Isn't it Present Perfect?

Question

A huge flying reptile that died out with the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, the Quetzalcoatlus had a wingspan of 36 feet, and it is believed to have been the largest flying creature the world has ever seen.

Is this present perfect of present perfect continuous. Since no "ing" verb is used therefore it must be present perfect.
Correct me if I am wrong.

GB

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

to have been is the pefect infinitive of the verb 'be'.

Best wishes, Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Neither. It is not one of the finite tenses. It is the perfect infinitive to have been.

The expression [It is / He is / She is / ... ] [believed / considered / said / reported / ...] can be followed by the infinitive or perfect infinitive, thus:

Infinitive: to be

It is believed to be the largest creature in the world. (It is believed that it is the largest now.)
He is considered to be an expert in the subject.

Perfect infinitive: to have been

It is believed to have been the largest creature in the world. (It is believed that it was the largest then.)
He is considered to have been an expert in the subject.

CJ

Grammarian-bot · Answer

Yikes! What are the perfect infinitives. I have never heard of them. I know I can find some material on this on the internet but noone explains concepts better than CJ and Clive.

GB

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Michael Swan addresses the perfect infinitive in his Practical English Usage.

Let me try to summarize what he says, to ensure I don't forget anything useful.

The perfect infinitive

is formed by putting 'to have' in front of the normal base infinitive. eg to work - to have worked. It has the same kind of meaning as the perfect tense.

It's good to finish work means 'the act of finishing' is good. The writer is happy when he writes the last word.

It' s good to have finished work means that 'the state of having finished ' is good. The writer can feel relaxed and happy for the rest of the day, in 'a state of having finished'.

The PI is often used to talk about 'imaginary' past actions, things that didn't happen.

eg I meant to have telephoned, but I forgot.

The PI is often used after seem, appear.

eg He seems to have missed the train.

Finally, there's also the present perfect continuous infinitive.

eg He seems to have been sitting there all day.

Bst wishes, Clive

Grammarian-bot · Answer

Thanks Clive.

GB

Isn't it Present Perfect?

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