[Grammar] has taken, was taken

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Oceanlike

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I read in a book: the present perfect tense of a verb is formed when the past participle of the verb follows 'has' or 'have'.

For example, He has taken the book.


If I were to use another primary verb, such as "is" (which I understand to be under the 'Be' group of verb), and combine it with "taken", as in the following example, is the sentence also in the present perfect tense?
Eg: He is taken to .............

Thank you for the teaching! :-D
 

Matthew Wai

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I think 'He has been taken into custody' is in the present perfect, but I am not a teacher.
 

teechar

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No, you cannot use "be" (in any of its forms) in lieu of "have" or "has" in forming the present perfect!
 

Oceanlike

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@teechar, this means that the present perfect tense is formed only when the past participle of the verb follows 'has' or 'have'?

Thanks!
 

Oceanlike

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@Matthew, 'he is taken......" is not 'proper' English right? lol :-D

I'm just wondering if 'subject + is + past participle' can be used at all.

Thanks!
 

Matthew Wai

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teechar

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Oceanlike, you're talking about two different things, the present perfect tense and the passive voice!

My answer in post #2 was in response to your question in post #1, not to Matthew's post #2.
:shock:
 

Raymott

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Simple tenses:
"He is taken" is the passive voice of the simple present tense.
"He was taken" - passive of the simple past tense (imperfect).
"He will be taken" - passive of future tense.

Perfect Tenses:
"He has been taken" - passive of the present perfect.
"He had been taken" - passive of past perfect.
"He will have been taken" - passive of future perfect.
 
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