The perfect tense is a verb form that indicates that an action or circumstance occurred earlier, often focusing on the results or consequences rather than on the occurrence itself.
A perfect tense sentence:
I have made dinner.
Although this gives information about a prior action (my making the dinner), the focus is likely to be on the present consequences of that action, which is the fact that the dinner is now ready.
Construction:
Have (has, had, will have) + past participle of a verb
What is a past participle:
Example: "stolen" is the past participle of "steal";
"spoken" is the past participle of "speak";
"seen" is the past participle of "see";
"taken" is the past participle of "take".
In Chinese, the perfect tense construction is:
Verb + 过了 (The verbs in Chinese don't change forms.)
Examples: I have seen this movie. 我看过了这个电影。
I have read this book. 我读过了这本书。
A perfect tense sentence:
I have made dinner.
Although this gives information about a prior action (my making the dinner), the focus is likely to be on the present consequences of that action, which is the fact that the dinner is now ready.
Construction:
Have (has, had, will have) + past participle of a verb
What is a past participle:
Example: "stolen" is the past participle of "steal";
"spoken" is the past participle of "speak";
"seen" is the past participle of "see";
"taken" is the past participle of "take".
In Chinese, the perfect tense construction is:
Verb + 过了 (The verbs in Chinese don't change forms.)
Examples: I have seen this movie. 我看过了这个电影。
I have read this book. 我读过了这本书。