Present Perfect

By Kenneth Beare

Updated July 16, 2019

The present perfect isn't a verb tense unique to English, but it can still be complicated for
beginning ESL students to master. Though French, Italian, German, and Spanish use the
present perfect to address past events, in English, the present perfect connects a past moment
to the present moment in time. The present perfect is often used either to reference life
experiences, to invoke recent past events that have influenced the present moment, or to
reference a span of time that began in the past and extends into the present.

The present perfect is one of the most difficult tenses to teach and to learn. Below is a quick
review of the present perfect, followed by two worksheets designed to help ESL students
practice their use of the verb tense.

Present Perfect Positive Form Review

Subject + have + past participle + objects

Examples:

Tom has lived in New York for 10 years.

We have studied French since 2003.

Present Perfect Negative Form

Subject + have not + past participle + objects

Examples:

She hasn't met Peter.

They haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Question Form

(Question Word) + have + subject + past participle?

Examples:

Has she worked here for a long time?

Where has she gone?

Important Note: Regular past participles in "-ed," irregular past participles of verbs vary
and must be studied.
Yet / Just / Already

"Yet" is used in the present perfect negative and question forms.

"Just" is used in the present perfect positive form.
"Already" is used in the present perfect positive form.

Examples:

Have you finished the job yet?

She's just left for Chicago.
They've already eaten lunch.

Since / For

"Since" and "for" are common time expressions used with the present perfect tense. "Since"
is used with specific dates. "For" is used with periods of time.

Examples:

Janet has worked at this company since 1997.

We've lived in this house for five years.

Present Perfect Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the
indicated subject as well.

1. How long has he lived____ (he/live) in New Jersey?

2. Peter __haven’t played____ (not play) baseball since 1987.
3. I __have spoken____ (speak) Russian for 20 years.
4. We __haven’t seen___ (not see) Tom since Christmas.
5. Has _____he flown___ (Alan/fly) in an airplane before?
6. Shannon __has not gone___ (not/go) to lunch yet.
7. Our class __have taken___ (take) a field trip three times this year.
8. Where ___have they moved__ (they/move) to?
9. Jennifer __has asked___ (ask) that question four times today.
10. You ___haven´t eaten__ (not eat) lunch yet, have you?
11. Jason ___has wanted__ (want) to move to New York since he was 5 years old.
12. How long _have they known____ (they/know) Peter?
13. Alexandra ___has worked__ (work) for IBM since 2002.
14. Jeff _has bought___ (buy) a few books this week.
15. Sally _has not read____ (not read) that book yet.
16. _Have they left__ (they/leave) for work yet?
17. Bill __has not driven___ (not/drive) very far today.
18. We _have enjoyed___ (enjoy) eating seafood all of our lives.
19. _Has he watched____ (he/watch) the documentary yet?
 20. I __haven´t finished___ (not/finish) the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

1. They have lived in that house (since/for) 10 years.

2. She has (just/yet) gone to the bank.
3. Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston (yet/already)
4. We have worked at this company (since/for) 2008.
5. Jason hasn't telephoned me (since/for) two weeks.
6. How (long/much) have you known Susan?
7. They've (already/yet) studied the past simple tense.
8. Our mothers have (just/yet) left for the station.
9. The president has traveled to more than 20 countries (since/for) he was elected.
10. Thomas hasn't had time to read the book (just/yet).
11. Alice has told me she's (yet/already) been to that park.
12. My daughter's (just/since) finished her homework.
13. Have they (already/yet) spoken to Mr. Peters?
14. I've (just/for) interviewed the best candidate for the job.
15. Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team (already/yet).
16. Bob and Tim have (already/yet) decided where they are going on vacation.
17. Have you purchased a new computer (just/yet)?
18. Sam has wanted to go to Japan (for/since) he was a little child.
19. Jason hasn't worked here (since/for) very long.
20. Our boss has (just/yet) hired a new engineer.

Past Simple / Present Perfect Simple

A Choose the correct answer.

1. I’m really hungry. I (haven’t eaten / didn’t eat) yet.

2. They (arrived / have arrived) a week ago.
3. We (have worked / worked) here for three years.
4. They (didn’t recognise / haven’t recognised) me at yesterday’s meeting.
5. Our neighbour (was / has been) in hospital since Friday.
6. (Have you travelled / Did you travel) abroad many times?
B Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past
Simple or the Present Perfect.

1. John .hasn´t called (not call) me recently.

2. They ..bought. (buy) a new car last month.
3. The teacher .hasn´t returned.. (not return) the tests yet.
4. How long .......has.. she ....known... (know) about this problem?
5. ........................... you ever ........................... (hear) such an unbelievable story?
6. When I was a child, I ........lived... (live) in England for two years.
7. He .....has bought.. (buy) me a beautiful gift for my birthday.
8. I am so excited to have a dog. I ..wanted.. (always / want) one.

C Correct the error in each of the sentences.

1. Have you ever eat Chinese food?

_Have you ever eaten chinese food?
2. She has moved to another city last year.
_
3. They have sent out the invitations yet.
_They have sent out the invitations already.
4. Jack hasn’t seen Jill since she has graduated.
_ Jack hasn’t seen Jill since he has graduated.
5. Mr Brown already left the office
_
6. We haven’t been abroad since a year.
_
7. The lesson has started ten minutes ago.
_
8. Did she just leave?
_
__
D Complete the passage with suitable words.

I 1 Have always been very fit and healthy, and I have 2 ______had a serious illness. However,
a couple of weeks 3 _____________ I caught the flu. I must admit that until then, I 4
____________ not realised just how unpleasant the flu could be. I had a high temperature for
nearly a week, and my whole body hurt. I don’t think I have 5 ____________ felt so
miserable. It’s taking me ages to get my strength back. It really bothers me that I haven’t had
enough energy to play football 6 ___________ I got ill. In fact, I have 7 _____________
been to the doctor to ask if it’s normal to feel weak for so long. He says I’ll soon feel better.
Apparently I’m lucky. For some people, especially the old and the weak, the flu can be very
serious. Doctors have tried 8 __________ years to find a cure for the flu, but they haven’t
found one 9 ____________. Fortunately, researchers have developed a vaccine which gives
effective protection against the disease. According to my doctor, most of his elderly patients
have 10 __________ received their flu shots.