grammar · academic
to have + past participle
Perfect infinitive: 'to have' + past participle; used to show that one action was completed before another or to express unreal past after certain verbs/adjectives.
Examples
“I would like to have seen the exhibition before it closed.”
“She appears to have misunderstood the instructions.”
“He seems to have finished the assignment early.”
Band 8 sentence
“Given the evidence, the committee would appear to have reached a unanimous decision before the public announcement.”
Collocations
- after verbs: would like, seem, appear
- with modals: must/could + have + V3
- to have + V3 + passive
Common mistakes
I would like to see that film before it closed.→I would like to have seen that film before it closed.
She seems to misunderstood the question.→She seems to have misunderstood the question.
Say it for a higher band
5to + V→6to be + V-ing→7+to have + past participle
Synonyms
perfect infinitive
Easily confused
to + base verb
“I hope to see you soon.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Tenses
Learn it with its set