Complex Infinitive and Gerund Forms: To Have Done, Having Done, To Be Doing
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use perfect forms to look back in time and continuous forms to emphasize ongoing actions within an infinitive or gerund structure.
- Use 'to have done' for an action completed before the main verb: 'I am happy to have finished.'
- Use 'having done' for a past action in a gerund phrase: 'Having finished, I left.'
- Use 'to be doing' for an ongoing action: 'I hope to be working there soon.'
Beyond simple -ing and to-do, English has four complex verb forms that express time relationships — when the action happened relative to the main verb.
Perfect Infinitive: to have + done
The action happened BEFORE the main verb's time
✅ He seems to have forgotten. (forgot before now)
✅ I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
✅ She is said to have discovered a solution.
Perfect Gerund: having + done
First action completed BEFORE the next action (formal "after doing")
✅ Having read the report, she called a meeting.
✅ Not having received a reply, I sent a follow-up.
Continuous Infinitive: to be + doing
Action in progress AT the time of the main verb
✅ She appears to be working on something. (right now)
✅ He seems to be avoiding me.
Perfect Continuous: to have been + doing
Duration before the main verb's time
✅ He claims to have been waiting for two hours.
✅ She appears to have been crying.
Formation Summary
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Perfect Infinitive
|
to + have + V3
|
to have finished
|
|
Perfect Gerund
|
having + V3
|
having finished
|
|
Continuous Infinitive
|
to + be + V-ing
|
to be working
|
|
Perfect Continuous Inf.
|
to + have been + V-ing
|
to have been working
|
|
Perfect Continuous Ger.
|
having been + V-ing
|
having been working
|
|
Passive Perfect Inf.
|
to + have been + V3
|
to have been seen
|
Common Contractions
| Full | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
to have
|
to've
|
|
having
|
havin' (informal)
|
Meanings
These forms allow you to express time relationships (past or ongoing) within non-finite verb phrases that don't have their own tense.
Perfect Infinitive
Expresses an action that happened before the main verb.
“She seems to have forgotten.”
“I am glad to have met you.”
Perfect Gerund
Shows that the gerund action was completed before the main verb.
“He denied having stolen the money.”
“She regretted having said that.”
Continuous Infinitive
Describes an action that is in progress at the time of the main verb.
“I would like to be sleeping right now.”
“They seem to be working hard.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
to have + V3
|
I'm glad to have won.
|
|
Negative
|
not to have + V3
|
I'm sorry not to have called.
|
|
Question
|
Do you seem to have + V3?
|
Do you seem to have finished?
|
|
Continuous
|
to be + V-ing
|
I want to be sleeping.
|
|
Perfect Continuous
|
to have been + V-ing
|
I'm happy to have been helping.
|
|
Passive
|
to have been + V3
|
He claims to have been robbed.
|
Formality Spectrum
I regret having completed the task incorrectly. (Work)
I regret having done the task wrong. (Work)
I regret doing it wrong. (Work)
My bad, I messed it up. (Work)
Time Relationships
Past
- To have done Perfect Infinitive
Ongoing
- To be doing Continuous Infinitive
Examples by Level
I am happy to have finished.
I like to be playing.
Having eaten, I slept.
He seems to have gone.
She is glad to have won.
They seem to be waiting.
Having finished, he left.
I regret having lied.
He claims to have seen it.
I would like to be working.
Having seen the movie, I left.
She appears to have forgotten.
The suspect is thought to have escaped.
I am honored to have been invited.
Having been warned, he stayed home.
They seem to be enjoying themselves.
Having failed to reach an agreement, they adjourned.
He is said to have been working on this for years.
I regret not having taken the opportunity.
She appears to be being followed.
Having been thus informed, the committee acted.
To have been living in such conditions is unthinkable.
He seems to have been being watched.
Having had enough, she left.
Easily Confused
Learners use simple when they need perfect.
Learners don't see the need for 'having'.
Learners miss the ongoing aspect.
Common Mistakes
I like to have eat.
I like to have eaten.
I am happy to have see you.
I am happy to have seen you.
Having eat, I left.
Having eaten, I left.
I want to be work.
I want to be working.
He seems to have go.
He seems to have gone.
I regret to have done that.
I regret having done that.
She seems to be work.
She seems to be working.
I am glad to have meet you.
I am glad to have met you.
Having see the film, I left.
Having seen the film, I left.
He appears to be have finished.
He appears to have finished.
I regret not to have gone.
I regret not having gone.
He is said to have be working.
He is said to have been working.
Having been see the movie...
Having seen the movie...
She seems to have been being follow.
She seems to have been being followed.
Sentence Patterns
I am happy to have ___.
I regret having ___.
I want to be ___.
He seems to have ___.
Real World Usage
I am proud to have led the team.
I regret having posted that.
The suspect is believed to have fled.
The study seems to have been flawed.
Glad to have seen you!
I seem to have lost my passport.
Focus on Time
Don't skip 'have'
Use in Writing
Formal vs Informal
Smart Tips
Use 'to have + V3' to sound more professional.
Use 'having + V3' after 'regret'.
Use 'to be + V-ing' for emphasis.
Use 'to have + V3' with 'seem' or 'appear'.
Pronunciation
Contractions
In speech, 'to have' often becomes 'to've' /təv/.
Emphasis
I am GLAD to have MET you.
Stressing the past action.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Perfect is Past, Continuous is Now.
Visual Association
Imagine a clock. 'To have done' is the clock pointing to the past. 'To be doing' is the clock ticking right now.
Rhyme
To have done is in the past, to be doing is meant to last.
Story
Yesterday, I was happy to have finished my work. Today, I am happy to be working on something new. Having finished, I feel great.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your day using 'to have done' and 'to be doing'.
Cultural Notes
More frequent use of perfect infinitives in formal writing.
Often simplifies to simple past in casual speech.
Essential for objective reporting.
Derived from Old English infinitive structures.
Conversation Starters
What is something you are proud to have achieved?
What do you regret having done?
What do you hope to be doing in five years?
What seems to have happened in the news today?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
I am happy to ___ (have/finish) the work.
Find and fix the mistake:
I regret to have said that.
He seems ___ (to be working/to have worked) right now.
I am glad I met you. -> I am glad ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
She appears ___ (to be waiting/to have waited) for hours.
I am honored ___ (to have been invited/to be invited).
Find and fix the mistake:
Having see the movie, I left.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesI am happy to ___ (have/finish) the work.
Find and fix the mistake:
I regret to have said that.
He seems ___ (to be working/to have worked) right now.
I am glad I met you. -> I am glad ___.
Match: Having eaten
She appears ___ (to be waiting/to have waited) for hours.
I am honored ___ (to have been invited/to be invited).
Find and fix the mistake:
Having see the movie, I left.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
To do is present/future; to have done is past.
Yes, e.g., 'Does he seem to have left?'
Yes, it is common in writing.
It marks the action as completed.
Yes, but often contracted.
Put 'not' before the infinitive.
Yes, 'to have been done'.
Yes, they show professional experience.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
haber + participio
Spanish uses it more frequently in compound tenses.
avoir + participe passé
French has more complex agreement rules.
zu haben + Partizip II
German verb placement is strictly regulated.
ta-form + koto
Japanese does not have a direct infinitive equivalent.
le / guo
Chinese lacks the infinitive/gerund distinction.
qad + past tense
Arabic is highly inflected.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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