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 combination “to have + past participle” is 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 are ‘pretend, claim, expect, hope, hate, like, prefer, seems, mean, be verbs and modal verbs’.
Examples of Perfect Infinitives
- ✓ The old mother is happy to have talked to her son again.
In this sentence, “have talked” is a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, ‘The old mother is happy that she has talked to her son again’.
- ✓ Alia seems to have quit the job.
In this sentence, “have quit” is a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, ‘It seems that Alia has quit the job’.
- ✓ Ali hopes to have finished his CSS preparation by next month.
In this sentence, “have finished” is a perfect infinitive. The sentence means, ‘Ali hopes that he will finish his CSS preparation by next month’.
- ✓ Mr Danish was sorry to have missed the English lecture.
In this sentence, “have missed” is a perfect infinitive. The sentence means ‘Danish was sorry that he had missed the English lecture’.
The Uses of Perfect Infinitives
The Use of Perfect Infinitives in the Present
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 glad to have found a new job.
(He is glad that he has found a new job.)
- ✓ She seems to have annoyed her husband.
(It seems that she has annoyed her husband.)
- ✓ She feels ashamed to have lost the house keys.
(She feels ashamed that she has lost the house keys.)
The Use of Perfect Infinitives in the Past
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 claimed to have attended all 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 sorry to have missed the English lecture.
(Mr Danish was sorry that he had missed the English lecture.)
- ✓ Maria pretended to have met a number of politicians.
(Maria pretended that she had met a number of politicians.)
Exception
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, you could have solved that problem. |
| ✓ Danish would not have died if he had taken medicines on time. |
| ✓ They would have won the case if they had hired Farooq, a known advocate in the town. |
| ✓ She may have considered the offer if she had been talked politely. |
| ✓ You should have called me; I was eagerly waiting for you. |
| ✓ I would have gone on vacation If I had given such an opportunity. |
The Use of Perfect Infinitives in the Future
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 hope to have completed my English session by the end of September.
(I hope that I will have completed my English session by the end of September.)
- ✓ She claims to have concluded her research work by next Monday.
(She claims that she will have concluded her research work by next Monday.)
The Use of Perfect Infinitives with Modal Verbs
To refer to unreal situations, states, or activities, we use the perfect infinitive (without “To”) after the modal verbs: can, could, may, might, should, would, ought to, and needn’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
- ✓ Alia should have called her mother.
(She didn’t call her mother.)
- ✓ He needn’t have visited London.
(He visited London.)
- ✓ She would have gone on a vacation.
(She didn’t go.)
- ✓ You should have asked my permission before driving my car.
(You didn’t ask for my permission.)
- ✓ Nimra should have discussed the issue with Alia, the gynaecologist.
(Nimra didn’t discuss the issue.)
- ✓ He should not have said those words to the officer.
(He said those words.)
- ✓ You could have gotten that project.
(You didn’t get that project.)
- ✓ He would not have died.
(He is dead.)
- ✓ She would have won the case.
(She lost the case.)
- ✓ I may have considered the offer before it vanished.
(I didn’t consider the offer.)
Exception
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
- ✓ They should have arrived by now.
(It is possible that they have arrived by now.)
- ✓ The thief must have broken the window and climbed in.
(It is possible that the thief broke the window and climbed in.)
- ✓ She may have noticed the thief’s car.
(It is possible that she has noticed the thief’s car.)
The Present Situations or States vs Previous Situations or States
In the English language, there are two infinitive constructions with passive forms of verbs, such as assume, believe, consider, known, say, suppose, think, understand, etc. When we want to talk about the present situations or states, we use the present infinitive (To + 1st V). However, when we want to talk about previous situations or states, we use the perfect infinitive (To + Have + 3rd V).
Examples
- ✓ Alia is known to be a good English teacher.
(Everybody knows that Alia is a good English teacher.)
- ✓ Alia is known to have been a good English teacher.
(Before her retirement from the institute, everybody knew that Alia was a good English teacher.)
- ✓ Alia was known to have been a good English teacher.
(Everybody knew that Alia was a good English teacher. She might be now no more in the world.)
- ✓ He is said to be a good doctor.
(He is a good doctor.)
- ✓ He is said to have been a good doctor.
(He was a good doctor. / He used to be a good doctor)
- ✓ He is said to drink 4 cups of tea daily.
(He drinks 4 cups of tea daily.)
- ✓ He is said to have drunk 4 cups of tea daily.
(He used to drink 4 cups of tea daily.)
- ✓ Sumaira is said to have eaten 50 bars of chocolates a day.
Sumaira used to eat 50 bars of chocolates a day.
What is the Perfect Passive Infinitive?
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 happy to be fired from the job.
- ✓ The carpet needs to be washed.
- ✓ The main gate should be shut at night.
- ✓ I am glad to have been contacted by you.
- ✓ The corporation may have been sold last month.
- ✓ We should have been told about the charges.
More Examples
| ✓ He seems to have had dinner already. |
| ✓ He appeared to have slapped somebody in the party. |
| ✓ We are delighted to have signed a new contract. |
| ✓ I have never regrated to have married Alia. |
| ✓ She always pretended to have attended all the meetings. |
| ✓ Before she turns 50, she wants to have joined the writing club. |
| ✓ I would like to have been to the Shah-i-Qila when I was in Lahore. |
| ✓ The thief must have broken the window and climbed in. |
| ✓ She may have noticed the thief’s car. |
| ✓ You should have asked my permission before driving my car. |
| ✓ Nimra should have discussed the issue with Alia, the gynaecologist. |
More Examples to Understand the Concept
- ✓ It is possible that she left the office.
She might have left the office.
- ✓ I listened to her carefully, and it was a mistake.
I should not have listened to her carefully.
- ✓ She is sure that her husband sent the parcel.
Her husband must have sent the parcel.
- ✓ It is impossible that Danish had a bath.
Danish could not have had a bath.
- ✓ It happened that I had bought such a piano before.
I happened to have bought such a piano before.
- ✓ He pretended that he smiled at me.
He pretended to have smiled at me.
- ✓ She is happy that she has left school.
She is happy to have left school.
- ✓ It seems that you have annoyed your friends.
You seem to have annoyed your friends.
- ✓ I am relaxed that I have finished my word.
I am relaxed to have finished my work.
- ✓ Everybody knows that she abandoned her family.
She is known to have abandoned her family.
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| 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 |
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