The perfect aspect
The perfect aspect of these tenses might be the source
of confusion for some
learners. But what does it mean?
By definition, the perfect aspect looks back from a
specific point of time and
refers to all those things that occurred up to that time or that are relevant at that
time.
As implied by their names, with the present perfect
we recall the past from the
present. And with the past perfect, we look back from a specific time in the past.
These examples will make this point clearer:
I have never played the piano before an audience in my life.
(This means that up until now, this has been my experience.)
When I auditioned for the music scholarship, I had never played the piano
before an audience.
(Meaning: the first time I played before an audience was in my audition.)
The timelines of the present perfect and the past perfect
How is the past time involved in these tenses?
When we refer to past actions that happened at an indefinite time,
the present
perfect is the right choice.
He has written several movie scripts.
With this, the action starts in the past but somehow extends up to the present. It
might be because that event is unfinished, or that
it may be relevant to the
present time.
I have lived in Rome for 10 years now.
(I’m still living in Rome)
And what about the past perfect?
We use it when talking about a past action that’s finished before a certain time or
before another past action. In other words, an action or actions happening before
another.
I had lived in Italy for 10 years before moving to London.
(Meaning: after ten years, I moved to London)
It’s time to check the present perfect and the past perfect individually.