Present Perfect FORM [has/have + past participle] Examples:

You have seen that movie many times. Have you seen that movie many times? You have not seen that movie many times.

Complete List of Present Perfect Forms USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc. Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times. I think I have met him once before. There have been many earthquakes in California. People have traveled to the Moon. People have not traveled to Mars. Have you read the book yet? Nobody has ever climbed that mountain. A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?

B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States. How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect? The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics: TOPIC 1 Experience You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that

you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event. Examples:
I have been to France.

THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES. YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE. THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO FRANCE.

I have been to France three times. I have never been to France.

I think I have seen that movie before. He has never traveled by train. Joan has studied two foreign languages. A: Have you ever met him?

B: No, I have not met him.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time. Examples:
You have grown since the last time I saw you. The government has become more interested in arts education. Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the

university since the Asian studies program was established. My English has really improved since I moved to Australia. TOPIC 3 Accomplishments We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time. Examples:
Man has walked on the Moon. Our son has learned how to read. Doctors have cured many deadly diseases. Scientists have split the atom.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet. Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate. Bill has still not arrived. The rain hasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible. Examples:
The army has attacked that city five times. I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester. We have had many major problems while working on this project. She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody

knows why she is sick. Time Expressions with Present Perfect When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:
Have you been to Mexico in the last year? I have seen that movie six times in the last month. They have had three tests in the last week. She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has

worked for three different companies so far.

My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE

"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect. Examples:
I went to Mexico last year.

I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE. I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.

I have been to Mexico in the last year.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect. Examples:
I have had a cold for two weeks. She has been in England for six months. Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to NonContinuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs. ADVERB PLACEMENT The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples:
You have only seen that movie one time. Have you only seen that movie one time?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE Examples:

Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE

1. Introduce the Present Perfect Regular verbs Give examples in past simple: Yesterday, I had a busy day. I received lots of emails. Lead in to present perfect: I have received only a few today . Show students how the present perfect is formed: have/has plus the past participle. Tell them that the past participle of regular verbs ends in ed, just as in simple past. 2. 2 Contrast finished and unfinished time One of the best ways to ensure that students understand when the present perfect is used is to contrast finished and unfinished time. Ask students: Is yesterday finished? (They should say its finished.) Ask them: Is today finished? (They should say it isnt.) On the board, draw two columns. On the left column write examples of phrases that go with finished time: yesterday, last week, last month, last year, 1990, etc...On the right column, write those that go with unfinished time: today, this week, this month, this year, etc Make sure they notice the differences, then, give examples (only with regular verbs) with both tenses:Last month, I visited my grandmother twice. This month, I have only visited her once. But this month is not finished so I may visit her again before the month is over. Provide as many examples as necessary, in all persons, and then ask students to do the same with other regular verbs. Contrast the simple past and present perfect as much as necessary. 3. 3 Introduce the Present Perfect Irregular verbs Proceed with the irregulars. Divide the board into three columns and write some irregular verbs in the first column, their simple past form in the second column, and finally the irregular past participle in the third. Give them examples as you go over each verb: Ive had two cups of coffee today. Ive spoken to John this week.

Ive read all four of the Twilight books Make sure students have a list they can use for reference. With the help of the list, they provide more examples with other irregular verbs. 4. 4 Introduce the Present Perfect Negative forms Say, I saw my grandmother last week. I havent seen her this week. Give more examples alternating between an affirmative in simple past and a negative statement in present perfect: I went to Rome last year, but I havent been there this year. Now, give each of your students just the affirmative statement in simple past and ask them to supply an example in present perfect negative: T: I was at the bank earlier today. S: I haven't been to the bank this week. In this worksheet, students practice the present perfect negative, and you may also introduce the use of yet. 5. 5 Introduce the Present Perfect Interrogative forms Model questions with have or has: T: Have you seen Twilight? S: Yes./No. T: Ask me! S: Have you seen Twilight? Continue with more questions from students. Model questions with where and what, but make sure students understand that if they ask questions with when, where and why, they need to use the simple past because they are referring to a specific moment in the past. Write examples on the board. Make sure they ask questions in all persons, both singular and plural. If they are unsure as to how to ask a question, model it for them first. 6. 6 Introduce the Present Perfect Short answers Ask yes or no questions and teach students to give short answers: T: Have you seen my pen? S: Yes, I have./No, I havent.

PRESENT PERFECT:WAYS to introduce it 3. Help students make a distinction between finished and unfinished actions: Last week, I watched three movies. (Ask students: is last week finished?) This week, I have watched only one. (Ask students: is this week finished?) Then draw a table like this:

Finishe Unfinish d ed Last This week week Yesterd Today ay

Ask students to complete the table with time expressions like yesterday, this morning, in 1992, today. Ask students to give you examples of finished actions and unfinished ones. I visited my uncle twice last week. But, I have visited him only once this week. I wrote three poems last month. But this month I have written only one poem. I called my girlfriend five times yesterday. But today, I have called her six times. 4. Once students grasp the contrast between finished and unfinished actions, you can proceed to present new uses of the present perfect.

A. Have you ever? Use personal experience to teach this structure. Have you ever seen an Indian movie? Have you ever played golf? Have you ever met a world champion? Have you ever written a poem? B. Actions that happened in the past but whose effect is still in the present. Why dont want to eat lunch with us? - Because, Ive already eaten it. Why dont you want to read that book? Because Ive read it before.

Why is he sad? Because he has lost his purse. C. Present Perfect with since and for The best way to teach the present perfect with since and for is to use a time line. 1990 Nancy moved to New York. 1992 She was appointed as a teacher in Jesse Jackson high school. 1994 She married Alan. Then Students may come up with examples like:

Nancy has lived in New York since 1990 / for years. She has been a teacher since 1992 / for.years. She has been married to Alan since 1994 / for.. years.

The Present Perfect Tense - When to use

1. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experiences. It is important if we have done it lives or not. It is not important when we did it. Examples I have been abroad two times. Anna has never broken a leg. Have you ever eaten sushi? Tip! We often use never and ever with the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experience.

2. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continu up to now. Examples I have been a teacher for more than ten years.

We haven't seen Janine since Friday. How long have you been at this school? Tip! We often use since and for to say how long the action has lasted.

3. We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the pre Examples I have lost my wallet. = I don't have it now. Jimmy has gone to South America. = He isn't here now. Have you finished your homework? = Is your homework ready?

Tip! We often use just, already and yet with the Present Perfect Tense for an action in the p with the result in the present.

Activity 1: Find someone who has . . . Prepare a sheet with six or more experiences and blank lines for names. Try to include experiences that you think students in your class will have had. I used the following with a class that included a Mexican, a Ukrainian, two Ethiopians, a Rwandan, and a restaurant worker from Guatemala. Have you ever. . . Lived in Mexico ___________________________________________________ Visited Russia ___________________________________________________ Eaten Ethiopian food ________________________________________________ Worked in a restaurant

______________________________________________ Ridden a motorcycle ________________________________________________ Traveled in Africa _________________________________________________ Studied English ____________________________________________________ Give each student a copy of the sheet. First have the students practice forming a Have you ever. . . question with each phrase: Have you ever lived in Mexico? Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? Write a sample question on the board. Next, tell the students to find someone who has done each of these things. Students should circulate around the room with their lists, asking their classmates and the teachers if theyve had each experience, and recording the names of those who say they have. Finally, with the class again seated, ask Who in the class has visited Russia? Who has traveled in Africa? and so on. Have students report their findings about their classmates and share their own experiences in more detail.