a completed action or a series of completed actions in the past. For example: “I ate breakfast this morning.” The simple past tense is often used with time expressions that indicate when the action happened, such as yesterday, last week, or in 1995.

On the other hand, the past perfect tense is used to show that one action was completed before another action in the past. For example: “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work.” In this sentence, the past perfect tense “had eaten” indicates that eating breakfast was completed before going to work.

So, the key difference between the two tenses is that the simple past tense is used to talk about a completed past action, while the past perfect tense is used to show the order of two past actions, with one action being completed before the other.

Another way to think of the difference is that the simple past tense is used when there is no need to show a specific relationship between two past actions, while the past perfect tense is used when there is a need to show that one past action happened before another.

How do I know when to use “had” in the past perfect tense?

The auxiliary verb “had” is always used in the past perfect tense, as it is the helping verb that forms the tense. “Had” is used with the past participle of the main verb to indicate that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “I had finished my work before I went to bed.” In this sentence, “had finished” is the past perfect tense, and “had” is the helping verb that forms the tense.

It’s important to note that “had” is used in the past perfect tense for all subjects, including “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” The only thing that changes in the sentence is the past participle of the main verb, depending on the subject and the verb’s irregularity.

It’s also important to remember that the past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past, so you should use “had” when you want to show that an action was completed before another past action. For example, “He had already left when I arrived.” In this sentence, “had already left” indicates that leaving was completed before the action of arriving.

Some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense?

Irregular verbs have unique past participles that don’t follow the regular pattern of adding “-ed” to the base form. Here are some common irregular verbs in the past perfect tense:

be – had been
break – had broken
choose – had chosen
do – had done
drive – had driven
eat – had eaten
fall – had fallen
go – had gone
see – had seen
speak – had spoken
take – had taken
think – had thought
wear – had worn
write – had written

These irregular verbs can be used with “had” to form the past perfect tense, as in “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work” or “She had written the report before the meeting.” It’s important to remember that the past participle is often different from the base form of the verb and needs to be memorized.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about ongoing actions in the past?

No, the past perfect tense is not used to talk about ongoing actions in the past. The past perfect tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before another past action, and it is formed by using the auxiliary verb “had” with the past participle of the main verb.

To talk about ongoing actions in the past, we use the past continuous tense (also called the past progressive tense), which is formed by using the auxiliary verb “was” or “were” with the present participle (-ing) of the main verb. For example, “I was studying for my exam when my friend called me” or “They were watching TV when the power went out.”

It’s important to use the correct tense to accurately convey the meaning of the sentence. Using the past perfect tense to talk about ongoing actions in the past would be grammatically incorrect and could cause confusion for the reader or listener.

Can the past perfect tense be used to talk about future events from a past perspective?

Yes, the past perfect tense can be used to talk about future events from a past perspective. This is called the past perfect future, and it is used to describe a future event that was expected or planned to happen from a past point of view.

The past perfect future is formed by using the past perfect tense of “have” (had) followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, “I had hoped to finish my project by next week” or “They had planned to go on vacation next month.”

In these examples, the past perfect tense indicates that the event was in the future from a past perspective, and it implies that the event did not happen as planned. The past perfect future can be used to show regret, disappointment, or surprise that the expected future event did not happen.

It’s important to note that the past perfect future is not used very frequently, and it is often replaced by other tenses such as the past simple or the past continuous.

Are there any exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense?

Yes, there are some exceptions or special cases when using the past perfect tense. Here are a few examples:

When using reported speech : In reported speech, the past perfect tense can be used to indicate that an action had been completed before the reporting verb was spoken or written. For example, “She said she had already seen the movie” or “He told me he had finished his work.”
When using the past perfect continuous tense : The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that began in the past and continued up until another action in the past. For example, “I had been studying for three hours when I decided to take a break.” In this sentence, “had been studying” is the past perfect continuous tense, which describes an ongoing action that was interrupted by the decision to take a break.
When using “just” or “already”: In some cases, “just” or “already” can be used with the past perfect tense to indicate that an action had recently been completed or had been completed earlier than expected. For example, “I had just finished my breakfast when the phone rang” or “They had already left by the time we arrived.”

Past continuous tense examples

I had finished my homework before going to bed. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
They had already left when we arrived. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
By the time she got home, her husband had already cooked dinner. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
I had never seen a shooting star before that night. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
He had been working at the company for five years before he was promoted. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
She had lived in France for two years before moving to the United States. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
The concert had already started when we arrived at the venue. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
He had forgotten his keys at home, so he had to call his roommate to let him in. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
I had never ridden a motorcycle until last weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
The team had won three games in a row before losing the championship game. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
I had never tried sushi until I visited Japan. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
By the time they arrived at the party, most of the guests had already left. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
She had been studying for hours before she finally understood the concept. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
He had broken his leg playing soccer, so he couldn’t participate in the tournament. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
They had been dating for a year before they decided to get married. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
The movie had already started when we got to the theater, so we missed the beginning. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
I had been looking for my keys for hours before I finally found them in my jacket pocket. – This sentence describes an action that started in the past and continued up to another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and continued up to a specific point in the past.
She had never been on a plane before she took her first international flight. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened at an unspecified time before a past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action happened in the past before the second action.
He had completed all of his assignments by Friday, so he could enjoy the weekend. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
The store had closed by the time I got there, so I had to go back the next day. – This sentence describes a completed action that happened before another past action. The past perfect tense is used to indicate that the first action was completed before the second action.
Have you ever traveled to Europe? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
How many times have you seen that movie? – This question asks about the number of times an action has occurred from an unspecified point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action is still relevant in the present.
Have you finished your homework yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
Have you ever tried sushi before? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
Have you been to the new restaurant downtown? – This question asks about a past action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
How long have you lived in this city? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
Have you seen the news today? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
Have you ever ridden a horse? – This question asks about an action or experience that may have happened at any point in the past up to the present. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action or experience is still relevant in the present.
Have you studied for the exam yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.
Have you finished reading that book yet? – This question asks about a past action that has a connection to the present moment. The present perfect tense is used to indicate that the action started in the past and is still relevant in the present.

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I finished my work/I have finished my work.

Thread starter rock-onn
Start date Jul 30, 2016
Views : 75,571

Jul 30, 2016

I finished my work. I have finished my work. What is the difference of these sentences? When 'have' is used does it change tense or just small difference in meaning? Thanks in advance.

Re: have "I finished" is the simple past. "I have finished" is the present perfect. Adding "have" does indeed change the tense. Have you studied the various forms of the past tense?

Re: have Past tenses are simple past, past continous, past perfect.Is there any difference in meaning in above sentences?It seems that simple past and present perfect can be used interchangeably. Present perfect is always past and then why it is present tense?

Please note that I have changed your thread title. A single common word is not sufficient. Extract from the Posting Guidelines: 'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

It's called the "present perfect" because it includes the word "have" which is the present tense of the verb "have". I finish. (Present tense) I finished. (Simple past) I have finished. ( Present perfect) I had finished. ( Past perfect) I am finishing. ( Present continuous) I was finishing. ( Simple past continuous) I have been finishing. ( Present perfect continuous) I had been finishing. ( Past perfect continuous) Note that in the continuous, there would be something after the relevant form of "finish". Both the simple past and the present perfect are used to describe an event which happened in the past and which is now over. We use the simple past usually with a time marker and the present perfect when the time period is unspecified or unimportant. I lived in Madrid from February 2009 until August 2010. I have lived in Madrid. I ate an apple for breakfast. I have eaten an apple. I bought bread yesterday. I have bought bread. However, sometimes the present perfect is used with something which looks like a time marker. For example, "I have bought bread at the same shop for ten years". The present perfect is used there to indicate that you still buy bread at the same store you have bought it at for the last ten years. If you no longer buy bread there, you would say "I bought bread at the same store for ten years but then I realised that the artisan bakery round the corner sells much better bread so now I buy it there".

Jul 31, 2016

I read about present perfect from some other website. What I inferred is that we use present perfect when it is revelant at present. I did my home work. I have done my home work so I am free now. In the first sentence, finishing home work has nothing to do with present. But in the second sentence, finishing homework is relevant at present so it is present perfect tense. I could be wrong.

Matthew Wai

'The present perfect tense ... is used when an action that happened in the past continues to have a strong connection in the present.'── quoted from http://esl.fis.edu/grammar/rules/presperf.htm I finished my work before I went to bed.── There is no connection in the present. I have finished my work, so I am going to bed.── There is a connection in the present.

GoesStation

No longer with us (rip).

The connection to the present can be implicit in the situation, too. A child might look up from the dining room table and say "I've finished my homework!" The unspoken "...so I can play Pokémon Go now, right?" justifies the present perfect.

Aug 1, 2016

rock-onn said: I finished my work. I have finished my work. What is the difference of these sentences? When 'have' is used does it change tense or just small difference in meaning? Thanks in advance. Click to expand...

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html I found this link to be very helpful.

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"I am finished" vs "I have finished"

What is the difference between "I am finished" and "I have finished"?

For example, when finishing a task, should I say "I have finished" or "I am finished". Is there a difference in meaning?

perfect-constructions
participial-adjectives

8 Answers 8

Depending on context they could have the same or slightly different meanings

I have finished

would be said after completing a task either very recently or some time in the recent past

I am finished

would be said after very recently completing a task.

It can also have the meaning of hopelessness as a person faces impending doom

I've lost everything, I'm finished.

or drawing a dramatic end to a relationship

She said she was finished with her boyfriend.

I would say that they are nearly identical except that "I have finished" cannot signify your second (dramatic) version of "I am finished". As a response to the "are you finished?", they are identical. when reporting back after a task, I think people are more likely to use "I am finished". It's just a choice for all uses except the dramatic one. – Bill K Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 23:06
1 @BillK Out of context "I am finished" is much more likely to be interpreted as despair. If someone asks you " Are you finished?" the natural response is "I am finished". If you are asked " Have you finished?" the natural response is "I have finished" to match the verb in the question. – CJ Dennis Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 23:31

You could say either one, but things get more complicated when you elaborate and mention what you've finished:

I have finished this task. I am finished with this task.

1 It's true that for the sense I have completed the activity I was engaged in you could actually use either of OP's two 3-word statements. But in practice I think although very young children might be more likely to say I am finished (because of how pre-adolescent / infantile self-awareness and perception work), I'd be pretty certain that the vast majority of adult native speakers would say I have finished (you tell people what you've done, rather than explicitly describing your current state). – FumbleFingers Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 15:35
(As in: children say I'm scared! where adults are more likely to say This is scary! ) – FumbleFingers Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 15:37
3 @Fumble I'd be more likely to say I finished (no have ) or I'm done . – user230 Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 15:45
1 @snailplane: I'd be more likely to just sit quietly and wait for others to catch up, if there were several of us doing whatever it was. Unless it was a competition , in which case I'd just yell " Finished! " and expect them all to gasp in amazement. Or facetiously, "Finished, Miss!". It's not that easy to imagine actually saying all and only the three words in OP's examples. – FumbleFingers Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 16:42

Both are grammatically correct.

The speaker is in the state of being finished with a task.

This describes the completion of the task in the very recent past. ( present perfect tense )

I think there are actually three factors we're discussing here:

"To Be Finished ", where " Finished " is an adjective meaning 'completed' or 'over'
The prepositional phrase "To Be Finished With Something" which means the speaker is no longer interested or involved with Something
"To Have Finished (Something)", meaning something has been completed.

Here are some examples:

"You are finished ! You will never work in this city again!"
"I have finished my homework. My homework is finished ."
"I can't take another step, I'm finished , I'm through."
"Sir, you haven't finished your steak."
"No, I'm finished with this steak, waiter. You can clear my plate."

I relate it to French, where "Je suis fini" (I am finished/dead/over) has a much different meaning than "J'ai fini" (I have finished / I'm done).

Also, this is just grammatically speaking. I live in western Canada, and we certainly don't speak this way colloquially.

You should probably not say "I am finished" in most situations as this implies that your life is at an end. It is the "I" that is finished - i.e. close to death or some sort of catastrophic failure.

That's a bit harsh. Usage in my experience is more of a temporary issue, like when completing IronMan "I have finished; I am finished!" – MikeP Commented Oct 19, 2016 at 2:51

Grammatically, both are correct, but they are linguistically different.

The first sentence does, in fact describe the speaker as in the state or condition of being finished, specifically with the task of washing the dishes. This construction is the more passive of the two.

The second version describes more accurately the completion of the task as the point of reference for the listener.

To put it another way, the first sentence commands the listener to wait until the speaker is in the condition of being finished, the second says to wait until the action is completed.

The example I'm using is the following:

'Wait until I am finished washing the dishes' vs. 'Wait until I have finished washing the dishes'

I am finished is generally used to describe a situation where I am done and want to put an end(or there is no hope for me for that action or thing or person or anything like that.) to life or any action like I am finished with my life. or I am finished with you. while I have finished is used to say that I have completed an action like I have finished that book.

Here is an example... I am finished with the classes means I do not want to attend the classes anymore due to the teacher or I don't understand that subject.

I have finished the classes means there is a confirmation that I have completed the classes.

"I am finished." Here 'finished' is an adjective. "I have finished." Here 'finished' is the past participle form of the verb 'finish'.

Former one explains the state of being finished. It talks about the subject "I". It usually comes with a preposition like "With".

E.g., I am finished with homework.

Note: "I am finished" (without object) means you're fed up with your life, and you don't have a reason to live your life.

Later one is a sentence in present perfect tense. It may take an object as a complement to the sentence.

E.g., I have finished homework.

Note: Here there is no preposition before the object.

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How to use the 'Present Perfect'

'I have been to Boston.'

Have/has + past participle makes the present perfect .

She has lost her bag. They have taken a taxi I have been to Australia

The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but the exact time it happened is not important. It has a relationship with the present.

I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at what exact time, only that it is now done. I have forgotten my bag. = Exactly when in the past that I forgot it is not important. The important thing is that I don't have it now .

As we do not use exact time expressions with the past perfect, we cannot say: I have done my homework yesterday

In this case we use the past simple tense: I did my homework yesterday.

Using already just and yet with the present perfect

Already , just and yet can are all used with the present perfect.

Already means 'something has happened sooner than we expected: 'The movie only came out yesterday, but I have already seen it.'

Just means 'a short time ago': 'I have just seen your brother going into the bank with a gun!'

Yet is only used in questions and negative sentences. It means 'something is expected to happen': 'Have you finished the report yet?' No, I haven't finished it yet.'

Now choose the best answer to make the present perfect:

My parents ___. retired yet have retired has retired
Your sister ___ my car. has borrow has borrowed have borrowed
Have you ___ the movie yet? have seen seen looked
Please wait. I haven't finished ___. already just yet
Water __ found on Mars. have has been has be
I have ___ all my money. spent has spend spend
They ___ you a cake. have maded have made have make

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The English Compound Tenses Grammar Guide

English compound tenses allow you to discuss very specific moments in time, from the past through the future. They allow you to discuss events that were finished ages ago, or events that will be continuing for years and years.

Whether you’re telling stories, making plans or just chatting about your day, you’ll need English compound tenses to communicate like a native speaker would.

Fortunately, understanding compound tenses isn’t too complicated.

In this post, we’ll walk you through what English compound tenses are, the nine English compound tenses and how to practice them.

What Are the Compound Tenses in English?

1. present continuous, 2. present perfect, 3. present perfect continuous, 4. past continuous, 5. past perfect, 6. past perfect continuous, 7. future continuous, 8. future perfect, 9. future perfect continuous, how to practice the english compound tenses, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

You may already be familiar with the English simple tenses : simple past, simple present and simple future. In the simple past and simple present, you only need to conjugate the action verb. In the simple future, you just need to add “will” before the action verb without changing that verb.

Compound tenses, on the other hand, often involve the addition of an auxiliary verb (“to be” or “to have”) in front of the conjugated action verb . These tenses give more specific information about when the action occurred, started or completed.

You could think of the simple tenses as the starter deck of a card game, and the compound tenses as the new and latest expansion pack.

For example, listen to the third sentence in this video, where a man explains what it is like to fall out of love .

It was the saddest text I have ever gotten in my life.

The first verb ( was ) is in the simple past tense and should look quite familiar to you. It implies that the receipt of the sad text happened at a certain point in the past.

The second verb ( have gotten ) is a compound tense that provides deeper information about this person’s past. Together with “It was the saddest text…,” it’s saying that, at that point in time, it was the saddest text they have ever received, and they have yet to get something sadder than the text.

The present continuous tense is used to denote an event that is currently taking place. If you wish to talk about things as they are happening, you should use this tense.

For example, if someone asks “what are you doing?,” you typically need to answer in the present continuous tense.

To form this tense, here’s the formula:

simple present tense of “to be” conjugated for your subject ( I am , he is , you are , etc.) + your action verb with the suffix “-ing”

For instance, let us say we want to describe a singer’s performance as it is happening. Our action verb is “sing,” and our subject is “she.” We could say:

She is singing beautifully.

The verb “to be” is conjugated in the simple present tense for “she,” and we added “-ing” to the verb “sing.” As you’ll see throughout this post, the “-ing” suffix is a good indicator that you are in a continuous tense—meaning the action is continuous (ongoing, still happening).

In the following examples, keep your eye out for the auxiliary verb and the “-ing” suffix that modifies the original verb:

I am writing a letter to Marta.

Rohan is watering the plants.

They are sleeping in the guest room.

You are not paying attention in class.

We are playing a video game.

This tense is used to describe ongoing actions. The action might be finished or might still be continuing depending on the context.

To form the present perfect, use the following formula:

simple present tense of “to have” conjugated for your subject ( I have , she has , they have , etc.) + the past participle form of the action verb

Here’s an example with the action verb “choose.” The past participle of “choose” is “chosen.”

You have chosen the wrong book.

You’ll often hear this tense used with words like “just” to explain precisely when a recent event happened.

I have just eaten my lunch.

You can also use this tense with “since” + [specific point in time] or “for” + [length of time] to explain how long something has been true.

She has felt sick for three days.

They have been friends since 2010.

Here are more examples. Keep an eye out for the auxiliary verbs and past participles.

I have just finished my research paper.

They have lived in this apartment since before I was born.

Trina has visited already.

This compound tense is used to denote an ongoing (or continuous ) action that started a while ago. For example, if you were having a lazy Sunday watching TV all day long, you might use this tense to describe your day.

For this tense, you need to use this formula:

present form of “to have” + “been” + action verb with “-ing”

Here’s how it would work with the verb “to crave” (to want something very badly, particularly food).

I have been craving ice cream all week.

Here are some more examples:

I have been binge watching “Doctor Who” all day.

You have been missing work lately.

We have been working tirelessly on this project.

Laura has been writing the company newsletter for a while.

They have been stealing from the office all this time.

This tense is used to represent an action that was ongoing for a while, but has finished.

The action isn’t happening right now, but it was happening in the past. Think of this as the way you recall a vivid memory. The events have already taken place, but you’re remembering them like a film being played in front of you.

To use this tense, here’s the formula:

simple past tense of “to be” conjugated for your subject ( I was , you were , etc.) + your action verb with the suffix “-ing”

For instance, I can say:

I was singing at the concert last night.

This means that although I have finished singing now, there was an extended period last night when I was singing.

Sheila was playing the flute all morning.

They were laughing at his jokes nonstop.

You were eating a pizza when I saw you.

The water was boiling , so I knew it was time to put the pasta in.

The past perfect is used to describe actions that were finished before another event took place.

It is formed as follows:

“had” + past participle of the action verb

If you were telling a story, and you wanted to “set the scene” to explain what happened before the main action of the story, you could say something like:

I had gone to bed when I heard a strange noise at my door.

“Gone” is the past participle of the verb “to go,” while “I heard” is in the simple past tense. You will often see these two tenses—the past perfect and simple past—paired together in this way.

I had tried the violin but quickly stopped practicing.

Rhea had dozed off when the bell woke her up.

They had eaten their dinner before the stranger arrived.

We had completed the picture in the morning so we went to the park in the evening to relax.

This tense is similar to the past perfect, but the word “continuous” should give you a clue as to how it is different.

Use this tense to describe ongoing actions that have already been completed at some point in the past. For example, if you want to talk about a bad habit that you no longer have, you might use this tense.

Here’s how we put together this tense:

“had” + “been” + the action verb with the “-ing” suffix

Let’s use the bad habit example. Our action verb is “to smoke.”

I had been smoking so many cigarettes my doctor told me I had no choice but to quit.

The next few examples should make this even clearer:

You had been skipping class for over a week before the school called your parents.

They had been drinking on the sly until Max caught them.

Vina had been making a toy cart when her brother returned home.

We had been working overtime for over a month until the manager promised us a pay rise.

This tense is used to denote an ongoing action that will only be completed much later. In other words, the action has not even happened yet, but we are expecting it to happen.

If you wish to talk about your life plans or projects you have coming up, you would likely use the future continuous tense.

To write in this tense, just follow this formula:

“will be” + the action verb with the “-ing” suffix

Here is an example with the verb “to sing.”

I will be singing at the concert tomorrow evening.

In the above, I am talking about a continuous action that I expect to take place in the future.

Here are some more examples to understand how the future continuous looks:

He will be studying math when he starts college.

They will be headlining a major music festival next month.

We should leave now. The roads will be getting icy soon.

We use this tense to talk about an action that has not yet taken place as though it had already been completed. In other words, we are looking forward to when a particular action or event will be finished.

For example, you might use this tense when making a promise to someone or when setting a deadline on a project.

To form this tense:

“ will ” + “ have ” + past participle form of the action verb

Here is an example that you might remember from your school days:

Mom, I will have finished my homework before I go to the movies!

Again, there are two events happening in the sentence (finishing homework and going to the movies), and the future perfect is the one that will be completed first.

Let’s meet at noon. I will have submitted my report by then.

He will have eaten his pizza before the rest of the group shows up.

We will have built this house by the time our children are in school.

Finally, we use this tense to talk about a continuous event that has already started and is expected to last until a certain point in the future. In other words, the action will be continuing until or before another event takes place.

For this tense, we use this formula:

“will have” + “been” + the action verb with the suffix “-ing”

For instance, I could say:

By 9:00, I will have been waiting here for two hours.

This means that the action of “waiting” is taking place both in the present and in the future, until 9:00.

These examples will give you an idea about the context in which the future perfect continuous is usually used:

By next spring, you will have been living in this town for five years.

We will have been working here for nine months in December.

By the end of this year, they will have been playing as a rock band for over a decade.

As you get familiar with the above named English compound tenses, there are online exercises and worksheets where you can practice to make sure you understand them.

Try this tenses exercise from EnglishGrammar , where you have to read a sentence with missing verbs and choose the correct simple or compound tense for the verbs. You could also try this series of verb tense worksheets from Agenda Web.

The best way to improve your English compound tenses is to speak and write on a variety of topics using all of the different tenses. Try keeping a diary where you can talk about yourself, the things you do or the events of the day. You can also record yourself discussing what happened this week and what your plans are for the future. Don’t just stick to the simple tenses; instead, try to use each of the compound tenses as much as possible.

If you’re reading a book or an article , try to spot the compound tenses being used for different contexts. Create a study plan , make a list of participles and auxiliary verbs and mix them up.

Above all, don’t be afraid of making mistakes and trust in yourself. With the help of this guide, the English compound tenses will eventually become second nature to you!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

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FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

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FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

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Using the Present Perfect Tense

Are you wondering when to use the present perfect tense? Or I should say, "have you learned" when to use the present perfect? We use this tense to talk about an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present.

[Note: Click here to learn how to form the present perfect.]

Use #1: Describe past situations / things that have a strong connection to the present

We use the present perfect simple to describe an action or state that started at an unknown or unspecified time in the past AND has a connection to the present .

Learners are sometimes confused by this. They ask, if this tense is called the "present" perfect, why are we talking about "past" actions? Excellent question.

With this tense we're talking about the past and the present . These actions or situations may have started and ended in the past but we are focusing on the effect of this action now in the present moment. Let's look at some examples to try to make this clearer:

Your poor grades have become a problem. (The result now is that there is a problem.)
Have you seen Selma? (Where is she now?)
She 's gone to school. (She left home and is at school now.)
Take off your shoes. I have just cleaned the floor. (A short while ago I mopped the dirty floor and it is clean now.)
I can't find my keys. Have you seen them? (I lost my keys and can't find them now.)
Have you done your homework? (Is your homework finished now?)
I started but I haven't finished my homework yet. (My homework is not finished now.)
I've been sick all day. (I'm still sick now.)

In each of these examples we are focusing on the result now or why the action is important at this present time.

Use #2: Describe past actions or conditions that continue in the present

It's usually easier for learners to understand the second use which is for actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present moment.

The tense helps to answer " how long ago " something has been happening (in relation to now) or for how long a period of time something has been happening.

FOR / SINCE

We often use the words " since " (after a specific time) or " for " (a period of time) with this usage.

We have lived here for 25 years.(We came here 25 years ago and still live here.)
My parents have been married since 1967. (They're still married.)
We 've waited 20 minutes already for the bus. (We are still waiting.)
My daughter has been sick for a week.
I haven’t slept for two days.
We haven’t seen each other since high school.
I haven’t had a drink since the accident.
He hasn’t dated anyone since his wife left him.
I haven’t smoked a cigarette for three months now.

Note : we cannot use the present perfect tense with a completed time word. For example:

Wrong: We have seen the movie last night. (Correct: we saw the movie last night.)
Wrong : Yesterday, I had worked very late. (Correct: Yesterday, I worked very late.)

With finished time words we use the present simple.

Use #3: To ask about whether we ever had past experiences

We frequently use the present perfect tense to ask or talk about whether someone has experienced something during their life (at any time in the past until this moment).

EVER / NEVER / BEFORE

Often, we use the words " ever " (in questions) and " never ". We will sometimes also add the word " before ."

Have you ever eaten fried insects?
No, I haven't tried fried insects and never will.
Has Jimmy ever been this sick before?
Have you taken private English lessons?
I ' ve never travelled by train before.
Have the children ever done something like this before?
Never in my life have I been so much in love.

Adverbs that are frequently used with the present perfect tense: Already / yet / just / still

The following words (adverbials) are often used with the present perfect tense:

Just describes something that happened a short time before this moment.

I 've just received your email and will read it now.
He 's just arrived , I hear the car pulling to the garage.
I'm so excited. Lady Gaga has just released her latest album.

Just about means that something that was started is almost finished .

I 've just about finished this novel.
Have you finished the report yet? Just about .
I 've just about used up all the milk.

Already has two main meanings:

1. Already = before this time (before now)

Where's that letter? I 've already mailed it.
Can I help you clean? I 've already swept to the floor but you can vacuum the carpet.
We 've already eaten at that restaurant so let's go somewhere else.

2. Already = so soon (something happened quickly or earlier than expected)

We need to take the trash out. I 've already taken it out.
Has my boyfriend arrived already? I'm still getting dressed.
You don't have to ask. Your mother has already ironed your shirt.

Yet = at this time , until this time , as soon as this time

Note : Yet usually comes at the end of the sentence. We use yet with negative statements and questions.

Have my parents arrived yet? (They are expected to arrive soon.)
Have you finished the report yet? (It should be done or finished soon.)
He hasn't called yet. (Until this time he hasn't called but he should call soon.)
It's 3 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet .

We use still in negative sentences with the present perfect to emphasize an action or situation happening or existing before now and continuing into the present:

I can't believe you still haven't written your paper.
He said he sent an email an hour ago but I still haven't received it.
We still haven't decided what to eat for lunch.

If you need to review how to form the present perfect tense please check this page. I go over the positive and negative forms, questions, review the irregular past participles and spelling changes and give lots of examples.

Main Grammar Page
Using the Present Perfect

PRESENT PERFECT - PAST PERFECT

Gapfill exercise.

Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

I (just / finish) my homework.
Mary (already / write) five letters.
Tom (move) to this town in 1994.
My friend (be) in Canada two years ago.
I (not / be) to Canada so far.
But I (already / travel) to London a couple of times.
Last week, Mary and Paul (go) to the cinema.
I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy) a new film yet.
(they / spend) their holiday in New Zealand last summer?
(you / ever / see) a whale?

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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

Present perfect form
Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Timeline Present Perfect for recently finished actions just

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Timeline Present Perfect for recently finished actions already

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Timeline Present Perfect for recently finished actions yet

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished .
Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

What have you already done today?
What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
What have you just finished before answering these questions?
Have you just had some food?
Have you already finished your homework?
Have you already studied today?
Have you just had a phone call?
Have you already had lunch today?
Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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Kristof Abrath Teacher, Trainer, Course Designer Teaching in English on 4 different continents since 2006.

More tenses

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I 've already visited three universities.
She 's just won the match.
I haven't made a decision yet .
‘ Have you seen that new film yet ? ’ ‘ Yes, I have . / No, I haven't . ’

Positive (+)
Subject	auxiliary	just/already	past participle
I	have		visited	three universities.
She	has		won	the match.

Negative (-)
Subject	auxiliary	past participle		yet
I	haven't	made	a decision	yet.
She	hasn't	finished	it	yet.

Yes/no questions (?)
Auxiliary	subject	past participle		yet
Have	you	seen	that film	yet?
Has	he	made	a decision	yet?

visit → visit ed arrive → arriv ed
have, had → had lose, lost → lost
do, did → done eat, ate → eaten
They 've just made a big announcement.
Have you finished that book yet ?
Spring has already arrived in Madrid!
Practice 1 Gap-fill
Practice 2 Gap-fill
Practice 3 Multiple choice
Practice 4 Multiple choice
Practice 5 Gap-fill
Practice 6 Multiple choice
Practice 7 Multiple choice
Practice 8 Gap-fill
Practice 9 Gap-fill
Practice 10 Gap-fill
Practice 11 Gap-fill

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Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

Which is correct: “I’m done” or “I have finished”?

Which of these alternatives is grammatically correct?

I have finished

Like I’m done sounds very American, but is it grammatically correct?

american-english
british-english
colloquialisms

1 This has nothing to do with grammar. – tchrist ♦ Commented Feb 9, 2014 at 1:41
1 "I am, at present, sensing no need or desire to consume further food." – Hot Licks Commented May 26, 2015 at 21:10

5 Answers 5

I’m done is grammatical but informal. It is found mainly in American English rather than British English.

2 I'm skeptical about the claim that "I'm done" is informal. – user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 19:44
2 You're entitled to be. I'm a mere Brit. Do you have any authentic examples showing it used in a formal context? – Barrie England Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 19:51
2 @BenCrowell The term I'm done, which I was not previously aware was American (one hears it often enough in Britain), means 'I have finished'. So to be formal wouldn't the expression have to be 'I have done', or 'I've done'. 'I am done' would seem to refer to some personal bodily subjection that one has sustained! – WS2 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 20:16
1 The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language says that this sense of "done" is found "often, but not exclusively, in casual or informal usage." I'm not convinced that an example proves anything in this kind of situation. An extremely common usage like this will of course exist in formal writing; the question is how commonly it exists, and how commonly in the work of the best writers. – user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 21:06
2 @WS2: Take a look at the answers by Edwin Ashworth and user61979. Your criticism of the construction as illogical would make sense if "am" was a copula -- although idioms don't have to be logical. But apparently "am" survives in this usage, outside of England, as a remnant of the old-fashioned use of "to be" in forming the past perfect. – user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 23:22

'I am done (with my work)' is a straggler from older English.

In Old English, the present perfect was formed somewhat differently. Whereas Modern English uses to have in almost every construction, be it transitive or intransitive, older English used to have with transitive verbs and to be with intransitive verbs. Here are some intransitive examples:

'He is risen.' (ModE 'he has risen.')

'I was come to his house.' (ModE 'I had come to his house.')

'We are fallen from riches.' (ModE 'We have fallen from riches.')

There is no change, however, with transitive verbs:

'I have hit him.' (But never 'I am hit him.')

'I have eaten dinner.' (But never 'I am eaten dinner.')

'He has never liked them.' (But never 'He is never liked them.')

Often, the Modern English verb to do still follows the old paradigm, whence we get the following intransitive construction:

'I am done (with my work).'

And the following transitive construction:

'I have done my work.'

The link from Edwin Ashworth's answer claims that "I have done [my work]" was replaced by "I am done [with my work]" ca. 1700 in Ireland, Scotland, and America. If it's connected to OE as you say, then maybe it's an archaism that survived and later killed off the newfangled usage in those areas. – user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 23:16
Back when I actually did things, I would very often, in response to a query about progress on some project, respond "I'm done with that" or something similar. "I have finished" would sound rather over-formal in many contexts. – Hot Licks Commented May 26, 2015 at 22:14
Can you please provide evidence that this expression with "to be + done" existed in Old English? – herisson Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 17:38
@sumelic Since it's been three years, I'm afraid I can't. Truth be told, I'm no longer sure whether to be done existed in Old English at all, only that it parallels a common Old English construction. I'd say I have a tad more academic rigor these days. O how the years change us. – Anonym Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 20:48
1 I see. I'm similarly unsure about this, which is why I downvoted. It seems the "be + past participle" construction was pretty restricted in Old and Middle English; I don't know that much about it, but I looked at the following paper: ling.auf.net/lingbuzz/000588 . There may also be relevant references in the following article, but I haven't had a chance to look for them yet: microsyntax.sites.yale.edu/done-my-homework – herisson Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 20:59

These short sentences perhaps disguise the fact that there are two questions here.

At Motivated Grammar is an article claiming that 'done' and 'finished' are interchangeable here. There are also comments that 'I'm done' for a person as subject (agent) is more acceptable in general in American English, and others that it is not acceptable at all or in formal speech. Personally, I'd use it in conversation (though more often 'I've done') but usually switch to 'I've finished' if I considered a more formal register preferable.

Looking at the choice of verb/auxiliary, have is obviously an auxiliary forming the perfect in 'I have finished' (and 'I have done'). However, it is arguable that be is the copula followed by a (participial) adjective in 'I am done' (cf 'I am exhausted / I am tired / I am cold). But there are still lingering examples of be used as an alternative auxiliary to have ('I am come' cannot be other, though it is archaic). The question hinges upon whether the -ed form is principally describing a state (participial adjective) or the attaining of that state (past participle), and isn't, I'd say, always easy to resolve.

I'm more likely to say "I'm done" or "I'm through", though I don't see anything wrong with "I've finished".

"I'm done" sounds to me like you've been cooked. I don't like that usage at all.

Hello, p.l.zeigler. ELU is not a discussion forum; if you can find an authority indicating that 'I'm done' is in some way unacceptable, that would be valid to give as an answer. Personal opinions are not (especially when they are contrary to accepted usage). – Edwin Ashworth Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 22:50
It's true that the recent expression "Stick a fork in it—it's done" has the connotation you're talking about, p.l.zeigler, though it is by no means the only possible meaning of "it's done." But you would need to develop that idea (or something like it) to satisfy the threshold requirement for a valid answer on this site that Edwin Ashworth describes in his comment above. – Sven Yargs Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 23:19

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Kg - 1st , tier one words, articles 'a' and 'an', dairy products, 12.9k plays, articles a an the.

Present perfect or Past Continuous?

15 questions

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1. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: I’ve worked in the garden all day and now I’m tired. I’ve been working in the garden all day and now I’m tired.
2. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: What have you done? You’re all wet. What have you been doing? You’re all wet.
3. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV. I’ve been finishing my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.
4. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: What have you done with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys. What have you been doing with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.
5. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: She’s worked in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished. She’s been working in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.
6. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: Why are you sweating? - I’ve cut the grass. Why are you sweating? - I’ve been cutting the grass.
7. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: How many biscuits have you eaten? How many biscuits have you been eating?
8. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: How long have you known her? How long have you been knowing her?
9. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Which is correct: I’ve had piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good. I’ve been having piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.
10. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt I was sure that I ___________ her before. had saw seen had seen
11. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt I needed to know what ______________ to my dog. has happened had happened happened
12. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt The film ________________ by the time we got to the cinema. had started has started had start
13. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt Julia left the restaurant after she _________ eating. had finished has finished finished
14. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt I went to bed after I ___________ off the television. switched has switched had switched
15. Multiple Choice Edit 30 seconds 1 pt I’ve been playing football ________. all day 2 hours ago yesterday

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NganxNgan - 20:04:44 11/04/2023