present perfect simple but not in the general structure

Question

helloSometimes I see sentences like that 1. This is the man to have come to the party2.I'm the only one to have met himSo I would like to ask when I use to+p.perfect simple  thx in advance

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Sometimes I see sentences like that

The very common verbs like do, make, have can be used in a variety of ways. Here, 'have' is used in two different ways.

1. This is the man to have come to the party

'To have someone do something' means, in simple terms, to arrange for someone to do something. eg I had the mechanic fix my car.

So,' I had Tom come to the party' means 'I invited Tom to come to the party'.Another way to phrase your example is like this.

This is the man to invite to come to the party. In other words, the Present Perfect is not really involved here. It's another way of using 'have'.

2.I'm the only one to have met him

Unlike example #1, this really is thePresent Perfect. It's a Present Perfect infinitive. Consider these simple examples.

I like to cook dinner. This means I like the action, the activity. I like standing in the kitchen, doing things at the stove.

I like to have cooked dinner. This means I like having the result of the action, eg I like it when the cooking is finished and dinner is ready on the table.

So, I'm the only one to have met him means that I am the only one who, right now, has the result of meeting him in the past. In other words, in simpler terms, it just means 'I already met him at some point in the past'.

Best wishes, Clive

present perfect simple but not in the general structure

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions