Present Perfect Tense

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1-3

Present Perfect Tense 

Table of Contents:

* Lesson Aims

* Present Perfect Tense Form

* Usage

* Signal Words

* Present Perfect Tense Exercises

* Video Explanation (in Dutch)

Lesson Aims:

* To differentiate between regular and irregular verb use.

* To differentiate between past and present time. 

* To use the present perfect tense in both a grammatical and communicative manner. 

Present Perfect Tense Form:

to have (got) + past particle

Affirmative:

Singular 

I /You have a lot of money. 

He/ She has a lot of money. 

A bank (It) has a lot of money.

Plural:

We/They/ You have a lot of money. 

Negation (negative):

Singular:

I/You do not (don't) have any money.

He/She does not (doesn't) have any money.

The bank (It) does not (doesn't) have any money. 

Plural:

We/They/You do not (don't) have any money. 

Question: 

Usage:

Have - can be used to express actions in the past, present, and future. 

Regular verb - unchanged spelling of the verb, with -d/-ed at the end of the word.

Irregular verb - changed spelling of the verb, with no -d/-ed at the end of the word. 

Signal Words:

Examples:

The football match has already begun.

Elvis has just left the building. 

I haven't finished my homework yet. 

Have you ever been to America? 

I have never seen a UFO. 

So far, I have enjoyed my vacation. 

Up to now, the weather has been nice. 

I have seen Forrest Gump many times. 

I have been to Amsterdam several times. 

I have seen him before. 

Recently I have visited the doctor. 

What have you done for me lately?

I have lived in the Netherlands since 1991. 

Most common signal words for Present Perfect:

FYNE B. JAS (For, Yet, Never, Ever, Before, Just, Already, Since)

General experiences (ever, never, before)

Example: Has she ever tried South African wine before? (in her life)

                     I've never eaten sushi before. (in my life)

Events that recently occurred (just)

Example: Do you want to go to a restaurant with me?

                     No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)

Events that have not occurred up to now (yet)

Example: Are Carlos and Rianne here? 

                     No, they haven't arrived yet. (they're still not here now)

Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since)

Mike has worked at Jumbo for 3 years.

(Mike started working at Jumbo  3 years ago and he still works there now.)

Events that occurred before you expected (already)

I've already graduated from University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)

Present Perfect Tense Exercises

Multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the-blank questions, using 

regular and irregular verbs, affirmatives, negations, and questions. 

She (to eat) octopus before.

1. had eaten
2. has eaten
3. eats
4. ate

You (to find) your wallet?

1. Have...find
2. Has....finding
3. Has....found
4. Have...found

They (not - to be) in London for the past six months.

1. has not been
2. were not
3. have not been
4. was not

You (not - to call) me.

1. have not called
2. did not call
3. had not called
4. won't call

Write the correct present perfect sentence form.

(I / study / French)

(She / go / to Peru)

(John / not / buy / any food)

(We / not / find / the book yet)

(They / take / the exam)?

(How much coffee / you / drink today)?

The following lesson:

Past Simple