Search from various English teachers...
Italy flagclaudio
Have/has + part pas, have/has + been + part pas or was + part pas..... Hi ALL, I usually have a big problem to understand if I've to use "have/has + part pas" or "have/has been + part pas" or "was/were + part pas". have/has + part pas we use when speaking about a thing done in the past that continues in the present or about a thing done in the past but we don't indicate a precision time: ex: I've become father a long time ago. I've gone to holiday last year. has/have been + part pas we use when speaking about a thing happened to subject in the past that continues now or we don't indicate a precision time: ex: The document has been written with a error. My friend has never been in prison. was/were + part pas we use when we speaking about a thing happened and terminated in the past but we don't specify the tyme: ex: I was borned in 1971 The document was written from Mario with a mistake, after I've corrected it. Maybe the firsts two are right....however on the last one I have a lot doubts... Thank in advance.

Answers · 3

1
First thing: you're using "part pas" as a short form for "past participle," right? That short form is likely to confuse some people, since it's not commonly used in English grammar books. Just wanted to let you know. You seem a bit confused about English tenses so let me give you a really basic overview. English has 4 past tenses: 1. Simple past, e.g. - I walked 2. Imperfect/past continuous, e.g. - I was walking 3. Past perfect, e.g. - I had walked 4. Past perfect continuous, e.g. - I had been walking Note that #1 has no auxiliary verb, #2 uses "to be" as an auxiliary, and #3 and #4 use "to have" as an auxiliary. #1 and #2 are the most common. English also has two present tenses that make some reference to the past (there are other present tenses I am not listing here; I am only listing the ones that are easily confused with past tenses): 1. Present perfect, e.g. - I have walked This is when you're talking in the present about something you have already finished. "I have cooked enough food for everyone." "I have seen problems like this before." 2. Present perfect continuous, e.g. - I have been walking This is when you're talking about something that started in the past but is still going on in the present. "I have been walking for 3 hours and I am almost there." "I have known him for 4 years and we're still good friends." Both of these use "to have" as an auxiliary. They can be hard to get right, and they seem to be the ones confusing you most. - Many of the examples you give are wrong: I've become father a long time ago - wrong I became a father a long time ago - right I've gone to holiday last year - wrong I went on holiday last year - right The document has been written with a error - wrong The document was written with an error - right I was borned in 1971 - wrong I was born in 1971 - right

Still haven’t found your answers?

Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!

Start Learning Today