For many English learners, the present perfect is one of the most challenging verb tenses to use because it does not exist in many languages. Here are some resources I have collected that may help English learners to better understand the present perfect.
The main thing to remember about the present perfect is that it connects the past to the present.
When I teach the present perfect, I find that students understand it better if I explain it in categories:
1. Life Experiences
2. How long have you…?
- How long you have done an activity that started in the past and continues in the present
3. Giving News
4. The Recent Past
- When the past is not the past yet
For the websites below, I have noted where the website uses British English (BrE). For the most part, the present perfect is used the same in American and British English. The only difference is that when talking about the recent past, Americans will sometimes used the simple past, while the British will always use the present perfect. The only reason I point out that the website is BrE is because some of the vocabulary may be different than American English.
How to form the present perfect:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect.html (BrE)
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect_s.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectforms.html
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/prperf.htm
JenniferESL – Lesson 6a – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IMTNomhg-E
List of irregular verbs:
http://www.myenglishteacher.net/irregularverbsprintable.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/irregular-verbs (BrE)
Pronunciation of past participle:
Regular verbs: http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/how-to-pronounce-ed.html (BrE)
Irregular verbs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00f2oZJ_eA (BrE)
Review of Uses:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-use.html (BrE)
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect_u.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/beginningenglish/ig/Basic-English/Present-Perfect.htm (BrE)
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf.htm
JenniferESL on YouTube:
Lesson 6b – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doh7BbpC5V4
Lesson 6c – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eA1wmKfEAQ
Lesson 6d – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asq05S5Ijbw
*adverbs, prepositions, present perfect continuous
Lesson 6e – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVh67rScKjA
*present perfect continuous/progressive
Since and For:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect_fs.htm
Quizzes:
Positive form:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/prperf1.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/prperf2.htm
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-1.html (BrE)
Negative form:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?06 (BrE)
(*sentences with ‘never’ – put a period at the end of your sentence.)
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-2.html (BrE)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?05
(BrE – put a period at the end of your sentence.)
Question form:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf3.htm (Have you ever?)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?07 (BrE)
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-3.html (BrE)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?08 (BrE – you have to decide which question word to use)
All forms:
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-4.html (BrE)
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercise-5.html (BrE)
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect_quiz.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises (BrE)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple/exercises?04 (BrE – put a period at the end of your sentence)
Since and For:
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf1.htm
Simple past vs. present perfect quizzes:
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs5.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs6.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/upperf2.htm
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-1.html (BrE)
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-2.html
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-3.html
Tests:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-1 (BrE)
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-2
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/tests/present-perfect-simple-3
*Remember to put a period (.) at the end of your sentences.
Melanie is a TESL-certified English teacher. She lives near Toronto, Canada. Through her blog, videos, podcasts, and social media, she helps thousands of people around the world improve their English. She makes English a little less confusing and a little more fun! She also helps people understand Canadian and American culture. She believes that natural interaction with a native speaker helps people practice what they have learned and builds their confidence with English!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Melanie,
Thank you very much indeed for mentioning my website – I hope it's useful for your students. I've just found your blog and really like it – I'll be directing my readers here for your podcasts. Congratulations also on the English Club site of the month!
All the best,
Seonaid (from Perfect English Grammar)
Hello Seonaid!
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a kind comment! It's great to hear from you. I have sent students to your page on 'how to pronounce the -ed endings' for years as it is the best source on the internet! Your quizzes are excellent as well.
Thanks for putting together such a great website! I know how much work it must be.
Take care,
Melanie