Present Perfect e Past Perfect
Present Perfect and Past Perfect are two verb tenses that are often used in advanced English to talk about the past, but with different focuses.
Present Perfect: connects the past with the present.
Structure: have/has +
We use it when the action happened in an undefined time or still has an impact on the present.
I have visited London three times.
(I visited London three times – and I may visit again.)
She has just finished her homework.
(She has just finished – that is, it is still fresh.)
Past Perfect: talks about an action that happened before another action in the past.
Structure: had + past participle
By the time we arrived, the movie had started.
(When we arrived, the movie had already started.)
He had never seen snow before his trip to Canada.
(He had never seen snow before the trip.)
In short:
Present Perfect: past with connection to the present
Past Perfect: past of the past
Did you know??