Perfect infinitives and participles
B2 Upper IntermediatePerfect infinitives and participles describe actions that happened before the time of the main verb. They allow for more concise sentence structures by replacing subordinate clauses.
Overview
The perfect infinitive (to have done) is used after certain verbs to refer to an earlier action or state. The perfect participle (having done) is used in participle clauses to show that one action was completed before another began.
Form
to have + past participle / having + past participle
The perfect infinitive uses the base form of 'have' regardless of the subject. The perfect participle always begins with the '-ing' form of 'have'.
Perfect vs. Present Forms
Use the perfect form only when the sequence of events is not already clear or when emphasizing completion.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present Infinitive | He seems to be ill. | He is ill now. |
| Perfect Infinitive | He seems to have been ill. | He was ill in the past. |
| Present Participle | Walking home, I saw him. | The actions happened at the same time. |
| Perfect Participle | Having walked home, I rested. | The walking finished before the resting. |
Examples
Common mistakes
I would like to have seen the film yesterday.
I would have liked to see the film yesterday.
While 'would like to have seen' is common in speech, 'would have liked to see' is the standard way to express an unfulfilled past desire.
Having finish my lunch, I went back to work.
Having finished my lunch, I went back to work.
The perfect participle always requires the past participle form of the main verb.
Practice
Rewrite using a perfect participle: 'After he had lost his keys, he couldn't get into the house.'
Show answer
Having lost his keys, he couldn't get into the house.
Answer:Having lost his keys, he couldn't get into the house.
Why:The perfect participle 'having lost' replaces the 'after' clause to show the first action was completed before the second.
Complete the sentence: 'The painting is thought ______ (stolen) in 1990.'
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to have been stolen
Answer:to have been stolen
Why:A passive perfect infinitive is needed because the painting was the object of the theft which happened in the past.
Choose the correct form: 'She was lucky (to have survived / to survive) the accident last week.'
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to have survived
Answer:to have survived
Why:The perfect infinitive is used because the survival happened before the state of being 'lucky' was identified.