Level 10 – Step 03 : Perfect Forms of Non-finite Verbs (She seems to have left already. I would like to have finished by then.)
/Level 10 – Step 03 : Perfect Forms of Non-finite Verbs (She seems to have left already. I would like to have finished by then.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will look at perfect forms of non-finite verbs — things like the perfect infinitive — and how they help us talk about time and completed actions.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will look at perfect forms of non-finite verbs — things like the perfect infinitive — and how they help us talk about time and completed actions.
🐧Igupen: Perfect forms? Do they show that something already happened?
/🐧Igupen: Perfect forms? Do they show that something already happened?
🦉Professor Owl: Exactly.
/🦉Professor Owl: Exactly.
They let us show that one action was completed before another idea in the sentence.
/They let us show that one action was completed before another idea in the sentence.
Listen to the examples and feel the time order.
/Listen to the examples and feel the time order.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are perfect forms of non-finite verbs?
/What are perfect forms of non-finite verbs?
Perfect non-finite verbs use have + past participle after verbs that take infinitives or gerunds.
/Perfect non-finite verbs use have + past participle after verbs that take infinitives or gerunds.
They show that an action finished before another time or action.
/They show that an action finished before another time or action.
Two common uses
/Two common uses
1. Perfect infinitive: to have + past participle (She seems to have left already.)
/1. Perfect infinitive: to have + past participle (She seems to have left already.)
2. Perfect in modal or desire constructions: would like to have + past participle (I would like to have finished by then.)
/2. Perfect in modal or desire constructions: would like to have + past participle (I would like to have finished by then.)
Why we use them (simple explanation)
/Why we use them (simple explanation)
To show completion before now or before another past or future point.
/To show completion before now or before another past or future point.
They help speakers be clear about the order of events without extra words.
/They help speakers be clear about the order of events without extra words.
Common patterns
/Common patterns
Verb + perfect infinitive: seem/appear/claim + to have + V3 → used when the speaker guesses about a completed action.
/Verb + perfect infinitive: seem/appear/claim + to have + V3 → used when the speaker guesses about a completed action.
Example: She seems to have left already.
/Example: She seems to have left already.
Modal or attitude + perfect infinitive: would like/would prefer/wish + to have + V3 → regret or desire about a completed action.
/Modal or attitude + perfect infinitive: would like/would prefer/wish + to have + V3 → regret or desire about a completed action.
Example: I would like to have finished by then.
/Example: I would like to have finished by then.
When to choose perfect vs simple non-finite
/When to choose perfect vs simple non-finite
Use perfect if the action was completed earlier than the time you mean.
/Use perfect if the action was completed earlier than the time you mean.
Use simple to + verb when the action and the reference time are the same or future.
/Use simple to + verb when the action and the reference time are the same or future.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Ask: “Did the action finish before the main time?” If yes, use have + past participle after the verb that takes an infinitive or after modal expressions like would like.
/Ask: “Did the action finish before the main time?” If yes, use have + past participle after the verb that takes an infinitive or after modal expressions like would like.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
She seems to have left already.
/She seems to have left already.
The leaving finished before now (seems + perfect infinitive).
/The leaving finished before now (seems + perfect infinitive).
I would like to have finished by then.
/I would like to have finished by then.
The speaker wishes the finishing to be completed by a certain time (wish about completion).
/The speaker wishes the finishing to be completed by a certain time (wish about completion).
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 She seems to have left already.
/No.01 She seems to have left already.
No.02 They are believed to have arrived early.
/No.02 They are believed to have arrived early.
No.03 He appears to have forgotten his keys.
/No.03 He appears to have forgotten his keys.
No.04 I would like to have finished by six o’clock.
/No.04 I would like to have finished by six o’clock.
No.05 She claimed to have seen the comet last night.
/No.05 She claimed to have seen the comet last night.
No.06 We hoped to have completed the work before winter.
/No.06 We hoped to have completed the work before winter.
No.07 He is thought to have won the prize.
/No.07 He is thought to have won the prize.
No.08 I would prefer to have known earlier.
/No.08 I would prefer to have known earlier.
No.09 The students seem to have studied hard for the test.
/No.09 The students seem to have studied hard for the test.
No.10 She promised to have prepared the report by Monday.
/No.10 She promised to have prepared the report by Monday.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Choose the correct form: “She seems (to leave / to have left) already.”
/Q1: Choose the correct form: “She seems (to leave / to have left) already.”
Q2: Fill in: They are believed ___ (arrive) early.
/Q2: Fill in: They are believed ___ (arrive) early.
Q3: Change to perfect infinitive: “People think he finished the job.” → He is thought ___ the job.
/Q3: Change to perfect infinitive: “People think he finished the job.” → He is thought ___ the job.
Q4: Choose the correct sentence: A) I would like to finish by then. B) I would like to have finished by then.
/Q4: Choose the correct sentence: A) I would like to finish by then. B) I would like to have finished by then.
Q5: Fill in the blank: He appears ___ (forget) his wallet.
/Q5: Fill in the blank: He appears ___ (forget) his wallet.
Q6: Rewrite with perfect infinitive: “She said she saw the comet.” → She claimed ___ the comet.
/Q6: Rewrite with perfect infinitive: “She said she saw the comet.” → She claimed ___ the comet.
Q7: True or False: Use perfect infinitive when the action finished before the main time.
/Q7: True or False: Use perfect infinitive when the action finished before the main time.
Q8: Choose the correct form: “We hoped (to complete / to have completed) the project before May.”
/Q8: Choose the correct form: “We hoped (to complete / to have completed) the project before May.”
Q9: Fill in: They are believed ___ (win) the game.
/Q9: Fill in: They are believed ___ (win) the game.
Q10: Correct the sentence if needed: “I want to have finished yesterday.”
/Q10: Correct the sentence if needed: “I want to have finished yesterday.”
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: to have left.
/A1: to have left.
A2: to have arrived → They are believed to have arrived early.
/A2: to have arrived → They are believed to have arrived early.
A3: to have finished → He is thought to have finished the job.
/A3: to have finished → He is thought to have finished the job.
A4: B is correct: I would like to have finished by then.
/A4: B is correct: I would like to have finished by then.
A5: to have forgotten → He appears to have forgotten his wallet.
/A5: to have forgotten → He appears to have forgotten his wallet.
A6: to have seen → She claimed to have seen the comet.
/A6: to have seen → She claimed to have seen the comet.
A7: True.
/A7: True.
A8: to have completed is better → We hoped to have completed the project before May.
/A8: to have completed is better → We hoped to have completed the project before May.
A9: to have won → They are believed to have won the game.
/A9: to have won → They are believed to have won the game.
A10: Correction: “I wanted to have finished yesterday” is still awkward; better: “I wanted to finish yesterday” or “I wish I had finished yesterday”.
/A10: Correction: “I wanted to have finished yesterday” is still awkward; better: “I wanted to finish yesterday” or “I wish I had finished yesterday”.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Well done.
/🦉Professor Owl: Well done.
Perfect non-finite forms are small but powerful—use them when one action finishes before another.
/Perfect non-finite forms are small but powerful—use them when one action finishes before another.
🐧Igupen: I’ll listen for verbs like seem, appear, believe, and phrases like would like, and check whether the action finished first.
/🐧Igupen: I’ll listen for verbs like seem, appear, believe, and phrases like would like, and check whether the action finished first.
🦉Professor Owl: Excellent.
/🦉Professor Owl: Excellent.
Try writing five sentences: three with to have + past participle and two showing wishes or regrets (would like / wish + to have + V3).
/Try writing five sentences: three with to have + past participle and two showing wishes or regrets (would like / wish + to have + V3).
Keep practicing and the time order will feel natural.
/Keep practicing and the time order will feel natural.
