Mastering Perfect Tenses: A Comprehensive Guide to ‘Has Completed’ and ‘Had Completed’
Understanding and using the perfect tenses correctly can significantly elevate the clarity and sophistication of your writing and speech. This article provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to mastering the use of ‘has completed’ (present perfect) and ‘had completed’ (past perfect), complete with examples and practical exercises.
## What are Perfect Tenses?
Perfect tenses are verb tenses that indicate completed actions or states with a connection to a specific point in time, either the present (present perfect) or the past (past perfect). They are formed using a form of the auxiliary verb ‘have’ (has/had) and the past participle of the main verb.
## Understanding ‘Has Completed’: The Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense, formed with ‘has’ (for singular subjects) or ‘have’ (for plural subjects) + past participle, expresses actions or states that:
* **Started in the past and continue to the present:** This indicates an action or situation that began at some point in the past and is still ongoing or relevant in the present.
* **Happened at an unspecified time in the past:** The exact time is not important or not known. The focus is on the completion of the action and its present relevance.
* **Recently finished actions with present results:** The action is finished, but its consequences are still apparent in the present.
* **Repeated actions within a time period leading up to the present:** The action has occurred multiple times between a point in the past and the present moment.
**Formula:**
* Singular Subject: `He/She/It + has + completed`
* Plural Subject: `We/You/They + have + completed`
* Singular Noun: `The company + has + completed`
* Plural Noun: `The students + have + completed`
**Detailed Breakdown with Examples:**
1. **Action started in the past and continues to the present:**
* *Example:* “The company **has completed** several projects this year.” (The company started completing projects earlier this year and continues to do so.)
* *Explanation:* The action of completing projects began in the past (at the beginning of the year) and likely continues into the present.
2. **Action happened at an unspecified time in the past:**
* *Example:* “She **has completed** her degree.” (The exact time of completion is not important; the focus is on the fact that she now holds a degree.)
* *Explanation:* We don’t need to know exactly when she finished her degree. What’s important is that she has it now, and this fact might affect her current situation.
3. **Recently finished actions with present results:**
* *Example:* “He **has completed** the marathon, and he’s exhausted.” (The completion of the marathon is recent, and the result is his exhaustion.)
* *Explanation:* The marathon was recently finished, and the consequence of that event (exhaustion) is still being felt in the present.
4. **Repeated actions within a time period leading up to the present:**
* *Example:* “They **have completed** the training module three times this month.” (The training module has been completed repeatedly within the current month.)
* *Explanation:* The completion of the training module has happened more than once during the month, and the month is still in progress.
**Examples in Different Sentence Structures:**
* **Affirmative:** “The team **has completed** the task ahead of schedule.”
* **Negative:** “The team **has not completed** the task yet.”
* **Interrogative:** “**Has** the team **completed** the task?”
**Common Time Expressions Used with Present Perfect:**
* Ever
* Never
* Yet
* Already
* Just
* Recently
* So far
* This week/month/year
* Since
* For
**Example using time expression:**
“She **has completed** her assignment *already*.”
## Understanding ‘Had Completed’: The Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense, formed with ‘had’ + past participle, expresses actions or states that were completed *before* a specific point in time in the past. It emphasizes the sequence of events, showing that one action was finished before another action occurred.
**Key Characteristics:**
* **Completion before a Past Action:** It indicates that one action was finished before another action in the past occurred. This emphasizes the order of events.
* **Cause and Effect in the Past:** It can also show a cause-and-effect relationship in the past, where the action completed with ‘had completed’ caused the subsequent past action.
**Formula:**
* Subject: `I/He/She/It/We/You/They + had + completed`
* Noun: `The project + had + completed`
**Detailed Breakdown with Examples:**
1. **Completion before a Past Action:**
* *Example:* “By the time I arrived at the office, she **had completed** the report.” (Her completing the report happened before your arrival.)
* *Explanation:* Two actions are described: arriving at the office and completing the report. The past perfect ‘had completed’ clearly indicates that the report was finished before the arrival.
2. **Cause and Effect in the Past:**
* *Example:* “Because he **had completed** all his assignments, he was allowed to go home early.” (Completing the assignments was the cause, and being allowed to go home was the effect.)
* *Explanation:* His completion of the assignments led to the consequence of being allowed to leave early. The past perfect highlights the causal relationship.
**Examples in Different Sentence Structures:**
* **Affirmative:** “They **had completed** the training before the new system was implemented.”
* **Negative:** “They **had not completed** the training before the new system was implemented.”
* **Interrogative:** “**Had** they **completed** the training before the new system was implemented?”
**Common Time Expressions Used with Past Perfect:**
* Before
* After
* By the time
* Until
* As soon as
* When (in the context of sequence)
**Example using time expression:**
“*Before* the meeting started, he **had completed** the presentation.”
## Common Mistakes to Avoid
* **Confusing Present Perfect and Simple Past:** The present perfect (has/have completed) connects the past to the present. The simple past (completed) refers to a finished action with no present connection.
* *Incorrect:* “I have completed the project yesterday.” (Yesterday specifies a definite time in the past, so use simple past)
* *Correct:* “I completed the project yesterday.” or “I have completed the project.” (If you don’t mention *when*, present perfect works)
* **Confusing Past Perfect and Simple Past:** The past perfect (had completed) is used to show which of two past actions happened first. If there’s only one past action, or if the order is clear from the context, use the simple past (completed).
* *Incorrect:* “I had completed the report and then I went home.” (The ‘then’ makes the order clear, so simple past is fine).
* *Correct:* “I completed the report and then I went home.” or “After I had completed the report, I went home.” (The ‘After’ implies one action preceded the other)
* **Using Present Perfect for Finished Actions in the Past (with specific time):** If you are talking about an action completed at a specific time in the past, use the simple past tense, not the present perfect.
* *Incorrect:* “She has completed the test last week.”
* *Correct:* “She completed the test last week.”
* **Overusing Past Perfect:** Only use the past perfect when it’s necessary to clarify the sequence of past events. If the order is obvious from context or time adverbs, use the simple past.
## Practical Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb ‘complete’ (has/have/had completed, or completed):
1. She _______ (complete) the assignment before the deadline.
2. They _______ (complete) the project last year.
3. We _______ (complete) all the necessary training.
4. He _______ (complete) only half of the task so far.
5. By the time the guests arrived, she _______ (complete) the preparations.
6. _______ (you/complete) the application form yet?
7. I _______ (complete) the book and watched the movie version afterward.
8. The company _______ (complete) a major overhaul of its website.
9. They _______ (complete) their mission successfully.
10. Before he retired, he _______ (complete) over 40 years of service.
**Answers:**
1. completed
2. completed
3. have completed
4. has completed
5. had completed
6. Have you completed
7. completed
8. has completed
9. completed
10. had completed
## Advanced Tips for Using Perfect Tenses
* **Emphasis and Nuance:** Choosing between the present perfect and simple past, or between the past perfect and simple past, allows you to subtly change the emphasis of your sentence.
* **Formal vs. Informal:** In very informal speech, the simple past is sometimes used where the present perfect might be more accurate. However, in formal writing, it’s essential to use the perfect tenses correctly.
* **Narrative Writing:** The past perfect tense is a powerful tool for creating flashbacks and establishing the timeline of events in a story.
## Conclusion
Mastering the present perfect (‘has completed’) and past perfect (‘had completed’) tenses is crucial for clear and accurate communication. By understanding the specific uses and nuances of these tenses, you can express yourself more effectively and avoid common grammatical errors. Practice regularly with the examples and exercises provided in this guide, and you will be well on your way to using perfect tenses with confidence. Remember to focus on the relationship between time, actions, and their relevance to either the present or another point in the past. With consistent effort, you can confidently incorporate these powerful grammatical tools into your writing and speech.