Choose between the past tense and past participle
Key Notes :
The perfect tense usually describes something that has, had, or will have happened. It uses a form of the helping verb to have with the past participle of a verb.
The past participle of a verb is usually the same as its past-tense form, but not always. Some verbs have irregular past participles. You have to remember them.
Toby had seen that film.
I have run a marathon.
The tree has grown taller.
Claire will have had dinner.
The past tense does not use the helping verb to have. It uses the past-tense form of the verb.
Toby saw that film.
I ran a marathon.
The tree grew taller.
Claire had dinner.
Learn with an example
š„Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
- Professor Hall has_______ many talks on Renaissance art.
Gave is the past-tense form of give.
Given is the past participle of give. It is used with the helping verb to have to form the perfect tense.
The sentence uses the helping verb to have, so it is in the perfect tense. Complete the sentence with the past participle, given.
š„Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
- I swept up crumbs from the biscuit Rowland had_______
Ate is the past-tense form of eat.
Eaten is the past participle of eat. It is used with the helping verb to have to form the perfect tense.
The sentence uses the helping verb to have, so it is in the perfect tense. Complete the sentence with the past participle, eaten.
š„Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.
- Alina has_____ here all the way from Moscow.
Flown is the past participle of fly. It is used with the helping verb to have to form the perfect tense.
Flew is the past-tense form of fly.
The sentence uses the helping verb to have, so it is in the perfect tense. Complete the sentence with the past participle, flown.
Let’s practice!
