perfect tense
Americannoun
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Grammar. the present perfect.
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Grammar. any of a number of other verb tenses used to express an action or state that is or will be complete by some point of reference in time, and that is thought of with regard to its relevance or effect for that time: the pluperfect and future perfect are perfect tenses.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If you are writing for a course in history, art history, philosophy, religion, or a related discipline in the humanities, you generally will use the present tense or the present perfect tense in signal phrases.
From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021
“Have died” is the verb “to die” in the active voice and the perfect tense.
From Economist ● May 24, 2018
On April 1 another story on the same experiment showed up in Neave’s local newspaper, phrased in the present perfect tense, as if the work had recently been carried out.
From Slate ● Feb. 5, 2015
The assignment is to write a sentence using the present perfect tense to express your determination to achieve a specific goal by a certain age.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 21, 2015
“I’ve only gone as far as the past perfect tense in my French book.”
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
