Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham, and it's really nice to have you with me today for our lesson on the perfect present tense.

Now, this tense is a really useful one in talking about actions that started in the past and are still going in the present, which we want to do a lot when we're writing and talking, so let's see if we can add this to our writer's toolkit.

Let's make a start.

Today's lesson is called writing sentences in the perfect present tense, and it comes from our unit called Three Tense Forms and Modal Verbs.

By the end of today's lesson, we'll be able to write a range of sentence types using the perfect present tense.

Now in our writing, we need to be able to use a variety of tenses to show our reader when actions are happening.

And in particular, our reader wants to know when did it start and is it still going? Now, the perfect present tense is really useful for showing this, so let's see if we can master it together today.

Here are our keywords for today's lesson.

My turn, your turn.

Verb, perfect tense, auxiliary verb, and infinitive.

Really well done.

Now a verb, as you know, is a being, a doing, or a having word.

A perfect tense is made using an auxiliary verb based on to have and a past tense form of the main verb.

I'll explain that more as we go.

An auxiliary verb is the helping verb that's paired with a main verb, and the infinitive is any verb preceded by the word to, for example, to play, to be, and to have.

So it has the word to in front of it.

That's the infinitive.

Let's look at today's lesson outline.

We're going to start off by looking at the purpose of perfect tenses, why do we use them, and then we'll go on to writing some sentences in the perfect present tense.

Let's get to work.

Now, I'm sure you know that the tense is what helps us to show when action is happening, and we show it using the verbs in our sentences.

Here are two types of tenses you might already know.

We have what's called the simple tenses.

So we might say she sacrificed a lot.

That's the simple past tense.

Then we have she sacrifices a lot.

That's the simple present tense.

She's still doing it.

And then we can say she will sacrifice a lot.

That's the simple future tense.

It's something that's yet to happen.

So we have simple past, simple present, and simple future tenses.

Now, we could also talk about progressive tenses.

So we could say she was sacrificing a lot.

She is sacrificing a lot.

She will be sacrificing a lot.

So we have the progressive past, progressive present, and progressive future tense.

In each of these sentences, the main verb is based on the verb to sacrifice, but you might have seen that some of these tenses need an auxiliary verb to help that main verb to change the tense.

So for instance, we can see she will sacrifice a lot.

In the simple future tense, we have that auxiliary verb will in front of the main verb.

In the progressive tenses, every single one has an auxiliary verb.

Was sacrificing, is sacrificing, will be sacrificing.

So those auxiliary verbs are changing to show us the changing tense.

She was sacrificing, she is sacrificing, she will be sacrificing.

Now I'm sure you noticed there that in those progressive tenses, the main verb always kept that I-N-G suffix.

So for instance, in the progressive present we can see this.

While the secretary is working, the children are waiting.

Both those verbs, working and waiting, have that I-N-G suffix.

In the progressive past, we could say the yacht was sailing and the sales were billowing.

Sailing and billowing both have the I-N-G suffix.

And in the progressive future the government will be deciding shortly.

So look, all those main verbs in those progressive tense sentences have the I-N-G suffix, and it's the auxiliary verb that changes to show when the action was happening.

So for instance, while the secretary is working, the children are listening.

The progressive present.

The yacht was sailing and the sales were billowing.

The progressive past.

And the government will be deciding shortly.

The progressive future.

So it's the auxiliary verb that changes.

The main verb has kept its I-N-G suffix.

So can you decide if each of these progressive tense sentences is in the progressive past, progressive present, or progressive future tense? And remember, you'll have to look at the auxiliary verbs to help you.

Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's have a look together.

In a, I can see I've got I'm and I am.

Now, I'm is the contracted form of I am, so both of those are using am really, so am hoping is the progressive present tense.

In b, we've got will be attaching.

We can see that I-N-G form of attaching, and will be is the future, so this is the progressive future.

And in c, we've got was queuing and was eating.

Well, was suggests the past, so this is the progressive past tense.

Great job if got those.

Now another type of tense other than the simple and the progressive is a perfect tense.

And the perfect tenses use forms of the infinitive to have as their auxiliary verbs.

So just like the progressive tenses and the simple future tense, the perfect tenses need an auxiliary verb, and in this case it's based on the infinitive, the verb to have.

Let's look at some of those forms of the verb to have.

We could say I have, she has, we had, they will have, you haven't, and he hasn't.

And there are many more.

So here's an example of a perfect tense sentence.

You have embarrassed me for years.

We had decoded the symbols.

You will have achieved great things.

It had been an awkward few days.

So maybe you can see in those sentences we've got these forms of the verb to have.

Have, had, will have, and had.

And then we have a main verb.

Embarrassed, decoded, achieved, and been.

So in each case where the perfect tense is, we've got that form of the verb to have, and that form will change depending on what we're trying to say.

So in the perfect tenses, the auxiliary verb is helping a past tense form of the main verb.

Remember that auxiliary verb is based on the verb to have, and then we have a past tense form of our main verb.

So in this sentence, you have embarrassed me for years, we've got that auxiliary verb based on to have, the word have in this case, and then our past tense form of the main verb, you have embarrassed me for years.

Here's another example.

It had been awkward for a few days.

We've got had as our auxiliary verb based on to have, and then we've got been as our past tense form of the main verb to be.

So in each case, an auxiliary verb based on to have, have and had in these two cases, and then our past tense form of our main verb, embarrassed and been in these cases.

So can you find the auxiliary verb based on to have in each of these perfect tense sentences? Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's have a go.

So in a, we've got have known, so have as the auxiliary verb.

In b, we've got will have identified.

Will have as the auxiliary verbs.

And in c, we've got had suggested, so had is the auxiliary verb.

Have, will have, and had are all auxiliary verbs based on that infinitive to have.

And notice how b, we've got actually two auxiliary verbs.

Will and have are both auxiliary verbs there changing that main verb identified.

And you might have spotted those past tense forms, known, identified, and suggested, of the main verb.

Great job.

Now, which of these would we always find in a perfect tense sentence? Pause the video and see if you can spot them all.

Okay, let's see what you got.

We wouldn't have a main verb with an I-N-G suffix.

That would be a progressive tense.

We would have a past tense form of the main verb.

We don't have an auxiliary verb based on the infinitive to be, but we do have an auxiliary verb based on the infinitive to have.

So those are the two parts of our perfect tense.

An auxiliary verb based on to have and a past tense form of our main verb.

Great job if you got this.

Now, just like there were three simple tenses and three progressive tenses, there are three perfect tenses as well.

The perfect past, perfect present, and perfect future.

Let's look at some examples.

We could say I had persuaded him.

I have persuaded him.

I will have persuaded him.

Now you might have spotted here we've got those auxiliary verbs based on to have.

We've got had, have, and will have, and then we've got our past tense form of the main verb.

So what we see here is the perfect past tense, I had persuaded him, the perfect present tense, I have persuaded him, and the perfect future tense, I will have persuaded him.

But I bet you spotted that each time they all use the same past tense form of the main verb.

So just like with those progressive tenses, it's the auxiliary verb which is changing the tense.

I had, I have, and I will have persuaded him.

So which of these sentences are written in the perfect present tense? Now, you'll know because you see an auxiliary verb based on to have and that past tense form of the main verb.

Pause the video and see if any of those sentences contain those two features.

Okay, let's have a look.

a is in the perfect present tense.

It has that auxiliary verb based on to have and the main verb interrupted.

b does not.

It just has the main verb interrupted.

c just has the main verb caused, so it's not in the perfect present tense, but d has that auxiliary verb have and the past tense form of the main verb caused, so it is in the perfect present tense.

So notice how we need that auxiliary verb if we're making the perfect present tense.

Otherwise, we've just used the simple past tense for interrupted and caused with no auxiliary verb.

Great job for getting this.

Now, here's a really important way we use the perfect present tense.

We sometimes use it to show something that started in the past but hasn't yet ended.

Now, in the simple past tense, we might say things like this.

I queued for three hours.

Izzy recognised many different trees.

We went to the cemetery.

In all these cases, the action has ended, I'm not queuing anymore, but if we put those into the perfect present tense, they look like this.

I have queued for three hours, Izzy has recognised many different trees today, and we have been to the cemetery many times.

In these cases, the action's not yet ended.

So I've queued for three hours, and I'm still queuing.

Izzy's recognised many different trees today, but there's no suggestion that that's stopped.

Maybe we're still walking through the forest.

Maybe she's still looking around her trying to spot those trees.

So the perfect present tense shows things that happened in the past and may still be going now.

So can you explain the difference between these two sentences? I occupied the seat next to Aisha for two months.

I have occupied the seat next to Aisha for two months.

We've just got one word difference, that auxiliary verb have.

But what's the difference in the meaning of the two sentences? Pause the video and see if you can explain it.

Okay, let's have a look.

In the first sentence, that's the simple past tense.

I occupied with no auxiliary verb.

And the second one is the perfect present tense with have as the auxiliary verb in front of that past tense form of the main verb occupied.

So what's the difference in the meaning? Well, the first sentence suggests that I no longer sit next to Aisha.

I occupied that seat, and I no longer do.

The second sentence suggests it's been two months so far, but I'm still sitting next to Aisha.

I have occupied it, and I am still doing so.

So it's a small difference, but an important one, and we need to be able to show those differences in our writing.

Well done if you noticed that.

Now, sometimes we can tell that a sentence needs to be written in the perfect present tense because it shows us something that started in the past but is still going.

So I need to show you some examples of sentences which are written wrong, which need to be written in the perfect present tense.

Here's an example.

Since February, I tried to eat more vegetables.

That's not right, is it, because it's not yet finished.

I'm still trying.

So I could say in the perfect present tense since February, I have tried to eat more vegetables.

So I've actually changed that sentence from the simple past tense to the perfect present tense, and now that works because it's still ongoing.

I'm still trying to eat those vegetables.

Here's another bad example.

This year, I worked hard on my pronunciation.

Well, it's not yet finished.

I'm still doing that.

So I could say this year I have worked hard on my pronunciation, and that uses the perfect present tense to show it's still ongoing.

So again, we've changed from the simple past to the perfect present to show the action started in the past and is still going on now.

So can you change these sentences to the perfect present tense to show that the action started in the past and is still going? Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's have a look.

We wouldn't say I spoke this language since I was a baby.

We'd say I have spoken this language since I was a baby.

We've got the auxiliary verb have and that past tense form spoken.

We wouldn't say so far this week, I explained this three times.

We would say so far this week, I have explained this three times with the auxiliary verb and the past tense form of that main verb explained.

So can you see how we've changed the sentence to make it sound right using that perfect present tense? Great job.

Okay, let's do our first task for this lesson.

I'm gonna show you some sentences like the ones you've just seen which don't sound right, and you're going to rewrite them in the perfect present tense.

Then I want you to highlight the verbs that show we have used the perfect present, just like I've done in purple there.

Have is my auxiliary verb and used is my past tense form of my main verb.

So when I read these sentences to you, I bet you'll spot how they sound wrong, and you can think about how you can make them right by using the perfect present.

Sam's mum picked us up from the leisure centre since we were in Year 3.

Since he was a toddler, Jun loved vehicles of all kinds.

So far this year, I saved 50 pounds for a set of toy soldiers.

For the last two years, Izzy learned how to write rhyming poetry.

Jacob and Aisha waited for the opportunity for years.

So far this week, I learned about programming and averages.

So pause the video, rewrite the sentences to make them sound right by using the perfect present tense not forgetting that auxiliary verb based on to have.

Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, here are the sentences rewritten in the perfect present tense using those auxiliary verbs based on the verb to have.

Sam's mum has picked us up from the leisure centre since we were in Year 3.

Since he was a toddler, Jun has loved vehicles of all kinds.

So far this year, I have saved 50 pounds for a set of toy soldiers.

For the last two years, Izzy has learned how to write rhyming poetry.

Jacob and Aisha have waited for this opportunity for years.

And so far this week, I have learned about programming and averages.

Look how in each case we've got an auxiliary verb based on to have and a past tense form of our main verb.

Great job if you've done that and made those sentences sound right.

Well done.

Well done, you've done a fantastic job so far.

We're now going to move on to looking at how we can write some sentences in the perfect present tense.

Now, let's say we have a simple past tense sentence.

We can often change a simple past tense sentence to a perfect present tense sentence just by adding have or has as the auxiliary verb.

Here's a simple past tense sentence.

Jun achieved a lot in PE this year.

To make it the perfect present, we just say Jun has achieved a lot in PE this year.

We could say in the simple past, Andeep and Izzy embarrassed me today.

In the perfect present, Andeep and Izzy have embarrassed me today.

In the simple past, the children suggested ways to improve the school.

In the perfect present, the children have suggested ways to improve the school.

So all we've done is add have or has as the auxiliary verb based on to have in front of the same past tense verb.

Achieved, achieved.

Embarrassed, embarrassed.

Suggested, suggested.

So should we have have or has as the auxiliary verb in each of these sentences? Pause the video and work out what sounds right.

Should it be have or has as the auxiliary verb? Have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

In a, we would say Jacob's cousin has worked in parliament for years.

For b, Sam and Alex have exaggerated what happened.

And for c, I have taken every opportunity to improve.

Great job.

Now, we know that when we change from the simple past tense to the perfect present tense, we have to add the auxiliary verb have or has.

But sometimes the main verb changes too when we use the perfect present tense, and I'm afraid we just have to learn these.

Let's look at some examples.

Here's a simple past tense sentence.

Laura took signatures for the petition.

Now, in the perfect present tense, we wouldn't say Laura has took signatures.

We would say Laura has taken signatures for the petition, so it's changed from took to taken.

Here's another simple past tense sentence.

Jun and Lucas chose to enter the competition.

Now, we wouldn't say Jun and Lucas have chose to enter the competition.

We would say they have chosen to enter the competition.

We've changed from chose to chosen.

Now, in the simple past, we could say we drew pictures of ancient Egyptian temples, but we wouldn't say we have drew pictures.

We would say we have drawn pictures of ancient Egyptian temples.

So again, we've changed from drew to drawn.

So you can see here for these ones we've had to add the auxiliary verb have or has, we've also had to change the main verb to a slightly different past tense form, and we just have to learn what sounds right in those cases.

So here are some more examples of verbs that change when we use the perfect present tense instead of the simple past.

Here they are in the simple past tense.

He saw, they ran, you did, we sang, we went, I knew.

And I bet some of you'll be able to say them with me as I show you what they look like in the perfect present.

We would say he has seen.

We would say they have run.

We'd say you have done.

We have sung.

Well done.

She has gone.

Look at the huge change there from went to gone.

And I have known.

So some of those just change a little bit, but some of them look like completely different words, and we just have to learn what sounds right after the auxiliary verb we've added.

Really well done.

So let's see if we can practise that.

Can you change each simple past tense verb into a perfect present tense verb? And I want you to really think about what sounds right after the auxiliary verb.

So instead of I broke in the simple past, in the perfect present, we'd say I have blank.

Pause the video and fill in those blanks.

Okay, let's have a look.

I broke would become I have broken.

She drank would be she has drunk.

We flew would be we have flown, and they forgot would be they have forgotten.

Really well done if you've got those.

And remember, we just have to think what sounds right once we've put that auxiliary verb in.

Great job.

So if we're given that infinitive, the to form of the verb, we can use it to write sentences in the perfect present.

Let me give you some examples.

Aisha, to fall, over in PE a few times this year.

So we know to make it the perfect present, we'll need our auxiliary verb has or have.

I would say Aisha has.

So then I've got to think what main verb sounds right in the past tense form after that.

I would say Aisha has fallen over in PE a few times this year.

What about this one? Izzy, to give, me so much help in maths this year.

So I'm going to choose the auxiliary verb has, Izzy has.

I wouldn't say Izzy has give, I'd say Izzy has given me so much help in maths this year.

So we've got to think what will sound right once I've put in that auxiliary verb has or have? So let's see if you can have a go.

I want you to use the infinitive, that to form, to make sentences in the perfect present tense.

Here are your sentences.

Pause the video and decide what should those verbs be in the gap? Have a go.

Okay, let's see what you got.

I would say Alex has learned the language so quickly.

And I would say I have known Andeep since were in Year 1 together.

So again, we've got that auxiliary verb has or have, and then whatever past tense form of the verb sounds right.

Great job.

Now, so far, we've seen the same tense used all the way through a sentence, but sometimes we use the perfect present tense in combination with other tenses in the same sentence.

Here's an example.

Since he arrived here, Alex has learned the language so quickly.

So we've got arrived there, which is just a simple past tense verb.

There's no auxiliary verb in front of it.

And then we've got, has learned, which is the perfect present with that auxiliary verb has.

Here's another example.

The castle, which has stood in this spot for centuries, looms over the town.

But I bet you spotted there has stood, which is our perfect present.

And then we've got over here looms, which is in the simple present tense.

So sometimes it sounds right to use a combination of those different tenses.

Okay, so now let's have a go at using the infinitive to create some perfect present tense verbs in these longer sentences where we might have a mixture of tenses, not just the perfect present.

Here's an example.

Because we interrupted several times, Mrs. Bagum, to keep, us in.

Well, we know we need that auxiliary verb, so Mrs. Ham has, and then we would think what sounds right, has kept us in.

So now we've got our perfect present tense verbs.

In this one, we've got I, to ring, your parents because I'm concerned about your stomach problems. So we know it would be, I have.

Then what sounds right next would be I have rung your parents because I'm concerned about your stomach problems. So again, we're thinking what's the auxiliary verb and what past tense form of that main verb sounds right after that auxiliary verb.

Okay, now your turn.

Here are your sentences.

Pause the video and see if you can make those perfect present tense verbs using the infinitive in the brackets.

Have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

We would say since we moved here, we have realised the neighbours are very kind.

And we would say whenever my mom has needed help, I've been there for her.

Again, auxiliary verb first and then the past tense form of the main verb that sounds right afterwards.

Great job.

So let's do our final task for this lesson.

You're going to use the correct form of the infinitive in brackets to complete each sentence using the perfect present tense.

Let's read the sentences and see if you can spot already what might sound right.

Mr. McIntyre, to help, me when I've been struggling this year.

My uncle who, to live, here for years knows all the best restaurants.

Because we, to see, the film before, we don't need to concentrate so hard on the plot.

They, to sing, the same songs every year, improving each time.

We, to wait, to board the yacht for hours, but no one, to arrive.

So each time you're gonna take that verb in brackets, the infinitive, and change it to the perfect present.

So you'll get rid of the word to and it will be have or has followed by whatever past tense form of the verb sounds right after that auxiliary verb.

So pause the video and let's rewrite these sentences in the perfect present tense.

Good luck.

Okay, before we check our answers, let's just check our sentences to see that we've used the perfect present tense correctly.

So does your new verb have the right past tense form? For instance, we know sang would change to sung, ran would change to run, wrote would change to written.

Have you used an auxiliary verb based on the infinitive to have? So have you said has or have before that past tense verb? If you haven't used the auxiliary verb based on to have, you haven't used the perfect present tense, so check that one carefully.

And then have you said your sentence aloud to check it makes sense because remember, in the perfect present tense, we do have to think what sounds right after our auxiliary verb, what form of the verb sounds right in that position? So just make sure you've read them aloud.

Pause the video now and do a careful check.

Okay, now let's reveal these answers.

Let's see what we could have written in the perfect present tense.

We would say Mr. McIntyre has helped me when I've been struggling this year.

We'd say my uncle who has lived here for years knows all the best restaurants.

We'd say because we have seen the film before, we don't need to concentrate so hard on the plot.

We'd say they have sung the same song every year improving each time.

And we'd say we have waited to board the yacht for hours, but no one has arrived.

Each time we have our auxiliary verb based on to have and our past tense form of the main verb.

Great job.

Let's summarise our learning in this lesson.

We've learned that the perfect tenses are formed by using one auxiliary verb based on the verb to have, which is helping a past tense form of the main verb.

We know that the perfect tenses can show past, present, or future action, but we focused in on the perfect present tense.

And we know the perfect present tense is sometimes used to show an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.

And for some verbs, we saw that that past tense form of the main verb changes when we use the perfect present tense.

Really well done for your brilliant learning in this lesson, and I hope to see you again in a future one.

Goodbye.