The present perfect

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• Secundair onderwijs

The present perfect

Marie Samyn

Based of from the highlighted verbs in your book, how do you form the present perfect?

1. 'To have' in the past simple + past participle
2. 'To have' in the present simple + past participle
3. 'To have' in the present simple + past participle
4. 'To have' in the present continuous + past simple

The correct answer was 'B'

'To have' in the present simple + past participle

For example: He has always used quality ingredients in his pastries. 

How do you form the past participle of a regular verb? Give an example.

Verb + ed 

Be aware of the ...

Don't forget about the time indicators!

It's not necessary to have a time indicator in a sentence when you use the present perfect but it could be useful to know for a fill in the gap exercise! ;)

Typical time indicators are: recently, just, lately, so far, this (week), yet, already, (n)ever, since, for (+ a period of time), always,...

Past simple >< Present perfect

Past simple: Action started in the past, finished in the past, and is not continuing now.

E.g.: Jeff was friends with Kelly when he was a kid.

Present perfect: Action started in the past, and is continuing now.

E.g.: Jeff has been friends with Kelly since he was a kid.

Now you know how to use and form the present perfect. Give me a correct sentence in which you use the present perfect.

Some more exercises....

Fill in the gap!

... painting the bedroom yet? Not yet. I'll finish it tomorrow.

1. Have you finished
2. Did you finish

I... much last year, but I... a lot this year.

1. haven't earned / 've earned
2. didn't earn / didn't earn
3. didn't earn / 've earned
4. haven't earned / didn't earn

... a holiday recently?

1. Did you have
2. Have you had

We ... last week. We ... here for 5 days.

1. have arrived / have been
2. have arrived / were
3. arrived / were
4. arrived / have been

Mr. Barnes is very important in this company. He ... here for 30 years.

1. has worked
2. worked

He loves gardening. He ... a gardener all his life.

1. has been
2. was

... anything like this before?

1. Did you see
2. Have you seen

This is the most delicious dish I ...

1. ever ate.
2. have ever eaten.

I ... him behave like this before.

1. never saw
2. 've never seen

My mother ... in Scotland.

1. grew up
2. has grown up