4th class

Last class we saw the past perfect. I don't know if I understood well, but I'll try to write about it. If you think I'm not right, please help me.

I think it will be easier if we compare the present and past perfect.

The structure of present perfect is:

(Present simple of auxiliary verb) + (Past participle of main verb)

Ex.: "They have been to Europe." or "She has done it."

And the structure of past perfect is:

(Past simple of auxiliary verb) + (Past participle of main verb)

Ex.: "They had overslept." or "It had happened."

The present perfect is used when:

• you want to talk about what happened, but you don't know the exact moment: Ex.: "I have found a wallet on the street.";
• you want to talk about something that just happened. Ex.: "We've just seen your brother.";
• there are actions started in the past and still happen: Ex.: "I have lived in the same house for ten years.";
• you want to talk about actions that already happened. Ex.: "I've already done the exercises.";
• you want to ask if something already happened. Ex.: "Have you done the exercises already/yet?"

The past perfect is used when:

• you want to talk about something happened before another action in the past. Ex.: "When we arrived, he had already gone.";
• you want to talk about an action that had just happened. Ex.: "When we arrived, he had just already gone.";
• you want to talk about actions were completely finished. Ex.: "By the time my parents arrived home, I had cleaned the whole house.";
• you want express your regrets about something happened. Ex.: "I wish I had told them the whole truth."

If you have doubts or want to add more examples, please leave a comment and we will ask the teacher, right?