Mastering the Present Perfect Tense

What is the structure of the Present Perfect tense affirmative?

• Subject + have/has + past participle

• Subject + had + past participle

• Subject + is + present participle

• Subject + will + base form

Answer explanation

Remember you must use have or has and the past participle verb form (third column)

Which of the following sentences uses the Present Perfect correctly?

• I have eat breakfast

• I will have eaten breakfast

• I have eaten breakfast.

• I eat breakfast

Answer explanation

Eaten is the past participle form of eat

How is 'ever' used in the Present Perfect tense?

• 'Ever' is used only in affirmative sentences.

• 'Ever' indicates a specific time in the past.

• 'Ever' is used exclusively in negative sentences.

• 'Ever' is used to indicate any time up to the present in questions.

Answer explanation

Remember to use it only in questions!

Have you ever...?

Has she ever...?

Which of the following sentences is NOT in the Present Perfect tense?

• I eat breakfast.

• They have gone to the store.

• I have eaten breakfast.

• She has finished her homework.

Answer explanation

Remember the past participle form of Regular verbs also ends in ED (play - played)

What is the correct form of the verb in this sentence: She_________ (visit) Paris three times.

• has visited

• has visit

• have visits

• have visited

Answer explanation

For the pronouns HE, SHE and IT, use HAS

How do we use 'never' in the Present Perfect tense?

• We use 'never' in the Present Perfect tense to say you haven't had a specific experience.

• We use 'never' in the Present Perfect tense to say you have had a specific experience.

• We use 'never' in the Present Perfect tense to say you haven't had any experiences.

• We use 'never' in the Present Perfect tense to say you have had many experiences.

Answer explanation

Use 'never' with HAVE or HAS in the affirmative form. Example: I have never had a snake as a pet.

Which of the following sentences indicates a completed action?

• I am doing my homework.

• I have finished my homework.

• I finish my homework.

• I will finish my homework.

Answer explanation

We can also use the Present Perfect tense to show an action has recently finished.

What is the difference between 'for' and 'since' in the Present Perfect?

• 'For' indicates duration; 'since' indicates a starting point.

• 'For' indicates a starting point; 'since' indicates duration.

• 'For' is used only in negative sentences; 'since' is used in questions.

• 'For' is used with past simple; 'since' is used with future tense.

Answer explanation

Since: the starting point of the action

For: the duration of the action, a period of time

Complete the gap: They __________(live) here since 2010.

• lived

• has lived

• have lived

• have live

Answer explanation

2010 is a specific moment in time. The starting moment of the action.

Which of the following is a correct use of 'for' in the Present Perfect?

• I live here for five years

• I will has lived here for five years.

• I have lived here for five years.

• I have been living here for since five years.

Answer explanation

Five years is a period of time.