Compound Tenses Defined

Compound Tenses Defined

Tense

Keep in mind that the word tense is simply a formal way of saying time. In English we think of time as being broken down into three segments: present, past, and future. Both English and Spanish verbs are assigned forms (conjugated) to indicate divisions of time.

Compound Tenses or Perfect Tenses

In addition to the three simple tenses (Present, Past, and Future), there are three so-called perfect tenses in English.

The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb have and the past participle of the main verb. It is used:

(a) to describe an action that has taken place at an indefinite point in past time.

I have read that book.

(b) to describe an action beginning in the past and continuing up to the present moment.

They have lived there for many years.

The Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary had and the past participle of the main verb. It describes an action in the past which took place before a second past action.

He said he had seen that movie.

By the time we arrived, they had left.

The Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense is formed from the auxiliaries will and have, plus the past participle of the main verb. It describes a future action which, at a certain point in future time, will be considered a past action.

By June we will have completed all these exercises.

When you get there, they will have left.