i have done my homework yesterday

Present perfect with a specific time in the past

The present perfect expresses the idea of “an action that was finished at some unspecified point in the past”. Saying “I have done it yesterday” is basically the same as saying “I finished doing it yesterday at some unspecified point in the past”. It doesn’t really work, does it; it’s either “at some point” or “yesterday”, not both. If you want to include the time when the action took place, you must use the simple past tense (the “-ed” form), e.g.

However, the simple past is ambiguous. “I did it yesterday” can be used to express that you finished it yesterday as well as that you left the work unfinished and will continue doing it later, as in “I did it yesterday, and I am also going to do it tomorrow”. If you want to express that the action is already completed, you can use verbs like “finish” or “complete” in the simple past:

Note that there is one case where “when + present perfect” can be used: to express surprise or mistrust. Say, a friend of yours told you how he enjoyed the view from the Eiffel Tower, and you weren’t aware of the fact that he had ever been to Paris. You could ask

It is an expression of surprise. You aren’t really asking when he visited Paris; you express that the fact he did surprised you.

There is another common situation in which the rule can be (seemingly) broken. For example, it is perfectly fine to say:

By the way, have you already seen my brand new web app for non-native speakers of English ? It's based on reading texts and learning by having all meanings, pronunciations, grammar forms etc. easily accessible. It looks like this:

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How to use the 'Present Perfect'

'I have been to Boston.'

Have/has + past participle makes the present perfect .

She has lost her bag. They have taken a taxi I have been to Australia

The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but the exact time it happened is not important. It has a relationship with the present.

I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at what exact time, only that it is now done. I have forgotten my bag. = Exactly when in the past that I forgot it is not important. The important thing is that I don't have it now .

As we do not use exact time expressions with the past perfect, we cannot say: I have done my homework yesterday

In this case we use the past simple tense: I did my homework yesterday.

Using already just and yet with the present perfect

Already , just and yet can are all used with the present perfect.

Already means 'something has happened sooner than we expected: 'The movie only came out yesterday, but I have already seen it.'

Just means 'a short time ago': 'I have just seen your brother going into the bank with a gun!'

Yet is only used in questions and negative sentences. It means 'something is expected to happen': 'Have you finished the report yet?' No, I haven't finished it yet.'

Now choose the best answer to make the present perfect:

• My parents ___. has retired have retired retired yet
• Your sister ___ my car. has borrow have borrowed has borrowed
• Have you ___ the movie yet? have seen looked seen
• Please wait. I haven't finished ___. just already yet
• Water __ found on Mars. has be have has been
• I have ___ all my money. has spend spent spend
• They ___ you a cake. have make have made have maded

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The Present Perfect Tense

• Past perfect means before another action in the past.
• Present perfect means before now.
• Future perfect means before another action in the future.
• Past perfect: I had done my homework and so the test was easy.
• Present perfect: I have done my homework hard and so the test is easy.
• Future perfect: I will have done my homework hard and so the test will be easy.
• “I wasn’t hungry yesterday because I had eaten a large breakfast”
• “I am not hungry now because I have eaten a large breakfast”
• “I won’t be hungry tomorrow because I will have eaten a large breakfast”

Grammar Resources

@lsi.worldwide

Can We Use Yesterday With the Present Perfect Tense?

By: Author Susan Parker

Posted on Published: November 17, 2021

English tenses can be very confusing, but they’re very important because getting them wrong can result in misunderstanding. Verb tenses tell you when something happens, which is simple when we’re just referring to past, present, and future. However, when we’re linking the past with the present by using present perfect, then we may wonder if we can use “yesterday.”

We cannot use “yesterday” on its own with the present perfect tense because adverbs that refer to a completed time in the past only work with past tenses. However, you can use “since yesterday” in the present perfect tense because that expresses a time period that started yesterday and is still continuing. 

This article will explore the present perfect tense and how we should use it. We’ll examine the difference between “yesterday” and “since yesterday” and why we treat them differently. We’ll also consider what tenses we can use with “yesterday” and why.

What Is the Present Perfect?

English has three basic tenses — past, present, and future — and then those three have the perfect, continuous, and perfect continuous forms. Let’s consider the verb “to eat” in each of these tenses to illustrate the point.

We use the perfect tenses to describe an action that has been absolutely completed or perfected. This is called the “perfect aspect” ( source ). To create the present perfect, we add “has” or “have” to the past participle of the verb.

English speakers use the present perfect tense often, and it has three main uses, as we’ve illustrated in the table below ( source ).

Actions that started in the past and are continuing:

• She has lived in Australia for 10 years.
• Jack has worked in advertising since 2004.

Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past:

• They have visited the museum many times.
• Maggie has already finished that book.

Actions that happened in the past but have an effect on the present:

• How will we get there? Andrew has lost his car keys.
• Jane can’t walk. She has broken her ankle.

What About “Yesterday”? 

We can use “yesterday” as an adverb or a noun to describe the day before today, or, in some contexts, it can mean just a short time ago ( source ). Consider the sentences below that illustrate these definitions.

• I had a ballet exam yesterday. (adverb, day before today)
• I went to that restaurant yesterday. (adverb, day before today)
• I wasn’t born yesterday. (adverb, a short time ago)
• It feels like yesterday that you were at school. (adverb, a short time ago)
• Yesterday was Tuesday. (noun, day before today)
• I’m not interested in yesterday’s news. (noun, a short time ago)

You will notice that whether we are referring specifically to the day before today or, more generally, to a time period in the past, the concept of “yesterday” is a completed period that has already happened.

Which Tense Is Used With “Yesterday”?

Since “yesterday” refers to a time period that is past, it would be logical to assume that we must use it in the past tense. Using our original verb “to eat,” let’s consider which verbs we can use with “yesterday.” 

Is “Yesterday” Past Simple or Present Perfect?

As you will have noticed, we can use all four past tenses with “yesterday” but none of the present or future tenses. This is because “yesterday” is an expression of time that occurs entirely in the past and doesn’t include the present.

We can always use past simple — or any other past tense — with “yesterday” because it refers to the day before today, which is very clearly something that occurred in the past. Other expressions of time that only work in the past include:

• Last week 
• An hour ago
• A long time ago

All of these can function in the past tenses but cannot work in any other tenses. We sometimes see someone use them incorrectly in the present perfect tense, and we need to recognize the error. Consider the following sentences, which show the incorrect use of “yesterday” in the present perfect tense.

• I have done my homework yesterday.  
• Yesterday, Jane has invited me to the dance.
• They have finished the job yesterday.

None of these sentences make sense, and we need to rewrite them in the past simple:

• I did my homework yesterday.  
• Yesterday, Jane invited me to the dance.
• They finished the job yesterday.

With more context, we could also rewrite them in the other past tenses:

For more on this topic, read “ Can We Use “Yesterday” W ith Past Perfect? ”

More on Perfect Tenses

We use the various tenses to express when something happened, and we use aspect to determine whether we are simply expressing a fact or whether the action is completed or ongoing. 

The simple tenses are by definition simple — they just express a fact:

• Jack drinks a soda.
• Jack drank a soda.
• Jack will drink a soda.

However, we use the perfect tenses to illustrate various connections in time. As we’ve already mentioned, the present perfect and present perfect continuous connect the past with the present. 

Past perfect and past perfect continuous connect two different times in the past. Meanwhile, the future perfect and future perfect continuous connect an action with the future.

The perfect tenses focus on the completed action, while the perfect continuous tenses focus on that action continuing.

We use the present perfect tenses most often. Usually, we use them to talk about something we have done in the past that is still relevant today. When you’re introducing yourself or telling someone about your past, you will use these tenses extensively.

We don’t use the past perfect tenses quite as often, but they are still very useful. You will use this tense when telling stories because it helps to differentiate between various times in the past. We can use it to connect two past actions or to connect a past action with a past time. This is why we use this tense with “yesterday.”

We use the future perfect tenses least often, but they’re still useful when talking about plans or goals. You may use this tense to talk about what will have to be completed before a specific future time.

Can We Use “Since Yesterday”?

Since yesterday is an acceptable phrase. If we add “since” to create the phrase “since yesterday,” we are dealing with a different time expression. “Since” means from a time in the past until now, so “since yesterday” means from the day before today until now ( source ).

In this case, “since yesterday” doesn’t only occur in the past. It links the present with the past, so we can use it in the present perfect tense. Consider the sentences below.

• I’ve been studying since yesterday.
• I haven’t seen her since yesterday afternoon.
• Mr. Smith has been painting his house non-stop since yesterday.

Exploring “Since”

We use “since” to express time, and it can work as an adverb, preposition, or conjunction, depending on how we position it in a sentence. 

As a preposition, we follow “since” with a noun:

• I haven’t been this fit since 2004.

As an adverb, we do not follow “since” with a noun:

• Jack left last October and hasn’t been home since.

As a conjunction, it connects two clauses:

• Jill has had many boyfriends since her relationship ended.

As an expression of time, “since” means either:

From a time in the past up until the present

From a time in the past until another time in the past.

In the first instance, when constructing a sentence using “since,” we will always use the present perfect tense in the main clause. However, after “since,” we can either use present perfect to describe the time from the past up until the present or simple past tense to describe the time from the past up until another point in the past.

Consider the examples below that illustrate these two possibilities.

Using present perfect after “since” to describe the time from the past up until the present:

• Jack has improved his times since he has started training daily. 
• I have been feeling better since I’ve been taking the correct medication.

Using simple past after “since” to describe the time from the past up until another point in the past:

• Jack has improved his times since he started training daily. 
• I have been feeling significantly better since I began taking the correct medication.

In the second instance, we most often use past perfect tense in the main clause and past simple after “since.” Consider the examples below:

Sally’s death was devastating. I had been friends with her since we started school in 1980.

I didn’t know you had been working on that since we opened the business last year.

Sometimes, we use past perfect tense in the main clause and again after “since,” as we’ve shown below.

• It had been more than a decade since I had asked anyone on a date.

It’s important to remember that “since” is an expression of time in the past. Therefore, we can never use it to describe present or future time.

What About “Ever Since”?

We use “ever since” in two ways, as we’ve illustrated below. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.

To talk about something that happened regularly from a time in the past up until now:

• She saw her first ballet at six and has wanted to be a dancer ever since .
• Bob first went to London in 1982 and has been visiting annually ever since . 

To talk about something that happened continually from a specific time in the past:

• She has wanted to be a dancer ever since she was a young girl. 
• Bob has been visiting London annually ever since his first visit in 1982.

Final Thoughts

English tenses can trip you up, especially if you overthink them. When saying “yesterday,” it’s useful to remember that because it refers to the day before today, we can only use it to talk about an action that has occurred in the past.

Thus, you would always use one of the past tenses — past simple, past continuous, past perfect, or past perfect continuous — with “yesterday.” 

The present perfect tense has to have a link to the present and, therefore, cannot work together with “yesterday.” However, a word like “since” can work to create the link to the present, so we can use “since yesterday” with the present perfect tense.

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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

Table of Contents

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

• Present perfect form
• Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

• Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished . 
• Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
• Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

• What have you already done today?
• What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
• What have you just finished before answering these questions?
• Have you just had some food?
• Have you already finished your homework?
• Have you already studied today?
• Have you just had a phone call?
• Have you already had lunch today?
• Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
• Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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Present perfect simple (I have done) or Past Simple (I did)?

• Auteur/autrice de la publication : abc 123
• Publication publiée : 29/10/2018
• Post category: grammar

Present perfect simple (I have done) or Past Simple (I did)? Present Perfect and Past, the differences.

British and American have different rules for the use of the present perfect. The English grammar use the Present Perfect. But American english accept the Past Simple.

In the past: I lost my book. (present perfect) => I don’t have my book. Later… I have found my book. Now: I have my book. => Now, I have my book.

With the Past Simple: we talk about actions in the Past that have finished. It talks about « then ». I lost my book! -> this the Past! NOW, maybe the situation has changed!

With the Present Perfect   Simple: we look back on actions in the past from the present. It always includes « now ». I’ve lost my book! ->Now, I don’t have my book, but maybe the situation could change…

Past Simple : NO connection to the present. (present = now, time of speaking) I first got to know him 5 years ago. I started work here in 2005. I had too much to eat at lunchtime.

Present Perfect Simple : connection to the present. I’ve known him for 5 years. I’ve worked here since 2005. I’ve eaten too much at lunchtime, my stomach hurts.

With TIME EXPRESSIONS:

Past Simple: « ago », last month », « yesterday », « in 2005 » He visited me 2 months ago. I made my first travel in NYC last year. I spoke to her yesterday. He joined the company in 2005.

Present Perfect Simple: « ever », « never », « since » I’ve never seen so many people here before. Have you ever been more surprised? I’ve done a lot since we last talked about it.

Keywords: « already », « just », « yet »: with the Present Perfect in British english, [and often used with the past simple in American english]. I haven’t done it yet. (UK) I didn’t do it yet. (US) I’ve just done it. (UK) I just did it. (US) I’ve already done it. (UK) I already did it. (US)

« for » acceptable with the both forms, but with different meanings. I lived in Paris for a couple of years before I moved here. (Past Simple). I’ve lived in Paris for a couple of years and still love it. (Present Perfect Simple).

REMEMBER: IMPORTANT

Present Perfect: Use it for something that happened recently. I’ve found my book. I can study my english lesson, now. I’ve repaired the car. Dear, we can go on holidays now!

Past Simple: we use it if the situation is really finished (in the past): Abraham Lincoln was the greatest President of USA. Einstein discovered relativity. Mozart wrote symfonies.

BUT, in Am. english, we can use the Past Simple about situation that happened recently. I founded my book. I repaired the car. Timescale: Past – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Now – – – – Future Past Simple Present Perfect–> Present About a new situation, we can use the Present Perfect: Somebody has spilt the tea on the floor! But if you continue to talk about it, use the past simple: I didn’t do that!

• 014:    Present Perfect Simple (I have done) or Past Simple (I did)?
• 015:    Present Perfect or Past Simple Revision

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Which is correct: “I’m done” or “I have finished”?

Which of these alternatives is grammatically correct?

I have finished

Like I’m done sounds very American, but is it grammatically correct?

• american-english
• british-english
• colloquialisms

• 1 This has nothing to do with grammar. –  tchrist ♦ Commented Feb 9, 2014 at 1:41
• 1 "I am, at present, sensing no need or desire to consume further food." –  Hot Licks Commented May 26, 2015 at 21:10

5 Answers 5

I’m done is grammatical but informal. It is found mainly in American English rather than British English.

• 2 I'm skeptical about the claim that "I'm done" is informal. –  user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 19:44
• 2 You're entitled to be. I'm a mere Brit. Do you have any authentic examples showing it used in a formal context? –  Barrie England Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 19:51
• 2 @BenCrowell The term I'm done, which I was not previously aware was American (one hears it often enough in Britain), means 'I have finished'. So to be formal wouldn't the expression have to be 'I have done', or 'I've done'. 'I am done' would seem to refer to some personal bodily subjection that one has sustained! –  WS2 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 20:16
• 1 The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language says that this sense of "done" is found "often, but not exclusively, in casual or informal usage." I'm not convinced that an example proves anything in this kind of situation. An extremely common usage like this will of course exist in formal writing; the question is how commonly it exists, and how commonly in the work of the best writers. –  user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 21:06
• 2 @WS2: Take a look at the answers by Edwin Ashworth and user61979. Your criticism of the construction as illogical would make sense if "am" was a copula -- although idioms don't have to be logical. But apparently "am" survives in this usage, outside of England, as a remnant of the old-fashioned use of "to be" in forming the past perfect. –  user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 23:22

'I am done (with my work)' is a straggler from older English.

In Old English, the present perfect was formed somewhat differently. Whereas Modern English uses to have in almost every construction, be it transitive or intransitive, older English used to have with transitive verbs and to be with intransitive verbs. Here are some intransitive examples:

'He is risen.' (ModE 'he has risen.')

'I was come to his house.' (ModE 'I had come to his house.')

'We are fallen from riches.' (ModE 'We have fallen from riches.')

There is no change, however, with transitive verbs:

'I have hit him.' (But never 'I am hit him.')

'I have eaten dinner.' (But never 'I am eaten dinner.')

'He has never liked them.' (But never 'He is never liked them.')

Often, the Modern English verb to do still follows the old paradigm, whence we get the following intransitive construction:

'I am done (with my work).'

And the following transitive construction:

'I have done my work.'

• The link from Edwin Ashworth's answer claims that "I have done [my work]" was replaced by "I am done [with my work]" ca. 1700 in Ireland, Scotland, and America. If it's connected to OE as you say, then maybe it's an archaism that survived and later killed off the newfangled usage in those areas. –  user16723 Commented Feb 8, 2014 at 23:16
• Back when I actually did things, I would very often, in response to a query about progress on some project, respond "I'm done with that" or something similar. "I have finished" would sound rather over-formal in many contexts. –  Hot Licks Commented May 26, 2015 at 22:14
• Can you please provide evidence that this expression with "to be + done" existed in Old English? –  herisson Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 17:38
• @sumelic Since it's been three years, I'm afraid I can't. Truth be told, I'm no longer sure whether to be done existed in Old English at all, only that it parallels a common Old English construction. I'd say I have a tad more academic rigor these days. O how the years change us. –  Anonym Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 20:48
• 1 I see. I'm similarly unsure about this, which is why I downvoted. It seems the "be + past participle" construction was pretty restricted in Old and Middle English; I don't know that much about it, but I looked at the following paper: ling.auf.net/lingbuzz/000588 . There may also be relevant references in the following article, but I haven't had a chance to look for them yet: microsyntax.sites.yale.edu/done-my-homework –  herisson Commented Mar 4, 2017 at 20:59

These short sentences perhaps disguise the fact that there are two questions here.

At Motivated Grammar is an article claiming that 'done' and 'finished' are interchangeable here. There are also comments that 'I'm done' for a person as subject (agent) is more acceptable in general in American English, and others that it is not acceptable at all or in formal speech. Personally, I'd use it in conversation (though more often 'I've done') but usually switch to 'I've finished' if I considered a more formal register preferable.

Looking at the choice of verb/auxiliary, have is obviously an auxiliary forming the perfect in 'I have finished' (and 'I have done'). However, it is arguable that be is the copula followed by a (participial) adjective in 'I am done' (cf 'I am exhausted / I am tired / I am cold). But there are still lingering examples of be used as an alternative auxiliary to have ('I am come' cannot be other, though it is archaic). The question hinges upon whether the -ed form is principally describing a state (participial adjective) or the attaining of that state (past participle), and isn't, I'd say, always easy to resolve.

I'm more likely to say "I'm done" or "I'm through", though I don't see anything wrong with "I've finished".

"I'm done" sounds to me like you've been cooked. I don't like that usage at all.

• Hello, p.l.zeigler. ELU is not a discussion forum; if you can find an authority indicating that 'I'm done' is in some way unacceptable, that would be valid to give as an answer. Personal opinions are not (especially when they are contrary to accepted usage). –  Edwin Ashworth Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 22:50
• It's true that the recent expression "Stick a fork in it—it's done" has the connotation you're talking about, p.l.zeigler, though it is by no means the only possible meaning of "it's done." But you would need to develop that idea (or something like it) to satisfy the threshold requirement for a valid answer on this site that Edwin Ashworth describes in his comment above. –  Sven Yargs Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 23:19

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged american-english british-english formality colloquialisms or ask your own question .

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Present Perfect and Past 1 (I Have Done and I Did)

/ Grammar Lessons / B1-B2 Grammar / Present Perfect and Past 1 (I Have Done and I Did)

A. Study this example situation: 

• Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He has lost his key. (present perfect) This means that he doesn’t have his key now.

Ten minutes later: 

• Now Tom has found his key. He has it now. Has he lost his key? No, he has found it.
• Did he lose his key? Yes, he did.
• He lost his key (past simple)
• but now he has found it. (present perfect)

The present perfect (something has happened ) is a present tense. It tells us about the situation now . Example: ‘Tom has lost his key’ = he doesn’t have his key now. 

The past simple (something happened ) tells us only about the past . If somebody says ‘Tom lost his key’, we don’t know whether he has the key now or not. We know only that he lost it at some time in the past.

Compare present perfect and past simple :

• They ’ve gone away. They’ll be back on Friday. (they are away now )
• They went away, but I think they're back at home now. ( not They've gone away) 
• It has stopped raining now, so we don't need the umbrella. (it isn't raining now ) 
• It stopped raining for a while, but now it's raining again. ( not it has stopped) 

B. You can use the present perfect for new or recent happenings:

• I ’ve repaired the washing machine. It’s working OK now.
• ‘Hannah has had a baby! It’s a boy.’ ‘That’s great news.’

Usually, you can also use the past simple: I repaired the washing machine. It’s working OK now.

Use the past simple ( not the present perfect) for things that are not recent or new:

• Mozart was a composer. He wrote more than 600 pieces of music. ( not has been ... has written)
• My mother grew up in Italy. (not has grown)

Compare: Somebody has invented a new type of washing machine. Who invented the telephone? ( not has invented) 

C. We use the present perfect to give new information . But if we continue to talk about it, we normally use the past simple:

• Ow! I ’ve burnt myself. 
• How did you do that? ( not have you done)
• I picked up a hot dish ( not have picked up)

Similarly, look at this example : 

• Look! Somebody has spilt something on the sofa.
• Well, it wasn’t me. I didn’t do it. ( not hasn’t been ... haven’t done)

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Total score is 2 out of 9 ( 25% )

B1-B2 Grammar : Present Perfect and Past 1 (I Have Done and I Did)

Choose the correct word.

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Can someone help with this Past Perfect sentence, please?

On FCE we have the following exercise:

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. d. She had to finish her homework before she went out. (until) She had to stay in ________________ her homework.

I'm having a hard time to grasp the two events rule on this one! "She had to stay in until she finished her homework." Sounds perfectly fine to me! Why do I end up with "She had to stay in until she HAD finished her homework."

• sentence-structure
• past-perfect

2 Answers 2

The goal of such exercises is to foster precision in the choice of tenses. There are times, especially in writing, when there is a need for perfect clarity in respect to the sequence of events. Unfortunately, the examples chosen in the exercises often do not establish a context where precision is required in order to avoid ambiguity.

A native speaker might say:

I can't party until I do my homework.

intending that sentence to mean "until I have done my homework", and that's exactly how another native speaker would understand it.

The speaker is explaining why he is unable to party now. He has something important to do first.

I can't party until I have done my homework. I can't party until I've done my homework.

There, have done expresses completion.

The past tense version of "until I have done my homework" would be

I couldn't party until I had done my homework. I couldn't party until I'd done my homework.

There, the would-be reveler is explaining why she was unable to party yesterday, perhaps, or last week, or at some other time in the past.

Again, the perfect (here, the past perfect) expresses completion.

Both "until she finished" and "until she had finished" are valid sentences. In context, they mean the same thing.

In general, "had [verb]ed" means that the action was completed at some specified time in the past. "I had seen Bob yesterday." This is usually used with respect to some other action. "I had seen Bob before he saw me."

A plain "[verb]ed" means simply, action completed in the past. "I saw Bob."

The difference is often very subtle. Usually we use "had" when we want to indicate that the action is completed, as opposed to an action that might be ongoing.

• 1 I find it interesting to contrast OP's example with They had to work until they dropped. I don't disagree with anything you say above, but I can't see how to use that line of thinking to explain why Past Perfect ...until they had dropped is a complete no-no in my superficially similar alternative. –  FumbleFingers Commented Mar 23, 2017 at 20:33
• 2 (Personally, I think OP's one is something of a "trick question" - trying to confuse hapless students by including had as part of the Simple Past form of to have to = to be obliged to .) –  FumbleFingers Commented Mar 23, 2017 at 20:37
• @FumbleFingers Oh, maybe so. Yes, "had" can have the completely different meaning as you say. –  Jay Commented Mar 24, 2017 at 13:12

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you should have done it yesterday

• Thread starter lingkky
• Start date Nov 13, 2016

Senior Member

• Nov 13, 2016

You should have done it yesterday. Based on the web, this sentence is correct. But I don't know why. In the use of past participle, a clear time maker is not allowed . Why "yesterday "can be accepted in the sentence? Why is"you should did it yesterday" wrong and it never exist ?  

lingkky said: In the use of past participle, a clear time maker is not allowed . Click to expand...

In the use of past participle, a clear time maker is not allowed except if the past participle is part of an infinitive. Why is "you should did it yesterday" wrong? Because "did" is not an infinitive or part of one.  

owlman5 said: This idea doesn't sound quite right to me, lingkky. I think somebody made a rule that is a little too rigid. Where did you read or hear this rule? "He had done it the day before" sounds normal to me although "he did it the day before" is possible in some narrative about the past. "You should have done it yesterday" also looks entirely normal to me. Click to expand...

PaulQ said: In the use of past participle, a clear time maker is not allowed except if the past participle is part of an infinitive. Why is "you should did it yesterday" wrong? Because "did" is not an infinitive or part of one. Click to expand...

I should did it yesterday. (False) I did it yesterday. (True) Why?  

owlman5 said: "I asked him why he wasn't working on the bicycle. He said he had finished it the day before." "Had finished" isn't part of an infinitive here, but it still sounds perfectly normal to me. Click to expand...

I have done it yesterday . (Wrong) I have done it before. (Correct ) I don't know are they correct. But I have been taught that a clear time markers like "yesterday","last year" are not allowed in the sentence with past participle. However, an unclear time marker like "a few days ago"or "before" is allowed.  

That rule about the "past participle" is wrong, lingkky. You need better instruction in English verb tenses and how to use them. If you're interested, here's a good introduction from "The English Page" that you may find helpful: Verb Tense Tutorial .  

lingkky said: What is part of infinitive? Click to expand...

All right.thank you .  

I should do it yesterday. So is this correct? I should have done it yesterday. What is the difference between them?  

You would use the first version in a remark about the future : I should do it tomorrow . It doesn't make sense to use "have done" in that sentence about the future.* You should use "have done" in a remark about the past : I should have done it ten minutes ago/yesterday. *But it is normal to use the perfect infinitive "have done" in the future perfect tense : I will have finished my homework by the time you get home. If you can access "The English Page" through the link in post #8, you'll get a chance to work with all the English verb tenses.  

owlman5 said: You would use the first version in a remark about the future : I should do it tomorrow . It doesn't make sense to use "have done" in that sentence about the future.* You should use "have done" in a remark about the past : I should have done it ten minutes ago/yesterday. *But it is normal to use the perfect infinitive "have done" in the future perfect tense : I will have finished my homework by the time you get home. If you can access "The English Page" through the link in post #8, you'll get a chance to work with all the English verb tenses. Click to expand...

• Dec 25, 2018

How about: You should have done it by tomorrow. Is it advice, a recommendation?  

You should have done it by tomorrow is a prediction - you are telling someone what the state of affairs will be tomorrow. A: "I have been putting these toys into their boxes for three days now! How much longer will it take before I have put the final toy into its box?" B: You should have done it by tomorrow. -> At some time tomorrow you will have put the final toy into its box.  

PaulQ said: A: "I have been putting these toys into their boxes for three days now! How much longer will it take before I have put the final toy into its box?" B: You should have done it by tomorrow. -> At some time tomorrow you will have put the final toy into its box. Click to expand...

You should have done it (i.e. put the last toy in the box) by tomorrow. "You should have done it by tomorrow." -> indicative (conditional past in the future) "You should have it done by tomorrow" -> causative. Compare: A [to the garage owner]: "When will the mechanic have repaired my car?" B: "He should have it (i.e. the car) done by tomorrow"  

• Jun 19, 2019

You should have done it (i.e. put the last toy in the box) by tomorrow. Click to expand...

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I did my homework vs I did my homework yesterday

Last updated: March 23, 2024

I did my homework

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate completion of homework without specifying the time frame.

• I did my homework before dinner.
• She asked if I had done my homework.
• Did you do your homework yet?
• He always does his homework on time.
• Make sure you do your homework every day.
• Dec 3, 2020 ... I did my homework is past tense, a completed action - yesterday, last night, etc. I have done my homework is present perfect - it means you ...
• Oct 1, 2021 ... However, most people would say, “ I did my homework before going/I went to bed.” When we have conjunctions like 'before' and 'after' that make ...
• Dec 16, 2016 ... It SEEMS to fit the form our textbook was teaching (" I did my homework . I was tired." -> "I was tired to do my homework.") and yet I know it's ...
• " I did my homework at 7 o'clock yesterday" strikes me as more plausible than the other way around. If the question is "What were you doing at 7: ...
• I did my homework ”. This is the simple past. It tells us only that the action happened in the past, and it is finished. We don't know (from this) whether it ...
• Jul 5, 2023 ... ... I did my homework , perhaps with finished or completed interchangeable with done/did. Upvote 2. Downvote. Reply. u/Astropee avatar Astropee • 3 ...

Alternatives:

• I have completed my homework.
• I finished my homework.
• I completed my homework.
• I have done my homework.
• I got my homework done.

I did my homework yesterday

This phrase is correct and provides a specific time frame, indicating that the homework was completed on the previous day.

• I did my homework yesterday, so I can relax today.
• She finished her homework yesterday evening.
• Did you do your homework yesterday?
• He told me he did his homework yesterday.
• I remember doing my homework yesterday.
• So, maybe, I can only say, I did my homework yesterday . Is that 100% right? no exception to use perfect tense with accurate time point? Thanks ...
• Translate I did my homework yesterday . See 2 authoritative translations of I did my homework yesterday in Spanish with example sentences and audio ...
• I did my homework yesterday . I have done my homework several times in my life. M · mhp. Senior Member. American English. Apr 3, 2008 · #6.
• I did my homework yesterday . I don't have any to do tonight so I can go out. Even though doing your homework takes time, using that tense ...
• But if you mean you began and completed your homework yesterday, then I suggest “ I did my homework yesterday , between 5 PM and 6 PM.” Or perhaps simply, “ I did  ...
• For example, I did my homework yesterday . If we want to link two actions together, and indicate which action happened first, we use the perfect tense. For ...
• Oct 31, 2017 ... How do you say this in Japanese? I did my homework yesterday . See a translation · 昨日 宿題をしました · 昨日、 宿題をしました。 · In Hiragana
• May 9, 2018 ... Is it Correct if I did my homework yesterday itself and I use present perfect answer the question? Since I can't say yesterday in present ...
• Jul 8, 2008 ... In this case we use the past simple tense: I did my homework yesterday . Using already just and yet with the present perfect. Already, just and ...
• I completed my homework yesterday.
• I finished my homework yesterday.
• Yesterday, I did my homework.
• My homework was done yesterday.
• I got my homework done yesterday.

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