Past perfect vs HAD

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Past perfect vs HAD

by rishijhawar » Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:55 am
Hi Mitch, had a query on how to identify past perfect tense.
Till now i knew that a past perfect tense is indicated only by using HAD in the sentence (HAD + Past Participle).
But from your explanation in the embedded link, it seems to + have (vs HAD)+ past participle signals past perfect. Is this an exception? Would be great to have your views thanks.

Link of the question i referred: https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-western- ... 12316.html
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:42 am
In English, we have two infinitive tenses: the present infinitive (TO + VERB) and the perfect infinitive (TO + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE).

The present infinitive expresses CONTEMPORANEOUS action (an action that happens AT THE SAME TIME as the main action):
John IS proud TO BE president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO BE president (also in the present).

The perfect infinitive expresses PRIOR action (an action that happened PRIOR to the main action):
John IS proud TO HAVE BEEN president.
Here, John IS proud (in the present) TO HAVE BEEN president (in the past).
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