The use of perfect infinitives How to use perfect infinitives in sentences The use of perfect infinitives in the present, past, and future tenses
The combinationto have past participleis known perfect infinitive. It always has the same meaning as perfect tense in the present, past, and future. The most common verbs after that we use perfect infinitives arepretend, claim, expect, hope, hate, like, prefer, seems, mean, be verbsandmodal verbs.
- ✓ The old mother is happy tohave talkedto her son again.In this sentence,have talkedis a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, The old mother is happy that she has talked to her son again .
- ✓Alia seems tohave quitthe job.In this sentence,have quitis a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, It seems that Alia has quit the job .
- ✓Ali hopes tohave finishedhis CSS preparation by next month.In this sentence,have finishedis a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, Ali hopes that he will finish his CSS preparation by next month .
- ✓ Mr Danish was sorry tohave missedthe English lecture.In this sentence,have missedis a perfect infinitive. The sentence means Danish was sorry that he had missed the English lecture .
The perfect infinitive can refer to activities or states that have happened in the present. In this case, the perfect infinitive gives us the same meaning as the present perfect tense.
Examples
- ✓ He is gladto have founda new job.He is glad that he has found a new job.
- ✓ She seemsto have annoyedher husband.It seems that she has annoyed her husband.
- ✓ She feels ashamedto have lostthe house keys.She feels ashamed that she has lost the house keys.
The perfect infinitive can refer to activities or states that might have happened in the past. In this case, the perfect infinitive always gives us the meaning of the past perfect tense.
Examples
- ✓ He claimedto have attendedall the lectures, but I did not believe him.He claimed that he had attended all the lectures, but I did not believe him.
- ✓ Mr Danish was sorryto have missedthe English lecture.Mr Danish was sorry that he had missed the English lecture.
- ✓ Maria pretendedto have meta number of politicians.Maria pretended that she had met a number of politicians.
We sometimes use the perfect infinitive to talk about the past unreal situation. In this case, the sentence must have two clauses in it. These sentences are usually type-3 conditional.
Examples
| ✓ If you had listened to me carefully, youcould have solvedthat problem. |
| ✓ Danishwould not have diedif he had taken medicines on time. |
| ✓ Theywould have wonthe case if they had hired Farooq, a known advocate in the town. |
| ✓ Shemay have consideredthe offer if she had been talked politely. |
| ✓ Youshould have calledme I was eagerly waiting for you. |
| ✓ Iwould have goneon vacation If I had given such an opportunity. |
The perfect infinitive can refer to activities or states that might happen in the future. In this case, the perfect infinitive always gives us the meaning of the future perfect tense.
Examples
- ✓ I hopeto have completedmy English session by the end of September.I hope that I will have completed my English session by the end of September.
- ✓ She claimsto have concludedher research work by next Monday.She claims that she will have concluded her research work by next Monday.
To refer to unreal situations, states, or activities, we use the perfect infinitive withoutToafter the modal verbscan,could,may,might,should,would,oughtto, andneedn t. In this case, the perfect infinitive always tells us about a past situation that we didn t want to do but did, or we wanted to do but didn t.
Examples
- ✓ Aliashould have calledher mother.She didn t call her mother.
- ✓ Heneedn t have visitedLondon.He visited London.
- ✓ Shewould have goneon a vacation.She didn t go.
- ✓ Youshould have askedmy permission before driving my car.You didn t ask for my permission.
- ✓ Nimrashould have discussedthe issue with Alia, the gynaecologist.Nimra didn t discuss the issue.
- ✓ Heshould not have saidthose words to the officer.He said those words.
- ✓ Youcould have gottenthat project.You didn t get that project.
- ✓ Hewould not havedied.He is dead.
- ✓ Shewould have wonthe case.She lost the case.
- ✓ Imay have consideredthe offer before it vanished.I didn t consider the offer.
Remember, a modal verb with a perfect infinitive does not always refer to unreal past conditions or situations. We sometimes use this structure to talk about possibilities. In this case, it always discusses about present or past certainty or possibility.
Examples
- ✓ Theyshould have arrivedby now.It is possible that they have arrived by now.
- ✓ The thiefmust have brokenthe window and climbed in.It is possible that the thief broke the window and climbed in.
- ✓ Shemay have noticedthe thief s car.It is possible that she has noticed the thief s car.
In the English language, there are two infinitive constructions with passive forms of verbs, such asassume, believe, consider, known, say, suppose, think, understand,etc. When we want to talk about the present situations or states, we use the present infinitiveTo 1stV. However, when we want to talk about previous situations or states, we use the perfect infinitiveTo Have 3rdV.
Examples
- ✓ Aliais known tobe a good English teacher.Everybody knows that Alia is a good English teacher.
- ✓ Aliais known to have beena good English teacher.Before her retirement from the institute, everybody knew that Alia was a good English teacher.
- ✓ Aliawas known to have beena good English teacher.Everybody knew that Alia was a good English teacher. She might be now no more in the world.
- ✓ Heis said to bea good doctor.He is a good doctor.
- ✓ Heis said to have beena good doctor.He was a good doctor. He used to be a good doctor
- ✓ Heis said to drink4 cups of tea daily.He drinks 4 cups of tea daily.
- ✓ Heis said to have drunk4 cups of tea daily.He used to drink 4 cups of tea daily.
- ✓ Sumairais said to have eaten50 bars of chocolates a day.Sumaira used to eat 50 bars of chocolates a day.
A perfect passive infinitive is the perfect infinitive in the passive voice. We use it when we want to focus on the receiver of the action, not the action doer. The structures of the perfect passive infinitives are the following
- ✓ To Be Past Participle To be worked
- ✓ Modal Verb Be Past Participle Should be done
- ✓ To Have Been Past Participle To have been done
- ✓ Modal Verb Have Been Past Participle Should have been done
Examples
- ✓ Danish is happyto be firedfrom the job.
- ✓ The carpet needsto be washed.
- ✓ The main gateshould be shutat night.
- ✓ I am gladto have been contactedby you.
- ✓ The corporationmay have been soldlast month.
- ✓ Weshould have been toldabout the charges.
| ✓ He seemsto have haddinner already. |
| ✓ He appearedto have slappedsomebody in the party. |
| ✓ We are delightedto have signeda new contract. |
| ✓ Ihave never regratedto have married Alia. |
| ✓ She always pretendedto have attendedall the meetings. |
| ✓ Before she turns 50, she wantsto have joinedthe writing club. |
| ✓ I would liketo have beento the Shah-i-Qila when I was in Lahore. |
| ✓ The thiefmust have brokenthe window and climbed in. |
| ✓ Shemay have noticedthe thief s car. |
| ✓ Youshould have askedmy permission before driving my car. |
| ✓ Nimrashould have discussedthe issue with Alia, the gynaecologist. |
- ✓ It is possible that she left the office.Shemight have leftthe office.
- ✓ I listened to her carefully, and it was a mistake.Ishould not have listenedto her carefully.
- ✓ She is sure that her husband sent the parcel.Her husbandmust have sentthe parcel.
- ✓ It is impossible that Danish had a bath.Danishcould not have hada bath.
- ✓ It happened that I had bought such a piano before.I happenedto have boughtsuch a piano before.
- ✓ He pretended that he smiled at me.He pretendedto have smiledat me.
- ✓ She is happy that she has left school.She is happyto have leftschool.
- ✓ It seems that you have annoyed your friends.You seemto have annoyedyour friends.
- ✓ I am relaxed that I have finished my word.I am relaxedto have finishedmy work.
- ✓ Everybody knows that she abandoned her family.Sheis known to have abandonedher family.
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim s students write and score the highest marks in the essays papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
Are you searching for CSS 2023 solved essays by Sir Syed Kazim Ali s students? Click on any of the topics to start reading the solved essays.
| 1-Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone |
| 2- The one who uses force is afraid of reasoning |
| 3- Not all recycling projects are cost-effective |
| 4-The fool speaks, and the wise listen |
| 5- A friend walks in when everyone else walks out |
| 6- Online learning is not only convenient but often more effective than traditional classroom instruction |
| 7-To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food |
| 8- People have become overly dependent on technology |
| 9- Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child |
| 10- Boys will be boys |
Want to read the last ten years General Science Ability Solved Past Papers to learn how to attempt them and to score high? Let s click on the link below to read them all freely. All past papers have been solved byMiss Iqra Ali & Dr Nishat Baloch, Pakistan s top CSS GSA coach having the highest score of their students.
General Science Ability Solved Past Papers
The following are some of the most important articles for CSS and PMS aspirants. Click on any to start reading.