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Feb 17, 2023

Present Perfect Conversation Questions (100+ questions)

Updated: Nov 28, 2023

Watch the video related to this resource , and do the quiz to test your understanding.

This page is intended to be a resource for English learners and teachers . You can practice answering these present perfect discussion questions by yourself or with a partner. You can also write the answers in a notebook, in a digital document, or in the comments section below. To help learners feel more confident and to develop grammatical accuracy, the warm-up questions have some suggested answer beginnings, which make them ideal for beginners. For more challenging questions, move on to the "Let's go!" section.

Recommended levels: intermediate for "Warm-up" questions; mix of intermediate and advanced levels for majority of "Let's go!" questions.

Use a variety of tenses in your answers in addition to the present perfect. It is quite common to expand present perfect answers with the past simple. For example, "Have you ever swum in the ocean?" "Yes, I have. I swam in the Atlantic when I visited my brother last year."

How long have you studied English?

I've studied English for/since...

Have you ever met a famous person?

Yes, I have. / Yes, I have met a famous person. I met _____.

No, I haven't. / No, I've never met a famous person.

How many countries have you visited in your life? Which ones?

I've visited _____ countries in my life. / I haven't traveled outside of [the name of your country].

How much water have you drunk today?

Today, I've drunk _____ bottles/glasses/cups/liters/gallons of water.

Who is the nicest person you have ever met?

_____ is/was the nicest person I've ever met.

How have you been lately?

Lately, I've been...[great. / really good. / well. / tired. / busy. / unmotivated. / etc.]

Whom have you talked to today?

Today, I've talked to...

Have you ever swum in the ocean?

Yes, I have. / Yes, I've swum in the ocean.

No, I haven't. / No, I've never swum in the ocean.

Who has helped you a lot in your life?

_____ has/have helped me a lot in my life.

What have you done this week?

This week, I've...

What is one of the most important things you have learned in your life?

One of the most important things I have learned in my life is to/(that)...

Let's go!

How many times have you checked your phone today?

How many questions have you answered so far?

Has this week been good or bad for you?

Has anything or anyone made you laugh or smile today?

What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?

What's the farthest you've ever been from your home?

Which countries have been in the news lately?

Have you called anyone this week?

What's the biggest wedding you've ever been to?

How long have you known your closest/best friend?

How much exercise have you gotten today?

Has anything (or anyone) inspired or motivated you this week?

Have you tried anything new lately?

Which instruments have you tried playing in your life?

How much time have you spent on social media this week?

How much money have you spent this week?

Have you ever...?

You can ask about people's life experiences by asking them questions with "Have you ever...?" You can also just use "Have you...?", but adding "ever" puts emphasis on your entire life experience. You can answer with "Yes, I have" or "No, I haven't." You can also give a specific past example. For instance: "Have you ever ridden a horse?" "Yes, I have. I rode one when I was a teenager."

Have you ever ridden a horse?

Have you ever jumped out of an airplane?

Have you ever had a pet?

Have you ever been on a rollercoaster?

Have you ever traveled by train?

Have you ever seen a Marvel movie?

Have you ever written a story?

Have you ever tried to help someone but it didn't go the way you planned?

Have you ever bought a new car or a new house?

Have you ever broken up with someone?

Have you ever lived with a roommate?

Have you ever taken private English classes?

Have you ever thought about moving to another country?

Have you ever wondered if humans are truly alone in the universe?

Have you ever had to go to a hospital emergency room?

Have you ever asked for help but no one helped you?

Have you ever been mad at yourself for doing something wrong?

Have you ever been to a concert?

Have you ever been to a live sporting event (a soccer game, a basketball game, etc.)?

Have you ever been in a fight?

Have you ever been to the casino?

Have you ever returned something you bought because it was defective in some way?

Have you ever kissed an animal?

Have you ever been stopped by the police for speeding?

Have you ever been in a play? (A play is a live theatre performance.)

Have you ever gone camping?

Have you ever wished you were someone (or somewhere) else?

Have you heard of...?

One of the most common "Have you ever...?" or "Have you...?" questions is "Have you (ever) heard of...?" This question is asking if you are familiar with someone or something. Sometimes, we give more information after the question is asked, as in the examples below. You can answer the questions with "Yes, I have," or "No, I haven't." Expand on your answer if you have heard of the subjects below.

Have you heard of the artist named Banksy? He does a lot of stuff with graffiti.

Have you heard of Margaret Atwood? She's a Canadian writer.

Have you heard of Metallica? They're a heavy metal band.

Have you heard of BLACKPINK? They're a Korean pop group.

Have you heard of Tina Fey? She's an American actress.

Have you heard of Angel Falls? It's a waterfall in Venezuela.

Have you heard of Dennis Bergkamp? He's a retired Dutch football player.

Have you heard of The Little Prince ? It's a famous children's book written by a French author.

Using the present perfect with unfinished time

You can use the present perfect to talk about unfinished time. For example, someone can say, "What have you done today?" if "today" still isn't finished. You can answer by saying, "Today, I've answered a bunch of emails, I've had breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I've gone to the gym."

Have you eaten today?

What have you done today?

How many messages have you received today?

Where have you gone to this week?

What is something you've done this week that you're proud of?

"I'm proud that I've..."

Who(m) have you talked to today?

How many times have you gone to the bathroom today?

Present perfect with superlative adjectives

Present perfect questions with superlative adjectives are another common way to ask about people's life experiences.

What's the biggest city you have ever been to?

Who's the nicest person you have ever met?

What's the most expensive restaurant you've ever eaten at?

What's the coldest temperature you've ever experienced?

What's the hottest temperature you've ever experienced?

What's the most beautiful place you've ever been to?

What's the longest you've ever been sick?

What's the best book you've ever read?

What's the longest book you've ever read?

Who's the most creative person you know?

What's the longest you have ever slept?

The present perfect at work or school

Here are some common questions you might hear at work or at school. Imagine yourself in these situations and answer the questions as naturally as you can.

Have you seen [someone's name] today?

Have you had time to look at the attachment I sent you?

What have you been up to today? (This means "What have you been doing today?", which is a present perfect continuous question. The present perfect question "What have you been up to?" is typically answered with the present perfect continuous: "I've been + verb+ing")

I haven't seen you all day! Where have you been?

Have you sent that email we talked about?

Have you started your homework?

Have you finished your assignment? / Have you finished your work?

Have you prepared for your presentation? / Have you prepared for the meeting?

Have you had lunch yet?

Have you checked your email yet?

Oh no! What have you done?!

Why haven't you responded to my messages?

Why have you decided to quit? / Why have you decided to drop out of school?

How has your week been so far? Have things been busy?

Why have you ignored me this week? (This question is more commonly asked in the present perfect continuous: "Why have you been ignoring me?")

Finish the sentences

I've always wanted to...

I have decided to...

I've never seen...

I've never been to...

Have you had time to...?

They haven't talked to each other since...

We haven't seen each other in...(6 months / 1 year, etc.)

Have you finished...?

She has prepared for...

Have you told anyone about...?

I've never met...

Want to learn and practice 21 of the most common present perfect questions? Watch this video lesson and do the practice quiz when you're done !

That's it! That wasn't so bad, was it? If you enjoyed this resource and you want to support my work--and if you want to continue improving your English vocabulary and speaking skills--pick up a copy of my book, 300 Practical English Words and Phrases . Thank you and good luck with your studies!

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Present Perfect Tense | Examples & Use

Present Perfect Tense | Examples & Use

Published on April 4, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on September 25, 2023.

The present perfect tense is a verb form used to refer to a past action or situation that has a present consequence. It’s typically used to indicate experience up to the present, recent actions, or a change that occurred over a period of time.

The present perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “I have eaten”). However, the third person singular (e.g., “he,” “she,” and “it”) uses “has” instead of “have.”

How to use the present perfect, past simple vs. present perfect, present perfect vs. present perfect continuous, how to form negatives, how to form questions, how to form the passive voice, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions about the present perfect tense.

The present perfect is used to refer to a completed past action that’s relevant to the present or to an action that began in the past and may continue in the present.

It’s used to talk about experience up to now , a change that occurred over time , recent actions (often used with “just”), and unfinished action that is expected to be completed (in the negative, often with “yet”).

The present perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb “have” along with the past participle of the main verb. The only exception is the third person singular form (“he,” “she,” “it,” and singular nouns), which uses “has” instead of “have.”

In affirmative present perfect statements, the subject and auxiliary verb are often contracted (e.g., “ I’ve dreamed”).

The theater group has improved .

Sashi has just brushed his teeth.

The present perfect can also be used along with future simple tense constructions to describe a future action. In these instances, the present perfect clause is usually preceded by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “when,” “until”).

After Anna has presented the report, we’ll take a short break . Note When the present perfect occurs more than once in a sentence and refers to the same subject, the second verb can be written without the auxiliary verb “have.” If the second instance refers to a different subject, a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb should be included.

I’ve cleaned the kitchen and cooked dinner.
Jennifer has left , and Henry has arrived .

Indicating time

As the present perfect refers to an action that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, sentences in the present perfect commonly use adverbs that refer to non-specific time (e.g., “ever,” “never,” “once,” and “so far”).

Expressions that refer to a specific time (e.g., “last week,” “yesterday”) are typically used along with a preposition (e.g., “for,” “since”).

I’ve worked on this project yesterday .
I’ve worked on this project since yesterday .
Sophie has felt ill last week .
Sophie has felt ill for the last week .

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Both the present perfect and past simple refer to past action. However, they have different functions:

The past simple is typically used to refer to an action that occurred at a definite time in the past and will not continue.
The present perfect is used to refer to an action that occurred in the past and has present consequences or to an action that began in the past and may continue.

I have seen that film before. [I may see it again.]

I went to Toronto last year.

Both the present perfect and the present perfect continuous can be used to refer to the present consequences of a past action or situation (e.g., “I have lived here for two years” and “I have been living here for two years”).

However, they cannot always be used interchangeably:

The present perfect can be used to refer to a past action or situation that may continue in the present.
The present perfect continuous refers to actions or situations that began in the past and are definitely continuing in the present.

Aria has been traveling the world. [She is still traveling.] Note Stative verbs (e.g., “know,” “feel,” “want”) can be used in the present perfect to describe states of being that began in the past.

These verbs are typically not used in the present perfect continuous .

I have been knowing him for years.
I have known him for years.

Negatives are formed by adding the adverb “not” between the subject and the main verb . This is the case for all subjects.

To ask a yes–no question in the present perfect, put the auxiliary verb first, followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

To ask a question using a wh-word (an interrogative pronoun like “what” or an interrogative adverb like “when”), place the pronoun or adverb before “have” (or “has” for the third person singular).

What have we done?

In a passive sentence, the subject is acted upon (rather than performing the action). In the present perfect, the passive voice is formed by adding the past participle of the verb “be” (i.e., “been”) between the auxiliary verb and the past participle of the main verb .

The thieves have been followed by the police.

If you want to know more about nouns , pronouns , verbs , and other parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations and examples.

Nouns & pronouns

Common nouns
Possessive nouns
Indefinite pronouns
Relative pronouns
Interrogative pronouns
Simple present
Modal verbs
Conditional sentences
Subjunctive mood
Imperative mood
Interjections
Determiners
Prepositions

The present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous can both be used to refer to the present consequences of a past action or situation:

The present perfect can be used to refer to a past action that may continue in the present (e.g., “I have lived here for six months”).
The present perfect continuous refers to actions or situations that began in the past and are definitely continuing in the present (e.g., “I have been arguing with him constantly”).
The past simple is typically used to refer to an action that was completed at a definite time in the past (e.g., “I slept in this morning”).
The present perfect is used to refer to a past action that has present consequences or to an action that began in the past and may continue (e.g., “I have written a book”).

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Ryan, E. (2023, September 25). Present Perfect Tense | Examples & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved September 9, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/present-perfect/

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2022). Garner’s modern English usage (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Present Perfect: Learn How to Use Correctly

LLS English
September 4, 2024
One Comment

Present Perfect: Usually Simple, But Can Be Tricky

The English language has a variety of different grammar rules, and one that is often confusing for non-native speakers is the use of the Present Perfect. What does it mean? Why do people use it? And when should you use it? To help you get a better grasp, here are some helpful guidelines that will make things much simpler.

What is the Present Perfect?

The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has been completed at the present time. The present perfect is made up of two parts: the present tense of the verb “to have” (I have, you have, he/she/it has) and the past participle of the main verb (written as -ed for regular verbs or irregular verbs with regular past participles, and -en for irregular verbs with irregular past participles).

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The present perfect can be used in two ways: to describe an action which has just been completed, or to describe an action which began in the past and is still continuing.

Here are some examples of the present perfect being used to describe an action which has just been completed:

I have finished my essay.
You have cleaned your room.
He has taken out the trash.
We have made dinner.

Notice that in each of these examples, the present perfect verb tense is made up of the present tense form of “to have” plus the past participle form of the main verb. This tense is used to describe actions which have just been completed.

Now let’s look at some examples of the present perfect being used to describe an action which began in the past and is still continuing:

I have lived in New York for five years.
You have worked at that company for six months.
The has known him since they were children.

Basic Uses of the Present Perfect

The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has been completed at the present time. The present perfect is made up of two parts: the present tense of the verb “to have” (I have, you have, we have, they have) and the past participle of the main verb (run, written, spoken). The present perfect can be used in a number of different ways, but some of the most common uses are outlined below.

1. To describe an experience: I’ve climbed Mount Everest. 2. To describe a change that has taken place: She’s grown so much! 3. To talk about something that happened in the past but is relevant to the present: We’ve moved house. 4. To describe an action which started in the past and continues in the present: I’ve worked here for five years. 5. To talk about repeated actions: I’ve been to France three times this year.

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Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

The present perfect tense is used to describe an event that happened at some point in the past, but its effects are still relevant in the present. For example, you might say “I have read that book” to describe a past event with current consequences. The simple past tense, on the other hand, is used to describe a past event without any connection to the present. So, you would use the simple past tense to say “I read that book yesterday.”

When choosing between the two tenses, it’s important to consider whether or not the event is still affecting your life in some way. If it is, then you should use the present perfect tense. If not, then the simple past tense will suffice.

When to Use the Present Perfect

The present perfect tense is used to talk about actions or states that began in the past and continue into the present.

It can also be used to describe past actions that are connected to the present in some way.

Here are some examples of when to use the present perfect:

I’ve read two books this week.

This sentence describes an action that began in the past (reading) and continues into the present (I have two books left to read).

I’ve known her for years.

This sentence describes a state that began in the past (knowing) and continues into the present (we’re still friends). The state could also be described as “being friends for years.”

We’ve been trying to sell our house for months.

This sentence describes an action that began in the past (trying to sell) and continues into the present (we haven’t sold it yet).

The Difference Between

The present perfect tense is formed by using the present tense of the verb “have” plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle is usually formed by adding “-ed” to the base form of regular verbs, as in “walked,” “talked,” or “decided.” For irregular verbs, the past participle is often a different word from the base form, as in “written,” “spoken,” or “gone.”

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have recently been completed or that started in the past and continue into the present. It can also be used to describe experiences that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

The main difference between the present perfect and other tenses is that the present perfect always includes some connection to now. This connection can be explicit, as when we say something like “I have finished my homework,” or it can be implicit, as when we say something like “We have been friends for years.”

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What Is the Present Perfect Tense?

The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present. It’s easily recognized by the auxiliary verbs (or helper verbs) have and has , as in, “I have gone fishing since I was a child.”

Of all the English verb tenses, the present perfect is one of the most complicated because there’s not always a direct translation in other languages. So in this guide, we explain everything you need to know to use it perfectly, including how and when to use it, with plenty of present perfect tense examples. Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is present perfect tense?

The present perfect tense is one of the common verb tenses in English, used to show an action that happened in the past that is directly related to the present, such as actions that are still continuing or that indicate a change over time. We cover a complete list of when to use the present perfect tense below.

Don’t let the name confuse you—even though the word present is there, the present perfect tense deals with actions that happened or started in the past. In fact, the present perfect tense is often used interchangeably with the simple past tense, although there are some special situations in which you can only use one or the other, also explained below.

How do you use the present perfect tense?

In the present perfect tense, the main verbs always use the auxiliary verbs (helper verbs) has or have . The main verb takes a participle form, specifically the past participle . The past participle is often the same form as the simple past form of the verb, unless it’s an irregular verb , which each have their own unique past participle form. We explain in more detail how to form them in our guide to participles .

Only the auxiliary verbs are conjugated to fit the subject-verb agreement in the present perfect tense; the past participle of the main verb remains the same no matter what the subject is. Generally, you use have for all subjects except the singular third-person, which instead uses has .

First-person : I have come a long way.

Second person : You have come a long way.

Third-person plural : They have come a long way.

Third-person singular : He/she/it has come a long way.

The present perfect tense has specific constructions for standard statements, negatives, and questions, explained below. We also discuss how to use the present perfect tense with adverbs and with the passive voice.

The present perfect tense for statements

For general statements, the most common use of the present perfect, use have or has plus the past participle form of the main verb.

[ have / has ] + [past participle]

Charlotte has become friends with Wilbur.

We’ ve broken up before, but this time feels different.

The present perfect tense for negatives

To use the present perfect tense in the negative, simply add the negative word (like not or never ) after the auxiliary verb but before the past participle.

[ have / has ] + [negative] + [past participle]

I have not slept well since exams started.

My Midwestern friend has never seen the ocean.

This construction works for neither, nor sentences, too.

It’s 11 in the morning, and she has neither eaten breakfast nor gotten dressed.

Please note that it’s clearest to avoid subject contractions when using the present perfect tense with the negative , at least in American English.

I’ve not seen the Eiffel Tower.

I have not seen the Eiffel Tower.

The present perfect tense for questions

When asking a question in the present perfect tense, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb. This follows a similar construction as questions with the auxiliary verb do , which also comes before the subject.

[ have / has ] + [subject] + [past participle]

Have you eaten dinner yet?

Has the party started ?

How to use the present perfect tense with adverbs

Although you can still use adverbs after the verb (as you do normally), with the present perfect tense you can also place the adverb between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

[ have / has ] + [adverb] + [past participle]

They have gradually advanced their career from cashier to senior manager.

All the guests have already arrived .

Be careful, though. Certain adverbs—especially yet and just —have special rules for where they’re placed. Moreover, because these adverbs relate to time, they’re often used together with the present perfect tense.

The adverb yet , used often with a negative or in questions, almost always comes at the end of a sentence or clause.

Sadly, he hasn’t finished the race yet .

Have you finished your homework yet ?

Conversely, the adverb just is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

I’ ve just woken up .

Their plane has just landed .

How to use the present perfect tense in the passive voice

When discussing writing, we often talk about the active vs. passive voice . Although we recommend using the active voice as much as possible, sometimes the passive voice is unavoidable.

To use the present perfect tense in the passive voice, use been (the past participle of the verb be ) before the past participle of the main verb.

[ have / has ] + [ been ] + [past participle]

She has been given an award.

You have just been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

How to use the present perfect continuous tense

You can also combine the present perfect tense with the present continuous tense to show an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present. This hybrid tense is called the present perfect continuous tense . The construction is similar to using the present perfect tense in the passive voice, except that the main verb uses the present participle instead of the past participle.

[ have / has ] + [ been ] + [present participle]

She has been seeing a physical therapist since her surgery.

It has been raining all day.

Like all continuous tenses, the present perfect continuous tense can not be used with stative verbs like want, need, love, or hate.

Here’s a tip: You don’t have to guess whether you’re using certain words correctly or breaking grammar rules in your writing. Just copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.

6 examples of when to use the present perfect tense

Knowing when to use the present perfect tense is an important part of English grammar, but it can be confusing even for primary English speakers. Below, we explain the six main uses of the present perfect tense, including examples.

1 An ongoing action that started in the past, but has not yet been completed

This is the main usage of the present perfect tense, which demonstrates the relationship between an action started in the past and its effects on the present.

The professor has taught here for two decades.

They have played piano since the age of three.

Note that you can also use the present perfect continuous tense for this situation, as long as the action has not been completed yet (and it’s not a stative verb). The difference between the present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous tense, in this case, is emphasis:

The present perfect tense emphasizes the effects or consequences of the action.
The present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the action itself or the length of time.

So, for example, if you want to plainly say where you live, use the normal present perfect tense.

I’ ve lived in Lagos my whole life.

If you want to emphasize how long you’ve been living in a place, use the present perfect continuous tense.

I’ ve been living in Lagos my whole life.

What about an action started in the past that has already been completed? For that, you can use the simple past.

She worked there for five years but was fired last week.

2 A series of the same action completed multiple times in the past, likely to happen again in the future

When the same action has happened a few times already, you can use the present perfect tense if the action will likely happen again in the future. If the action probably won’t happen again, you can use the simple past tense.

I’ ve seen the movie six times! [probably will see it again]

I saw the movie six times! [probably will not see it again]

3 An action that was completed very recently (often used with just or now )

If an action was only completed very recently, you can describe it with the present perfect tense. Even though the action happened in the past, it was so recent that it’s directly connected to the present. These cases usually use adverbs like just or now to show that the action happened not long ago.

I shouldn’t eat anymore because I’ ve just brushed my teeth.

We’ ve finished practice now, so let’s go home.

4 A change over time

The present perfect tense is often used to emphasize a change that happened over an extended period of time.

My cousin has grown so much since I saw her two years ago.

Thanks to the many months of playing, I have become an expert at Wordle.

5 An uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)

If an action started in the past but was not completed, you can describe it with the present perfect tense if it’s likely to be completed in the future. This situation uses the negative form to show that the action is still unfinished and often uses the adverb yet .

The jury has not reached a verdict yet.

I haven’t finished my paper, but it’s due in an hour!

6 To add significance to a completed action

Last, you can use the present perfect tense to make any past action sound more important. The present perfect tense is often used with great achievements or accomplishments, as well as dramatic or rare events. This makes it appropriate for newsworthy events or major life experiences.

Macbeth has killed the king.

I’ ve met the love of my life!

When not to use the present perfect tense

Now that you know when to use the present perfect tense, let’s talk about when to avoid it.

A lot of times, the difference between the present perfect tense and the simple past tense is a matter of emphasis or whether or not the action is truly finished. However, there’s one rule in particular that should be mentioned: Do not use the present perfect tense with a specific time .

I have gone for a walk on Tuesday.

I went for a walk on Tuesday.

This might be confusing, however, because you can use the present perfect tense with a broad time period. The present perfect tense is only incorrect if used with one specific time. Using the present perfect tense with a general time range is perfectly acceptable.

I have gone for a walk every Tuesday this year.

Present perfect tense FAQs

What is the present perfect tense.

The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used to describe a past action that is related to the present.

How does the present perfect tense work?

The present perfect tense uses the auxiliary verb has or have and the past participle form of the main verb. For example, if you want to use go in the present perfect tense, you say, “I have gone.”

When is the present perfect used?

The present perfect tense is commonly used with events that started in the past and continue into the present. However, it has a few other uses too, including events that happened very recently in the past.

Using The Present Perfect.

When talking about past events AND the time is unimportant, unknown, or a secret, the present perfect is a good tense to use. What is the present perfect? Here is an example:

How is this grammar formed? It is formed with the following words:

The past participle and the simple past are sometimes the same. Sometimes they are different. For the word visited , the simple past and the past participle are the same. If the simple past and past participle are different, they are usually irregular verbs . For a list of irregular verbs, click here .


	for more information.

Maybe you are asking, "What is the difference between the simple past and the past perfect?" That's a good question. You are so smart! Let's take a look at the above sentence in both the simple past and the present perfect.





	.	.

The present perfect can give a starting time or an amount of time only if you use the words since and for . When using these words, the sentence usually means that the action is continuing . If you do not use since or for , the sentence means the action is finished , and it may or may not continue in the future. Take a look at these examples:



: The person smoked in the past (we don't know when), and he/she may still smoke, but we do not know.	: The person started to smoke 12 years ago, and he/she still smokes.

Therefore, when the present perfect sentence does not have since or for , we do not know if it is still continuing.

So, the present perfect is used for one of the following two reasons:

, , or a .

and the action is ( or .

Some verbs are NOT used with for or since because they do not have any length of time. The following is a list of some verbs that can be used in the present perfect when the time is unimportant, unknown, or a secret. These words very rarely use for or since because they do not have a length of time. In other words, the following actions occur, but then almost immediately do not continue; they do not have a length of time. Therefore, they do not use for or since .

Here is an example of what we mean:

The first sentence is correct because it does not use since or for . Begin (begun) does not have a length of time. After a few seconds, it is over; you cannot continuously begin the same test.

Some of you may know the present perfect progressive . If you do, then you may want to know what the difference is. For example,

	if this person still lives in Iran; the is also .
	this person still lives in Iran; we also know the time.
	this person still lives in Iran; we also know the time.

The second and third sentences above have identical meanings. The first and second sentences have (potentially) different meanings even though they look almost the same.


	for more information.

can be omitted. The meaning does not change.

AND (one week, three years), you can use the words after .

10 years.

is often used in present perfect questions. means "at any time before now." Ever is usually not used in answers.

is often used in negative present perfect answers.

seen a falling star.



	and .

INCORRECT: What time have you done it?

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Ask your students to share two or three things they have done that they are most proud of, and have them do it in front of the class. Allow the rest of the class to ask questions of each classmate after the presentation. Encourage your students to use the ‘already’ in their presentations.

These sentences should be written in the and include the time of the event. For example, a student might write ‘I walked my dog yesterday’. Then have students exchange papers and rewrite those sentences using the and the adverb ‘before’. They should also omit the time marker in the rewritten sentences. For example, ‘Hyun has walked his dog before’.

Review with your class how to use the adverb ‘since’ and then ask them how many times they have done daily since yesterday, last week, last month and last year.

Review with your class the proper use of the adverb ‘yet’ and then ask them to share with a partner three things they have not done yet that they would like to do.You can suggest subjects such as sports, travel, study, music, singing, art, meeting famous people.

Arrange chairs facing into a circle for all but one of your students. That student stands in the middle and announces something he has never done using the present perfect. Anyone in the circle who has done that activity must get out of his or her seat and races to find a new seat. The person in the middle tries to sit in one of the empty seats as well. The person left standing after everyone else is sitting takes the next turn in the middle of the circle.

You may want to explain the term ‘bucket list’ and encourage your students to think about what they would include on theirs. Then, let your students take turns asking if their classmates have done each of these activities. They should start with the phrase ‘have you ever’ and answer the questions with the present perfect. Encourage your students to share any surprising answers with the class after their discussion time is complete.

Play this sentence building game is a great way for students to join the lesson. Begin by asking a question in the present perfect. For example, Ask each student in succession to make the question longer: e.g. The next student makes the sentence even longer, e.g. Students continue to make the question longer and longer until you have the longest question possible. This can end up with some very funny questions. Students can also answer, “No I haven’t!” or “Yes, I have.” after each question.

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Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples

Present Perfect Tense! This reference explains what the present perfect tense is and how you can use it to speak more clearly about actions and their timing. It covers the structure of the tense and provides examples to help you understand it better. You will also learn about the usage of the present perfect tense, including time adverbs, with useful grammar rules, example sentences.

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe actions that have happened at an unspecified time before now.

It connects the past with the present.

Common uses include:

Experiences : “She has visited Paris.”
Changes over time : “He has grown taller.”
Incomplete actions : “They have not finished their homework.”

Certain words often signal the present perfect tense:

For example:

“Have you ever been to London?”
“They have already left.”

Formulation of Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time before now. It is also used to describe actions that have an impact on the present moment.

Affirmative Sentences

In affirmative sentences, the present perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb “have” (or “has” for he, she, it) followed by the past participle of the main verb.

I/You/We/They have + past participle
He/She/It has + past participle
They have eaten breakfast already.
She has finished her homework.

Negative Sentences

Negative sentences in the present perfect tense use the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” followed by “not” and the past participle of the main verb.

I/You/We/They have not (haven’t) + past participle
He/She/It has not (hasn’t) + past participle
I have not seen that movie yet.
He has not called us back.

Interrogative Sentences

Interrogative sentences in the present perfect tense start with the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” followed by the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

Have I/you/we/they + past participle?
Has he/she/it + past participle?
Have you read that book?
Has she moved to a new house?

These structures help in correctly forming sentences in the present perfect tense and convey actions related to the present time.

Usage of Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense connects past actions or events with the present. It is often used to describe actions that were completed in the past but still impact the present.

Actions Completed in the Past

This tense shows actions finished at some point before now. For example, “She has finished her homework.” The exact time isn’t given, but we know it’s completed. This is helpful when talking about achievements or changes that are important in the present.

Actions with Present Relevance

The present perfect tense highlights actions that have results or consequences in the present. “He has lost his keys” means he can’t find them now. This usage bridges the past and the present, emphasizing how a past event affects the current situation.

Life Experience

When talking about experiences someone has had in their life up to now, the present perfect tense applies. “They have traveled to Japan” means at some point in their lives, they visited Japan. It doesn’t specify when, just that it has happened. This aspect focuses on the fact, not the timing.

Unspecified Time Before Now

The present perfect tense refers to actions that occurred at an unknown time before now. It uses terms like “ever” or “never.” “I have never eaten sushi” means at all times up to now, sushi hasn’t been eaten by the speaker. This helps in discussing experiences without needing specific time details.

Time Expressions in Present Perfect Tense

Time expressions help understand when an action happened. In the present perfect tense, words like “already,” “yet,” “for,” “since,” “just,” “ever,” and “never” are used to give clear time context.

Already and Yet

Already is used in positive sentences to show that something has happened sooner than expected. For example, “She has already finished her homework.” It indicates that the action is completed.

Yet is used in negative sentences and questions to talk about something that hasn’t happened but is expected to. For instance, “Has he finished his homework yet?” and “He has not finished his homework yet.”

For and Since

For is used to talk about a period of time. For example, “They have lived here for ten years.” It shows the duration of time.

Since points to the starting time of an action. For example, “They have lived here since 2010.” It tells when the action began.

Just is used to indicate a recently completed action. For example, “She has just finished her lunch.” It highlights that the action happened in the very recent past.

Ever and Never

Ever is used in questions and negative sentences to refer to any time up to now. For example, “Have you ever visited France?” It asks about any past experience.

Never is used to mean not at any time. For instance, “He has never visited France.” It means not once in the past timeframe.

These expressions help provide clear context and time relationships in present perfect statements.

Contrast with Past Simple Tense

The Present Perfect Tense and Past Simple Tense have distinct differences, especially when it comes to finished and unfinished actions as well as specific and general time references .

Finished vs. Unfinished Actions

The Present Perfect Tense often deals with actions that started in the past and continue into the present or have relevance now. For example, “She has lived in Madrid for three years” means she still lives there.

In contrast, the Past Simple Tense describes actions that are completely finished. For example, “She lived in Madrid for three years” means she no longer lives there. This difference is key when choosing which tense to use.

Specific vs. General Time

Another difference is in time references. The Present Perfect Tense is used for actions that happened at an unspecified time before now, like “They have traveled to Japan.” The exact time isn’t important.

The Past Simple Tense, on the other hand, is used for actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, “They traveled to Japan last year .” This gives the listener a clear time frame for when the event occurred.

These distinctions help in clearly communicating when and how actions occurred.

Past Simple Tense Exercises

To practice the present perfect tense, it’s helpful to work through exercises. Here are some activities:

Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb.

She (visit) many countries.
They (finish) their homework.
He (live) here for three years.

Rewrite Sentences

Transform these sentences into the present perfect tense.

I wash the car.
They eat dinner.
She reads the book.

Answer the questions using the present perfect tense.

What places have you visited?
Have you met any celebrities?
How long have you studied English?

True or False

Decide whether the sentences are correct.

He has gone to the store.
We have see that movie.
They have played soccer yesterday.

Match the Phrases

Connect the phrases to form correct sentences.

been to Paris.
watched the movie.
completed the project.

Short Answers

Respond to questions using the present perfect tense.

Have you finished your homework?
Yes, I have.
Has she visited London?
No, she hasn’t.

All Tenses in English

Learn all (12) tenses in English with useful grammar rules, examples and ESL worksheets.

Verb Tenses Chart

Present Simple Tense
Present Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Past Simple Tense
Past Continuous Tense
Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Simple Future Tense
Future Continuous Tense
Future Perfect Tense
Future Perfect Continuous
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The Present Perfect Simple (Form, Usage, And Examples)

Table of contents, introduction, the form of the present perfect simple tense.

Have (in the simple present) + Verb (in the past participle form)

Positive	Negative	Interrogative
I have worked.	I have not worked.	Have you worked?
you have worked	you have not worked	have you worked?
he has worked	he has not worked	has he worked?
she has worked	she has not worked	has she worked?
We have worked	we have not worked	have we worked?
you have worked	you have not worked	have you worked?
they have worked	they have not worked	have they worked?

I have worked = I’ve worked
He has worked = He’s worked

I have not = I haven’t worked
He has not = He hasn’t worked

Uses of the Present Perfect Simple Tense:

Present perfect vs past simple tense:.

Present Perfect Simple	Simple past
I that girl before	I that girl at the beach last Saturday.
you Nancy recently?	you Nancy yesterday?
We this issue a few times.	We this issue last month.
I some tests this week.	I some tests last week.

Choosing Between Present Perfect and Past Simple:

Present Perfect Tense

What is the present perfect tense.

John has taken Sarah's advice.
They have fixed the fence.

Table of Contents

More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense

Video lesson, comparing the present perfect tense and the simple past tense, forming the present perfect tense, interactive verb conjugation tables, the other present tenses.

The board has decided to uphold the appeal.
I have taken the wrong path.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

Janet has run two miles.
Janet ran two miles.
David has worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology.
David worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology.
I have worked.
She has painted.

Forming the Past Participle (Regular Verbs)

jump > jumped
paint > painted
chat > chatted
stop > stopped
sew > sewed
play > played
fix > fixed
incur > incurred
prefer > preferred
open > opened
enter > entered
swallow > swallowed
thrive > thrived
guzzle > guzzled
cry > cried
fry > fried

Forming the Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)

arise > arisen
catch > caught
choose > chosen
know > known

The Negative Version

The board has not decided to uphold the appeal.
I have not taken the wrong path.

The Question Version

Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
Have I taken the wrong path?
Why has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
How have I taken the wrong path?

Infographic for the Present Perfect Tense

Top 10 Regular Verbs

Top 10 Irregular Verbs

All 4 Past Tenses

Person	Simple Past	Past Progressive Tense	Past Perfect Tense	Past Perfect Progressive Tense
	is for a completed activity that happened in the past.	is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.	is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.	is for showing that an ongoing action in the past has ended.

All 4 Present Tenses

Person	Simple Present	Present Progressive Tense	Present Perfect Tense	Present Perfect Progressive Tense
	is mostly for a fact or a habit.	is for an ongoing action in the present.	is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)	is for a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present (or finished very recently).

All 4 Future Tenses

Person	Simple Future	Future Progressive Tense	Future Perfect Tense	Future Perfect Progressive Tense
	is for an action that will occur in the future.	is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.	is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.	is for an ongoing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

The 4	Example
	I go
	I am going
present perfect tense	I have gone
	I have been going

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#281: The Present Perfect for Talking About Experiences [+ Ever, Never, Before, Yet, Already, So Far]

Jul 12, 2023 | Grammar , Verb Tenses

Accurately talking about your work, travel, relationship, and life experiences is a must.

Whether you’re preparing for a job interview or want to chat about a recent travel experience, you’ll likely need the Present Perfect in English to do so.

Moreover, you’ll hear English speakers often use words such as ever, never, before, yet, already , and so far as well.

Each of these words is a key word. It provides a signal that helps us understand time and how an experience relates to the present moment.

These complex time expressions combined with similarities to the Simple Past make the Present Perfect rather challenging.

On top of that, many languages don’t have an exact equivalent to the present perfect in English. As a result, it may be difficult to grasp its concept and usage.

But not after today.

In this lesson, you’ll get meaningful practice through clear examples and opportunities to practice so you can accurately and confidently use the present perfect to highlight your life experiences.

The Present Perfect for Talking About Experiences

With ever, never, before, yet, already, so far, what is present perfect .

Let’s start with a quick recap on the present perfect form.

The present perfect is a verb tense English speakers use to indicate a link between the present and the past. In other words, when past actions or events are related to or continue into the present moment, we use the present perfect tense.

In general, we form the present perfect with the following positive structure:

Subject + have/has + past participle

In its negative form, the structure is:

Subject + have/has + not + past participle

Ex . “ I have been to the museum. ”
Ex . “ Margot hasn’t watched the movie. ”
Ex . “ Nikita has worked at this bank. ”
Ex . “ Why haven’t you called? ”
Ex . “ Have you heard of Notre Dame? ”

When do we use it?

English speakers especially use the present perfect tense to talk about past life experiences that are relevant to the present – right now.

Usually, we use this tense to highlight the experience or action itself.

Moreover, the present perfect can be used to share your thoughts about a variety of experiences, such as a recent vacation, your work experience while interviewing for a job, parenting, personal relationships, and more.

To help with describing these experiences using the present perfect, let’s focus on 6 keywords that are most often used with this tense:

and, so far.

Ever, Never, Before

English speakers often use ‘ever’ and ‘never’ to discuss whether an experience happened at any point in the life they’ve lived thus far.

Ex . “ Have you ever worked with Jessica on a project? ”
“ Yes, I have. We worked together on a proposal a few months ago. ”

In this example, ever is used to refer to whether the person had this opportunity at any point during their career or time at the company.

The words “at any point” are the key to the use of ever .

Any time a question starts with “Have you ever…” the focus is at any point in your life have you had a particular experience.

For example:

Have you ever (at any point in your life) lived abroad?
Have you ever regretted a big purchase?

So why are we using the present perfect? How is this connected to the past?

It’s possible that many years ago you lived abroad for a short period of time. For example, maybe you lived abroad for 1 year during your university years.

That experience is over; however, your life is not yet over. And the focus with the word ever is at any point in your life, which again, is not over. So there is a link from the past to the present moment.

Similarly, we can even use ‘ever’ and ‘never’ WITH ‘before’ to imply that up until a present circumstance, we didn’t have a particular experience.

Ex . “ Have you ever been to this restaurant? ”
“ I’ve never been here before; it’s my first time! ”

In addition, we can also use ‘before’ to establish an existent or nonexistent experience with a topic, event, or action related to the present.

“Yes, I’ve been there before. It’s been years but I remember I loved it. I highly recommend it.
“ I have used it before, but it’s been a while. I might need a bit of a refresher.”

Yet, Already

English speakers might also combine the present perfect with ‘yet’ to describe an event that started in the past and is leading up to the present. It’s used to emphasize that we expect something to happen soon.

Ex . “ This week has been so busy; I haven’t even started preparing for my interview yet! ” (But I expect to start preparing soon.)
Ex . “ Have you watched the new Indiana Jones movie yet?
Not yet. I booked tickets to go watch it this weekend. ” (It’s happening soon.)

Moreover, when we use the present perfect tense we also follow ‘yet’ with ‘but’ to contrast, provide reasoning, or share a plan of action.

Ex . “ I haven’t asked my boss for a raise yet, but I’m hoping to do it by the end of this month. ”
Ex . “ Viola hasn’t moved yet, but she is looking for a new condo. ”

We also use ‘yet’ with ‘already’ to talk about actions or events that have happened by the present moment.

Ex . “ Have you applied for the manager position yet? ”
“ Yup, I’ve already submitted everything. I’m just waiting to hear back from them. ”

Finally, similar to yet, we can use ‘so far’ with the present perfect to imply that an experience set in the past is true, even in the present, or up until now. It can also mean to a certain or limited extent.

Ex . “ I’ve watched the first three episodes of Queen’s Gambit so far and I love it!”
Ex . “ So far, I haven’t had any luck with getting my toddler to sleep in her own bed. ”

Time to Practice!

Let’s practice using the present perfect to talk about your experiences.

Choose one of the questions below to share your experience. Be sure to use the keywords from the lesson to accurately describe it.

Have you ever taken an online course? Would you recommend it to someone who’s never taken one?
How do you handle unexpected interview questions? Have you ever been asked an odd question in a job interview?
Have you ever participated in a competition before? How did you prepare for it?

You can share your answers — as well as your questions — with me in the comments below.

~ Annemarie

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I have taken an online class twice so far, but I haven’t gotten any advantages. I would not recommend it to someone who’s never taken one.
Yes, I have been asked an odd question in a job interview before. I have not completely remembered what that question was. But when it comes to my mind, I want to close my eyes and laugh loudly.
I have never participated in a competition before. It will be the first time

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How To Teach The Present Perfect | Step By Step

The present perfect form can be particularly challenging for teachers to teach and students to learn. This is because in many other languages, the present perfect tense functions differently than it does in English. The main goal when teaching the present perfect tense to English language learners is to get them to understand its two main usages. Follow this easy step-by-step guide on how to teach the present perfect tense and your students will be using it confidently in no time.

How To Teach The Present Perfect Tense

Step 1: the two main uses, step 2: finished past actions.

A great way to demonstrate this first usage of the present perfect tense is to talk about your past experiences. For example, you can tell students “ I have visited many countries. “, “ I have been to South Korea and Japan. “, “ I have climbed Mt. Fuji. “, etc. Write these examples on the board.

Step 3: Actions That Started In The Past And Continue To The Present

Once students have grasped the first usage, it’s time to teach them the second usage of the present perfect tense. To do this, you can elicit many examples from students. For example, you can ask students how long they have lived in the current country/city you are in (“ I have lived in England for 5 years “), how long they have studied English (“I have studied English for three years. “), how long they have known their best friend (“ I have known Kelly for 7 years “), etc. Write all these examples on the board so you can refer to them later.

Step 4: Present Perfect Tense Structure

You may need to explain what ‘subject’ and ‘past participle’ refer to. A great way to do this is to use the examples on the board from steps 2 and 3 and have students identify the subject and past participle in each sentence. Once students understand the present perfect tense structure, swap out the subjects and verbs in each sentence to make new sentences.

Step 5: Ask And Answer Using The Present Perfect

Once students understand, have them practice asking and answering present perfect questions with their partner. After 10 minutes, stop the class and ask some students to tell you what their partner said. This way, students can practice changing the subject in the sentence (i.e. “ He/She has studied English for 3 years. “).

Step 6: Review With A Quiz

Related Resources

Writing Prompt ~ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Writing Prompt: The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action from the past that has recently stopped or is still continuing. As with other perfect tenses, the words for and since are often used to indicate time. Review the structure and uses of the present perfect continuous tense . Then demonstrate your understanding by writing a script for a short interview between two people. Try to use for and since in your writing.

11 comments

I love this conversation so much

Thanks a lot

Amanda: ¡Hi Mom! How have you been feeling these days? I didn’t visit you for a long time. Mom: I have been very good because your father bought three airplane tickets to travel to Paris the next week, with you. Amanda: ¡Wow! Its is a big surprise, I don’t believe it. Mom: He has saved a lot of money to give us this present. However, the main reason to do this travel is to share with you much time than we have been sharing since you move out. Amanda: Awww, my dad is so beautiful with us, I love it. Amanda: Mmmm Mom, I have a little problem, I don’t have clothes to go to Paris, all my shirts, skirts and jeans are dirty because I haven’t cleaned them yet. Can you accompany me to clean up in the laundry? Mom: Ok, but Why didn’t you wash the clothes before? Amanda: I’m sorry, but I have been very busy with my university homeworks and I forgot my clothes laundry. Mom: Don’t worry, but you need to be more focus with these little things that are very important. I have been thinking that I could help you these days If you do want. To accompany and give my support in all possible house works that you could have. Amanda: Thanks mom, you’re very special with me but I will try to organize all things that I have. But if you do want, we can prepare our bags to travel to Paris. Mom: Yeah! I love it, because ¡we are travelling to Paris the next week! And we need to prepare all things to carry to this wonderful city.

Job Interview Interviewer: Why do you want this job? Applicant: I have been wanting to be an editor-in-chief since I had completed high school. I have always wanted a 9 to 5 job and when I am getting the opportunity, I would use it all. Interviewer: I have noticed from your resume that you have been working in Montera n’ Co. since 5 years. Why are you resigning from there? Applicant: Due to some professional grudges I have been looking for a job since the time the grudges started as I was unable to stand much. Interviewer: What have you been looking for in a job? Applicant: I have been looking for a knowledgeable job so that I never stop learning.

It is informative

Information

Job Interview Interviewer: Could you introduce your self? Job applicant: Sure, I’m Carlos and I have been programming software since 2004 when I finished the university. I have been working in different roles as software engineer, technical lead and software architect. All my career I have been programming in Java language. Interviewer: Perfect, could you tell me about your architecture career? Job applicant: I have been working as a software architect for 7 years, this period I have been designing many architectures under java platform and I have been managing many development teams. Interviewer: I think while you have been managing a development team you have been faced some conflict at some moment, could you tell me about how you faced those situations. Job applicant: Yes, well, when some things were difficult, like different opinions from a specific decision I have always been trying to put in priority our work as a value for our customer, the products we have been creating are always to give an additional value to an end user, with this in mind is how I have always been trying to resolve some conflict.

Hello samuel i`m very happy in my new house you can visit my on the weekend, in the saturday i my 🎈happy birday🎁 in my hause in case you want to come an we make a pajamada and cook a cake.

Job Interview Interviewer: Where have you been working the recent years? Job applicant: I’ve been working on sales and and public relations for about three years. Interviewer: Since when have you been searching for a new job? Job applicant: I’ve been searching for almost three months Interviewer: I’ve noticed in your curriculum that you are studying business at university ¿Since when have you been studying? Job applicant: I’ve been studyng the Master of Artes since the last year.

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Present Perfect activities

Standalone Tasks (Warmers and Fillers)

Present Perfect practice

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson with Present Perfect activities are to:

practise Present Perfect in affirmative and negative statements and questions;
apply the tense to tell the news, talk about experiences and tell stories;
differentiate the use of Present Perfect and Past Simple.

This lesson contains standalone activities where students can create sentences using Present Perfect with already , just and yet . They associate descriptions with pieces of news using the tense, ask and answer questions to talk about experiences as well as talking about life stories using Present Perfect and Past Simple appropriately. Students also create funny questions using pictures and detect truth or lies in classmates’ statements.

PRESENT PERFECT (JUST, ALREADY, YET)

In this part of the lesson, there are two tasks where students practise already, just and yet with Present Perfect. In ex. 1 , they complete sentences using Present Perfect and already, just or yet (e.g. ‘I wrote an email to my boss yesterday, but I haven’t sent it yet ’). In ex. 2 , students look at the photos and say things that have happened and things that haven’t happened yet (e.g. a picture of friends having lunch together: They’ve already ordered their food. They haven’t posted the picture on social media yet. )

PRESENT PERFECT (NEWS AND EXPERIENCES)

In this section, three tasks help students discuss personal experiences and events using Present Perfect. In ex. 3 , students read details and say which piece of news they are about (e.g. We’ve worked really hard, and it has finally happened. Now, we can get a pet, have parties and grow our own food in the garden – My partner and I have bought a house! ). Then, they read the details of another situation and guess the news using Present Perfect.

After that, students give some details about the news they receive for their partner to guess the news. In ex. 4 , students receive cards with situations (e.g. I have never baked a cake ) and, in pairs , they take turns reading statements on the cards and doing tasks ( create two sentences connected with the situation, ask their partner a question about the topic). In ex. 5 , students match pairs of sentences about life events in the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses. They also choose two pairs to create more sentences about each situation.

PRESENT PERFECT VS PAST SIMPLE

In this part of the lesson, students do four Present Perfect activities which help them practise Present Perfect and differentiate it from Past Simple. In ex. 6 , students receive information about themselves and their partner. They ask their partner questions to complete their information (e.g. has studied English for _____ years; has lived in Brazil since _____; etc.). In ex. 7 , they receive a set of cards , choose one and create a funny question using the picture it shows (e.g. a cactus, a clown, an alien , etc.) and the structure Have you ever…? (e.g. Have you ever sat on a cactus? ). Their partner imagines that the situation has really happened and continues the story in Past Simple with their ideas.

In ex. 8 , students look at different topics (e.g. work, traveling, sport , etc.) and share something they haven’t done but think their partner has. If their partner has done it, they share three details about their experience. In ex. 9 , students choose one activity (e.g. meet a celebrity, miss a flight, see the ocean , etc.) and say they have done it. Other students ask questions about the experience to figure out if it is true .

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How about a little improvement?

With this lesson, students practise quantifiers in various contexts. They discuss work conditions and employee feedback and watch a video about employee satisfaction.

Meeting a celebrity

With this lesson, students talk about celebrities and work with grammar! They watch a funny ad, discuss situations related to fame and practise words and phrases to express frequency. Students also do a role play task in which they throw a celebrity party.

sharing experiences using Present Perfect and Past Simple

Sharing experiences (Present Perfect and Past Simple)

With this lesson, students discuss the topics people talk about when they first meet. They also practise Present Perfect and Past Simple, watch a video about people who have just met and do a role play activity.

What to do when you’re stressed

Talk about how to stop worrying about a problem with this lesson! Students discuss stress issues, watch a short video on tips about how to take your mind off problems and practise advice structures.

I’ll do it better next time!

Practise will and won’t with this lesson! Students talk about everyday life situations and use will and won’t to express promises, offers and decisions. They also examine situations and create dialogues based on pictures.

It’s such a lovely place! (so and such)

With this lesson, students talk about travel experiences, watch a short video about the capital city of Ghana and practise ‘so’ and ‘such’ structures. They also share their personal experiences and discuss the advantages of different travel options.

Posh and fancy (Past Simple and Continuous practice)

Engage in revising Past Simple and Continuous and discussing fancy experiences with this lesson! Students explore vocabulary to talk about the topic, watch a humorous ad for a ketchup brand and create interesting stories.

I keep it for luck (prepositional phrases)

Step into the world of prepositional phrases! Students talk about important objects, watch a promotional video, practise prepositional phrases and write short stories.

The things we want and the things we need (stative verbs)

In this lesson, students dive into the world of self-expression, watch an ad for a trading website and practise stative and active verbs. They also talk about their preferences and use the target vocabulary to describe people’s personalities.

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Present Perfect ESL Activities, Games and Worksheets

Pre-intermediate ( A2 )
Intermediate ( B1 )
Upper-intermediate ( B2 )

Are you sure?

Esl present perfect activity - grammar: error correction, betting - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

Finished or Unfinished?

Esl present perfect worksheet - grammar: categorising, writing sentences, sentence completion - speaking activity: discussion, communicative practice - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 30 minutes.

Have you...?

Esl present perfect game - grammar and speaking: forming, asking and answering questions - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

How have you been?

Esl present perfect game - grammar and speaking: asking and answering questions, miming, guessing, forming sentences, controlled and freer practice - group work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 30 minutes.

I have never...

Esl present perfect activity - grammar and speaking: sentence completion, asking questions, guided discussion - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 35 minutes<.

Life Experiences

Esl present perfect with been activity - grammar, writing and speaking: forming, asking and answering questions, reporting findings, freer practice - group work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 35 minutes.

ESL Present Perfect Word Order Game - Grammar: Unscrambling, Identifying, Error Correction - Group Work - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 25 minutes

Perfect Pair Snap

Esl present perfect yes no questions game - grammar: snap, matching questions and answers - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 20 minutes.

Present Perfect Bingo

Esl present perfect game - grammar: asking questions from prompts, answering questions - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

Present Perfect Wh Questions

Esl present perfect questions worksheet - grammar exercises: gap-fill, writing questions and answers from prompts - speaking activity: freer practice - pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 30 minutes.

Time Expressions Game

Esl present perfect game - grammar and speaking: forming sentences and questions from prompts - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

Write, Ask and Answer

Esl present perfect activity - grammar and speaking: writing, asking and answering questions from prompts, controlled and freer practice - group and pair work - pre-intermediate (a2) - 25 minutes.

How things have changed?

Esl present perfect activity - speaking: categorising, asking and answering questions, forming sentences, discussion, controlled and freer practice - pair and group work - intermediate (b1) - 35 minutes.

It's my Life

Esl present perfect activity - grammar and speaking: writing short answers, asking and answering questions, guided discussion - pair work - intermediate (b1) - 25 minutes.

Life as a Dancer

Esl present perfect activity - grammar and speaking: information gap, writing, asking and answering questions, gap-fill, freer practice - group and pair work - intermediate (b1) - 25 minutes.

Present Perfect Board Game

Esl present perfect board game - grammar and speaking: impromptu speech, communicative practice - group work - intermediate (b1) - 30 minutes.

Present Perfect Overview

Esl present perfect worksheet - grammar exercises: gap-fill, categorising, writing sentences - speaking activity: asking and answering questions, giving information - pair work - intermediate (b1) - 35 minutes.

The Greatest Traveller

Esl present perfect activity - speaking and grammar: guided discussion, asking and answering questions from prompts - group work - intermediate (b1) - 30 minutes.

What have you done?

Esl present perfect game - grammar and speaking: sentence completion, true or false, asking questions, guessing - pair work - speaking activity: guided discussion - group work - intermediate (b1) - 35 minutes.

What's been changed?

Esl present perfect passive game - grammar and speaking: forming sentences - group work - intermediate (b1) - 20 minutes.

Present Perfect Review

Esl present perfect worksheet - grammar exercises: gap-fill, writing sentences, error correction - speaking activity: asking and answering questions - pair work - upper-intermediate (b2) - 30 minutes.

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Present Tense
Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense - Meaning, Definition, Formula, Structure and Uses with Examples

The present perfect tense is indeed simple and easy if you try to understand and use it the right way. It seems to be confusing to some though the tense has a very simple structure. However, anything can be learnt, and so this article on present perfect tense is here to help your learning process. In this article, the meaning, definition, formula, structure and uses will be explained along with examples to help you understand better.

Definition of the present perfect tense, structure and formula of the present perfect tense.

Rules to Be Followed When Using the Present Perfect Tense

Uses of the Present Perfect Tense

Examples of the present perfect tense, check your understanding of the present perfect tense, frequently asked questions on the present perfect tense, what is the present perfect tense.

The present perfect tense is employed in a sentence to represent an action that just happened in the recent past and still has its effect in the present or an action that represents an indefinite time in the past. To have a clearer idea of the tense, let us look at how different dictionaries define the tense.

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as “the form of a verb that expresses an action done in a time period up to the present, formed in English with the present tense of ‘have’ and the ‘past participle’ of the verb, as in I have eaten .” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the present perfect tense is defined as “the form of the verb used for actions or events that have been completed or have happened in a period of time up to now.”

A much more elaborate definition is given by the Collins Dictionary and according to it, “the present perfect tenses of a verb are the ones used to talk about things which happened before the time you are speaking or writing but are relevant to the present situation, or things that began in the past and are still happening.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as one “relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is traditionally formed in English with have and a past participle and that expresses an action or state begun in the past and completed at the time of speaking (as in “I have finished”) or continuing in the present (as in “We have lived here for several years”).

The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below:

Subject + + the rest of the sentence

The structure of the present perfect tense can be analysed with reference to positive, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative types of sentences. Have a look at the table given below for a closer look at the same.



Subject + + the rest of the sentence	Subject + + the rest of the sentence	subject + + the rest of the sentence	subject + + the rest of the sentence (or) subject + the rest of the sentence
Examples: my work. your work. his work. her work. their work.	Examples: my work. your work. his work. her work. their work.	Examples: I my work? you your work? he his work? she her work? they their work?	Examples: I my work? you your work? he his work? she her work? they their work? you your work? she her work? he his work? they their work?

Rules to be Followed When Using the Present Perfect Tense

The very first thing that you will have to learn before you start using present perfect tense is how past participles are formed. In the English language , a past participle is formed by adding an ‘ed’ to the base form of the verb in most cases. However, there are a number of irregular verbs that have different spellings and do not, in any way, follow the concept of adding ‘ed’ to the base form like regular verbs . You can take a look at the extensive list of irregular verbs to analyse how these verbs are in their past participle form.

The next point to remember is that a sentence with the past perfect form of the verb uses two verbs – a helping verb and a main verb . ‘Have’ and ‘has’ are the two helping verbs that are used. ‘Have’ is used when the pronouns ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘they’ or plural nouns act as the subject in a sentence. ‘Has’ is used when the pronouns ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ or singular nouns act as the subject.

The present perfect tense can be used

To denote an action or event that happened or started in the past and still has its impact or some connection to the subject in the present.
To indicate an action that happened in the past and continues to occur in the present.
To connect the events of the present to the events that happened in the past.

Learn how to use the present perfect tense effectively by going through the examples given below.



I	I as a teacher for two years.
You	You as a teacher for two years.
We	We as teachers for two years.
He	He as a teacher for two years.
She	She as a teacher for two years.
They	They as teachers for two years.
It	It here the whole time.
Singular noun	Michael as a teacher for two years.
Plural noun	Devika and Priscilla as teachers for two years.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the present perfect tense in the following sentences:

1. We ___________ (find – negative) it yet.

2. Venu and Parvati ____________ (invited) all their friends for today’s party.

3. Shashi _________ (sleep – negative) all night.

4. ________ he _________ (finish) his work?

5. It ___________ (be – negative) the same ever since you left.

6. They __________ (buy) a 2BHK flat.

7. You ___________ (come) to the right place.

8. _______ you ever ________ (be) to Malaysia?

9. Do you know why she __________ (like – negative) it?

10. ________ you _________ (hear) about the new education policies?

Check if you have used the right form of the tense from the following sentences.

1. We have not found it yet.

2. Venu and Parvati have invited all their friends for today’s party.

3. Shashi has not slept all night.

4. Has he finished his work?

5. It has not been the same ever since you left.

6. They have bought a 2BHK flat.

7. You have come to the right place.

8. Have you ever been to Malaysia?

9. Do you know why she has not liked it?

10. Have you heard about the new education policies?

What is the present perfect tense?

What is the definition of the present perfect tense?

What is the formula of the present perfect tense.

The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below: Subject + have/has + past participle + the rest of the sentence

What are the rules to be followed when using the present perfect tense?

The point that you should keep in mind when using the present perfect tense is that it has two verbs – a helping verb and a main verb. ‘Have’ and ‘has’ are the two helping verbs that are used. This is followed by the main verb which appears in its past participle form.

Give some examples of the present perfect tense form.

Given below are a few examples of sentences using the present perfect form of the verb.

Veena has not reached home yet.
All the children have finished their assignments.
Rinita has eaten all the mangoes.
I have not watched the movie yet.
Has she still not gone to the hospital?

What are the uses of the present perfect tense?

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Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is a tense used in present to indicate the action that has taken place at some specific time. It uses auxiliary verb and past participle for the main verb i.e. verb + ed. Some examples of present perfect tense are – I have watched this movie before, He has completed his homework. You will mostly use the present perfect in daily conversation while talking about some changes or experiences.

Definition of Present Perfect Tense

We use the present perfect to indicate a link between the present and the past. In other words, the time of the action is before now but not stated. In fact, most of the time, the result interests us more than the action itself. This tense forms by have/has + the past participle.

Thus, you will see that the construction of this verb tense is straightforward. Have or has is the first element which depends on the subject-verb is conjugated with. Similarly, the second element is the past participle of the very. It forms generally by adding –ed or –d to the root of the verb.

For instance, talked, leaned, wiped, mixed, and more. However, the English language does contain a few verbs that have irregular past participles. For instance, done, won, eaten, gone, thought, and more.

Present Perfect Sentences for Describing

We use present perfect tense to describe:

An action or situation which began in the past and is continuing to the present. I have lived in Mumbai since 1995. It means you are still living in Mumbai.

An action performed during a period that has not finished yet. He has been to the zoo thrice this month. It means the month is not over yet.

A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and present. They have visited London multiple times.

An action that was completed in the very recent past. ‘Just’ is used to express it. We have just completed our assignment.

An action when the time does not carry much importance. She has read ‘ Harry Potter’. Here, the result of her reading carries importance.

Similarly, please remember that you wish to give or ask details about when, where, who, you must use the simple past.

Examples of Present Perfect Tense

Unspecified time before now.

We make use of the present perfect tense to say that an action took place at an unspecified time before now. Thus, the exact time is not of that much importance. Do NOT use the present perfect with particular time expressions like yesterday, two years ago, last month, when I was a kid, when I lived in Gujarat, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. You can use the present perfect with unspecific expressions like ever, once, several times, never, already, many times, so far, yet, and more.

Examples –

We have seen that video ten times.
I think I have met her once before.
There have been many wildfires on Amazon.
Astronauts have traveled to the Moon.
They have not traveled to Jupiter.
Have you read the thesis yet?
Nobody has ever visited that haunted house.

Q. Has there ever been a wildfire in California?

A. Yes, there has been a wildfire in California.

Rules for using the Present Perfect

We understand that the concept of ‘unspecified time’ can be very confusing to English learners. Thus, it will help in associating present perfect with the following topics:

We can make use of the present perfect for describing our experience. For instance, ‘I have the experience of…’ Similarly, this tense can also be used to say that you have never had a particular experience. We do not use the present perfect for describing a particular event.

I have been to New York.
Through this statement, you are telling me that you have had the experience of visiting New York. It may be that you visited it once or multiple times.
I have been to New York five times.
The number of times can be added at the end of the sentence.
I have never been to New York.
Through this sentence, you will say that you have not had the experience of visiting New York.
I think I have seen that video before.
She has never traveled by car.
Tina has studied four foreign languages.

Q. Have you ever met her?

A. No, I have not met her.

Change Over Time

Present perfect is also used to denote the change that has occurred over a certain period of time.

You have grown since the last time I saw you.
The school has become more interested in extra-curricular activities.
French has become one of the most popular courses at the school since the Foreign Language program was established.
My Telugu has significantly improved since I moved to Telangana.

Achievements

The use of the present perfect is also done to list the achievements of people and humanity. But, you cannot mention a particular time.

Man has walked on the Moon.
Scientists have split the atom.
Our daughter has learned how to dance.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.

Uncompleted Action You are Expecting

We use the present perfect to tell about an action which we are expecting but has not happened yet. Using the present perfect will suggest that you are still waiting for the action to occur.

Rahul has not completed his project yet.
Priya hasn’t mastered Bengali, but she can communicate.
Pete has still not reached.
The rain hasn’t stopped.

Multiple Actions at Different Times

The present perfect tense is also used to talk about multiple different actions that have happened in the past at different times. It suggests the process is not complete and there is a possibility of more actions.

The army has attacked the neighboring country two times.
We have had two competitions and five events so far this year.
I have had a lot of problems while teaching junior classes.
He has talked to multiple doctors about her problem, but nobody can figure out the reason for her illness.

Questions on Present Perfect Tense

Choose the correct word for the blanks-

Question 1: ____ you completed your homework?

Answer 1: Option b- Have.

Question 2: Anjali’s been a vegan _____ two years.

Answer 2: Option b- For.

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Present Perfect Continuous Tense
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2 responses to “Uses of Tenses”

What is the present perfect form of “He does not smoke”? What is the difference between “He does not have to smoke” and “He has not smoked”?

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Present Perfect ESL Lesson Plan Worksheet A2

Subject: English language learning

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

4 September 2024

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Present Perfect ESL lesson plan for A2 Pre Intermediate ELL and ELA learners. This ready to use TEFL resource includes everything from flash cards to activities as well as conversation topics and writing drills. Designed to boost language proficiency, this engaging lesson plan covers the fundamental concepts and practical exercises related to using the present perfect tense to talk about past experiences and actions with present relevance. From understanding the formation and usage of the present perfect tense to practicing its correct application in various contexts, our lesson plan equips ESL learners with the knowledge and confidence to communicate effectively. With interactive activities, practice exercises, and real-life examples, this lesson plan fosters essential language skills and builds a strong foundation in English communication.

This is an A2 Pre Intermediate ESL lesson plan from the TEAM TEFL A2 course book https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12105436

It is also included in our course book bundle https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12121091

This lesson plan includes; Flash cards A cover page A warmer - Chatterbox Main usage Construction Rules including any exceptions Examples Two closed exercises One open exercise Writing exercise Extra study Revision exercise Activity - E.g Game, quiz, puzzle etc to finish the class. Answer key

This lesson plan is available in PDF and Google Slides.

This lesson plan is for ESL students from 14 years to adults and should take around 60-90 minutes depending on teacher style.

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Will and Going To Present Perfect Present Continuous For Future A2 Pre-Intermediate ESL Lesson Plan Bundle

Three A2 Pre Intermediate ESL lesson plans from the TEAM TEFL A2 Course book about Will and Going to, Present Perfect and Present Continuous For Future. In the Will & Going we will learn how to differentiate between the future simple and going to when talking about future actions or plans. In the Present Perfect unit we will learn how to refer to; An action or event that started in the past and continues into the present. Experiences. In the Present Continuous For Future unit we will learn how the present continuous can be used to refer to an action in the near future. These lesson plans typically include; Flash cards A cover page A warmer - Chatterbox Main usage Construction Rules including any exceptions Examples Two closed exercises One open exercise Revision exercise Writing exercise Extra study Activity - E.g Game, quiz, puzzle etc to finish the class. Answer key This lesson plan is available in PDF and Google Slides. These lesson plans are for ESL students from 14 years to adults and should take around 60-90 minutes depending on teacher style.

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Choose past tense or present perfect tense for the verbs in parentheses. More than one answer may be correct, so be prepared to explain why you chose the form you did. The first one has been done for you. Bambang Soetomo (1) (come) to the United States last January to get a degree in mechanical engineering. Since he (2) (be) in the United ...
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I have finished my essay. You have cleaned your room. He has taken out the trash. We have made dinner. ... The present perfect tense is formed by using the present tense of the verb "have" plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle is usually formed by adding "-ed" to the base form of regular verbs, as in "walked ...
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The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present. It's easily recognized by the auxiliary verbs (or helper verbs) have and has, as in, "I have gone fishing since I was a child.". Of all the English verb tenses, the present perfect is one of the most complicated ...
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8 Perfect Activities for Practicing the Present Perfect
Ask your students to share two or three things they have done that they are most proud of, and have them do it in front of the class. Allow the rest of the class to ask questions of each classmate after the presentation. Encourage your students to use the adverb 'already' in their presentations. 2.
Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples
The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe actions that have happened at an unspecified time before now. It connects the past with the present. Common uses include: Experiences: "She has visited Paris.". Changes over time: "He has grown taller.". Incomplete actions: "They have not finished their homework.". Keywords.
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The Form of the Present Perfect Simple Tense. The structure of the Present Perfect Simple is quite straightforward. It consists of "have" (in the simple present) followed by the past participle form of the verb: Have (in the simple present) + Verb (in the past participle form) Positive. Negative. Interrogative.
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Present Perfect with for/since. The present perfect is also used with for and since to talk about actions that began in the past and continue to the present. • "I've lived here since 2004.". • "I've lived here for 8 years.". Since is used with a point in time, and means "from that point in time until the present.".
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The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used to describe an action that began in the past (despite being a present tense). For example: John has taken Sarah's advice. They have fixed the fence. The present perfect tense is formed liked this: [subject] +. "has" or "have". +.
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Movie Worksheet: "Back To The Future" (Present Perfect) This is a great movie and I'm sure every student will enjoy it. If you have the time, have them watch the first half the movie (this activity begins at about 00:11:00 int... 1766 uses. A selection of English ESL present perfect tenses printables with creative writing prompt, writing practice.
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ESL Worksheets and Activities for Kids: Teach kids? We've got a resource that's going to help save you some prep time. Lot's of great worksheets and activities to keep your students engaged and learning. Available on Amazon (paperback) or Gumroad (PDF)! These discussion questions are great for practicing the present perfect or to just ask ...
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How To Teach The Present Perfect Tense Step 1: The Two Main Uses. To begin the lesson, explain to students that there are two main uses of the present perfect tense; to talk about finished past actions, and to talk about an action that started in the past and continued to the present.Write these two uses as headings on the board and draw a simple timeline below each heading.
Writing Prompt ~ Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Writing Prompt: The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action from the past that has recently stopped or is still continuing. As with other perfect tenses, the words for and since are often used to indicate time. Review the structure and uses of the present perfect continuous tense.Then demonstrate your understanding by writing a script for a short interview between two ...
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The main objectives of this lesson with Present Perfect activities are to: differentiate the use of Present Perfect and Past Simple. This lesson contains standalone activities where students can create sentences using Present Perfect with already, just and yet. They associate descriptions with pieces of news using the tense, ask and answer ...
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ESL Present Perfect Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Categorising, Writing Sentences - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions, Giving Information - Pair Work - Intermediate (B1) - 35 minutes. In this productive present perfect worksheet, students revise the various uses of the present perfect tense and related vocabulary.
Present Perfect Tense
The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below: Subject + have/has + past participle + the rest of the sentence. The structure of the present perfect tense can be analysed with reference to positive, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative types of sentences. Have a look at the table given below for a closer ...
Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is a tense used in present to indicate the action that has taken place at some specific time. It uses auxiliary verb and past participle for the main verb i.e. verb + ed. Some examples of present perfect tense are - I have watched this movie before, He has completed his homework. You will mostly use the present perfect in daily conversation while talking about some ...
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Browse Topics: Grammar Topics General Topics. 217 Present perfect writing English ESL worksheets pdf & doc. SORT BY. Most popular. TIME PERIOD. All-time. meva. Present perfect simp-short grammar revie. 6146 uses. ... Present tenses exerc. Exercises with prese. 397 uses. morewk. Simple Past vs. Pres.
Present Perfect ESL Lesson Plan Worksheet A2
This ready to use TEFL resource includes everything from flash cards to activities as well as conversation topics and writing drills. Designed to boost language proficiency, this engaging lesson plan covers the fundamental concepts and practical exercises related to using the present perfect tense to talk about past experiences and actions with ...