P4 Present Perfect Tense lesson

Present Perfect Tense

​A quick revision

We use present tense to show a fact that is true now.

BUT!!!

We use present PERFECT tense to show a fact that is still true since the past.

​Keywords in a Present Perfect Tense sentence

There are multiple keywords you will find in a present perfect tense sentence.

For example: ago, since

​Remember

Ago: three years ago, two days ago, a year ago, a century ago

- We use "ago" for a period of time

Since: since 1890, since 1978, since yesterday, since this morning

- We use "since" for a specific time

​Other keywords

Before

e.g. I have watched the movie "Inside Out" before.

Recently

e.g. I have listened to Alan Walker's new song recently.

Important!

"Have" or "has" are not the main verbs in these sentences.

They are here to tell us "oh, this fact has been true since some time in the past!"


The main verbs are the Past Participles, e.g. seen, gone, sung

Remember to revise the verb table in Lighthouse or on Google Classroom

Let's see how much you remembered!

Fill in the Blanks

John

(visit) Paris two years ago.

Fill in the Blanks

Sally

(finish) her exams since last week.

Fill in the Blanks

Ronald

(perform) this song in a competition before.

Fill in the Blanks

They

(go) to the GS field trip two hours ago.

Fill in the Blanks

Ellen

(ride) a bike before.

Fill in the Blanks

There

(be) a snowstorm a month ago.

Fill in the Blanks

Tom

(find) his homework five minutes ago.

Fill in the Blanks

We

(have) Miss Tang as our Class Teacher since September.

Questions in Present Perfect Tense

​Don't worry, it's easy!

A normal sentence to question looks like this:

She is a student of SFA.

Is she a student of SFA?

Present Perfect Tense questions

She has been a student of SFA since 2021.

Has she been a student of SFA since 2021?


1. Separate the Present Perfect part.
2. Put the main subject in between.
3. Add question mark.

A few more examples

Have you met your P.4 class teacher before?

Has Hailey visited her grandmother recently?

Has Jayden travelled by airplane before?

Has Mum cooked dinner yet?

*"yet" is also a keyword, but it is usually used in a "not" sentence.

Sometimes, you don't even need the keyword!

Have you met your P.4 class teacher?

Has Hailey visited her grandmother?

Has Jayden travelled by airplane?

Has Mum cooked dinner?

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

Paul has been to the Science Museum before.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

The students have left the school three hours ago.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

Ivan has submitted his eHomework since yesterday.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

Queenie has been a choir member since last year.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

Miss Tam has been headmistress since 2019.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

I have tried skiin before.

Open Ended

Turn this sentence into a question:

I have been to an island holiday before.

Open Ended

Form your own sentence or question using present perfect tense!