Learn the Perfect Tenses Easily in 12 Minutes

Summary

In this lesson, Lucy explains the use of perfect tenses in English, focusing on the present, past, and future perfect simple tenses. She provides clear explanations and practical examples for life experiences, unfinished actions, and consequences. Through simple, accessible language, Lucy clarifies the formation and usage of these tenses, making them easier to grasp. She also introduces her free Perfect Ebook and exercise pack for further learning and practice. Whether you're at a B1, B2, or C1 level, this lesson helps you understand the perfect aspect of English grammar with confidence.

Takeaways

• 😀 The lesson focuses on understanding and using the perfect tenses in English, specifically the present, past, and future perfect simple tenses.
• 😀 The perfect tenses are often challenging for students, but with the right explanation, they can be mastered and used with confidence.
• 😀 The presenter introduces the concept of 'aspect' in grammar, explaining that it adds nuance to how we view actions (completed or continuing).
• 😀 The present perfect simple is used to talk about experiences up to the present, without specifying when exactly they occurred.
• 😀 The past perfect simple is used to describe actions completed before a specific point in the past.
• 😀 The future perfect simple is used to talk about actions that will be completed before a certain point in the future.
• 😀 Positive sentences in the present perfect simple are formed with subject + have/has + past participle, while the past perfect simple uses subject + had + past participle.
• 😀 Contractions are commonly used in spoken English and informal writing, such as 'I've' for 'I have', 'He's' for 'He has', and 'Hadn't' for 'Had not'.
• 😀 The three key uses of the perfect tenses are: life experiences, unfinished states/actions, and consequences.
• 😀 The lesson is complemented by a free ebook, which provides more detailed explanations, examples, and access to interactive exercises to reinforce understanding.

Q & A

What is the main focus of today's lesson?

The main focus of today's lesson is the perfect tenses in English, specifically the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect simple tenses.

Why does the speaker believe many students struggle with perfect tenses?

The speaker believes students struggle with perfect tenses because explanations in grammar books are often unclear and the tenses themselves can be confusing.

What is the difference between tense and aspect in English grammar?

Tense in English refers to the time of an action (present or past), while aspect refers to the way we view the action, such as whether it's complete or continuing.

How do we form positive sentences in the present perfect simple tense?

Positive sentences in the present perfect simple are formed by using the subject + 'have' or 'has' + past participle (e.g., 'I have been to London').

How do we form negative sentences in the past perfect simple tense?

Negative sentences in the past perfect simple are formed by using subject + 'had' + 'not' + past participle (e.g., 'She had not been to London').

What is a common contraction for 'have' in spoken English?

In spoken English, 'have' is often contracted to 've (e.g., 'I've been to London').

When do we use the present perfect simple tense?

We use the present perfect simple tense to talk about life experiences up to the present time, without specifying when exactly they occurred.

Can the past perfect simple be used to talk about life experiences before a specific point in the past?

Yes, the past perfect simple is used to discuss life experiences that occurred before a certain point in the past (e.g., 'I had been to New York by the time I was 25').

What is the use of the future perfect simple tense?

The future perfect simple tense is used to talk about an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future (e.g., 'I will have been to New York by the time I am 35').

How does the speaker suggest using the perfect tenses to talk about unfinished actions?

The perfect tenses can be used to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to a certain point in time, often including the duration of the action (e.g., 'I have lived in Manchester for 5 years').