ESL Present Perfect Worksheets

The present perfect isnt 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 hasnt met Peter.They havent 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?Shes just left for Chicago.Theyve 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.Weve 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. How long ______ (he/live) in New Jersey?Peter ______ (not play) baseball since 1987.I ______ (speak) Russian for 20 years.We _____ (not see) Tom since Christmas.Has ________ (Alan/fly) in an airplane before?Shannon _____ (not/go) to lunch yet.Our class _____ (take) a field trip three times this year.Where _____ (they/move) to?Jennifer _____ (ask) that question four times today.You _____ (not eat) lunch yet, have you?Jason _____ (want) to move to New York since he was 5 years old.How long _____ (they/know) Peter?Alexandra _____ (work) for IBM since 2002.Jeff _____ (buy) a few books this week.Sally ______ (not read) that book yet._____ (they/leave) for work yet?Bill _____ (not/drive) very far today.We _____ (enjoy) eating seafood all of our lives._____ (he/watch) the documentary yet?I _____ (not/finish) the job yet. Present Perfect Worksheet 2 Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense. They have lived in that house (since/for) 10 years.She has (just/yet) gone to the bank.Franklin hasnt arrived in Boston (yet/already)We have worked at this company (since/for) 2008.Jason hasnt telephoned me (since/for) two weeks.How (long/much) have you known Susan?Theyve (already/yet) studied the past simple tense.Our mothers have (just/yet) left for the station.The president has traveled to more than 20 countries (since/for) he was elected.Thomas hasnt had time to read the book (just/yet).Alice has told me shes (yet/already) been to that park.My daughters (just/since) finished her homework.Have they (already/yet) spoken to Mr. Peters?Ive (just/for) interviewed the best candidate for the job.Our coach hasnt chosen the starting team (already/yet).Bob and Tim have (already/yet) decided where they are going on vacation.Have you purchased a new computer (just/yet)?Sam has wanted to go to Japan (for/since) he was a little child.Jason hasnt worked here (since/for) very long.Our boss has ( just/yet) hired a new engineer. _______________________________________________________________________________ Present Perfect Worksheet  1 - Corrections Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well. How long  has he lived  in New Jersey?Peter  hasnt played baseball  since 1987.I  have spoken  Russian for 20 years.We  havent seen  Tom since Christmas.Has Alan flown  in an airplane before?Shannon  hasnt gone  to lunch yet.Our class  has taken  a field trip three times this year.Where  have they moved  to?Jennifer  has asked  that question four times today.You  havent eaten  lunch yet, have you?Jason  has wanted  to move to New York since he was 5 years old.How long  have they known  Peter?Alexandra  has worked  for IBM since 2002.Jeff  has bought  a few books this week.Sally  hasnt read  that book yet.Have they left  for work yet?Bill  hasnt driven  very far today.We  have enjoyed  eating seafood all of our lives.Has he watched  the documentary yet?I  havent finished  the job yet. Present Perfect Worksheet 2 - Corrections Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense. They have lived in that house  for  10 years.She has  just  gone to the bank.Franklin hasnt arrived in Boston  yet.We have worked at this company  since  2008.Jason hasnt telephoned me  for  two weeks.How  long  have you known Susan?Theyve  already  studied the past simple tense.Our mothers have  just  left  for  the station.The President has traveled to more than 20 countries  since  he was elected.Thomas hasnt had time to read the book  yet.Alice told me shes  already  been to that park.My daughters  just  finished her homework.Have they  already  spoken to Mr. Peters?Ive  just  interviewed the best candidate for the job.Our coach hasnt chosen the starting team  yet.Bob and Tim have  already  decided where they are going on vacation.Have you purchased a new computer  yet?Sam has wanted to go to Japan  since  he was a little child.Jason hasnt worked here  for  very long.Our boss has  just  hired a new engine er.