• Teaching secondary
  • Intermediate B1

A perfect story

The present perfect is a tense that many students have problems with. Most course books provide only controlled grammar sentences where students choose the correct tense.

esl writing prompts present perfect

This activity leads students into writing a short story using the past simple, present perfect simple and continuous, but in a more creative way.

  • Tell the students they are going to write a short story.
  • Get the students to read the following questions and decide, with a partner, what the missing words are, but not answer the questions now.
  • Monitor well to check they understand the activity. There are no 'correct' answers, they should use their imagination.
  • What is his / her name?
  • What is __________ about them? (e.g. strange / unusual / nice...)
  • What was their --problem last year?
  • What happened?
  • Why have they become so __________ ?
  • How many __________ have they -__________ ?
  • Who have they been __________ recently?
  • What have they been __________ for the last five years?
  • Now the students, working in pairs still, have to answer the questions. The answers should link the questions together to form the basis of a story.
  • Next ask students to draw their characters. This is fun and brings the character to life. Students can laugh at each other's drawings.
  • Using the notes above, students put the story together. They can add more information if they wish but they should not make it complicated.
  • Students then swap their story with another pair to edit. They read the story and underline any errors they notice, or question any word or phrase they don't understand.
  • The stories are returned to their owners who make changes as necessary depending on the comments that were made by the editing pair.

By slowly guiding them through the stages the end result is their own and usually grammatically correct. Don't forget to ask students to read each others stories, they are sure to be amusing.

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Can't download

I will try but i can't, perfect story, great activity.

great activity. I'll try it with my students. Thank you very much.

Thanks, I feel that this is a interesting activity.

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  • English Grammar
  • Present tense

Present perfect

Level: beginner

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb.

We use the present perfect:

for something that started in the past and continues in the present :

They 've been married for nearly fifty years. She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
  • when we are talking about our experience up to the present :
I 've seen that film before. I 've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager. He has written three books and he is working on another one.

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present:

My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had .

and we use never for the negative form :

Have you ever met George? Yes, but I 've never met his wife.

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for something that happened in the past but is important in the present :

I can't get in the house. I 've lost my keys. Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.

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have been and have gone

We use have/has been when someone has gone to a place and returned :

A: Where have you been ? B: I 've just been out to the supermarket.
A: Have you ever been to San Francisco? B: No, but I 've been to Los Angeles.

But when someone has not returned , we use have/has gone :

A: Where's Maria? I haven't seen her for weeks. B: She 's gone to Paris for a week. She'll be back tomorrow.  

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Present perfect with time adverbials 

We often use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to the recent past :

Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey. We have just got back from our holidays.

or adverbials which include the present :

Have you ever seen a ghost? Where have you been up to now ? A: Have you finished your homework yet ? B: No, so far I 've only done my history.

After a clause with the present perfect we often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past :

I 've worked here since I left school . I 've been watching that programme every week since it started .

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I have seen that film yesterday . We have just bought a new car last week . When we were children we have been to California.
Have you seen Helen today ? We have bought a new car this week .

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Level: intermediate

Present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of the verb.

We normally use the present perfect continuous to emphasise that something is still continuing in the present :

She has been living in Liverpool all her life. It 's been raining for hours. I'm tired out. I 've been working all day. They have been staying with us since last week.

We do not normally use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs . We use the present perfect simple instead:

I 've always been liking liked John.

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Present perfect for future

We normally use the present simple  to talk about the future  in clauses with before, after, until,  etc.:

I'll keep looking until I find my book. We'll begin when everyone arrives .

but we can also use the present perfect :

I'll keep looking until I have found my book. We'll begin when everyone has arrived .

Hello, Sir. I wanted to know if the two sentences are correct. 1. Did any of your friends graduate this year? 2. Have any of your friends graduated this year? I think sentence 1 is more correct because the action finished although the time is not over. Personally it's not possible that "graduate" happens again. However, we can use the present perfect to introduce a new piece of information, so I think the present perfect is also correct. Thank you for your time.

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Hello Sokhomkim,

Yes, both sentences are possibly correct. Which one is better depends on when the graduation was, what day it is now and how the speaker views the events or how relevant the graduation might be to the situation the speaker and listener are in. There are many different possibilities.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Thank you so much, Sir. 1. My friends graduated in October. Now it's November. The year is not over yet. Is it correct to say "my friends graduated from high school this year. 2. My friends graduated in December (2023). Now it's Jan 1, 2024. Can I use the phrase "this year"? "My friends graduated from high school this year." A friend of mine told me that "this year" is only used with the present perfect because the time is not over. Your reply is really a big help for me. Thank you for your time.

Yes, 1 is correct.

In the case of 2, if you're thinking of an academic year from September to June, then yes, it's fine to say 'this year'. If you're thinking of the calendar year, then it would be strange to say 'this year'; instead, I'd probably say 'last month'. You could even say 'just' if you take a perspective that last month is relatively recent -- in the grand scheme of most people's lives, one month is not a long time ago.

As you can see, it really depends a lot on how the speaker sees the situation.

What your friend told you about 'this year' and the present perfect is a general rule that teachers often give to students. Many such rules -- like this one -- don't cover the vast field of possible uses of different forms. They are useful, but it's more important to understand the logic behind them, which I can see you are working hard to do. Keep it up!

Is there an option to download the explanations and exercises of this page?

Hello Christine Athens,

We have not created PDFs of these pages, but if the copy is for your own personal use, you are welcome to copy the explanation and exercises into a document.

Hello, could explain why "create" without "s"? "Have you ever watched somebody create a stunning painting?"

Hello viva,

We add -s to regular third-person present forms, so we normally say he (she/it) creates, as you suggest. However, the construction here is watch someone + base form : watch him create . The main verb (which does have -s in the present simple) is 'watch'.

The other sense verbs work in the same way:

watch something happen >  see / hear / listen to / feel / smell something happen

The LearnEnglish Team

Could I use present simple to answer the question with present perfect tense? E.g Why has she left? She is busy dealing with her tasks.

Hi Khangvo2812,

Yes, you can. Even though the answer has a different tense, it still clearly answers the original question.

LearnEnglish

There have been a lot of Vietnamese who thought I was a boy when they first heard my name because my name is very common for boys. Could I combine the tenses like the above?

Yes, sure! It's correctly written and the meaning is clear.

LearnEnglish team

I would like to ask regarding the question you have made in the section "Present perfect continuous 1"

why is the question "Stefan has been looking really sad since he came back from holiday. Do you know what's the matter?" using present perfect continuous? isnt it started since in the past bc there is "since he came back from holiday?" why wasn't it written in present prefect?

Hi ashiecajlenreese,

We can use "since" phrases with the present perfect continuous too (not just the present perfect simple). But the present perfect continuous emphasises that the action continues into the present moment. The present perfect simple can also mean that, but the continuous form emphasises the "still happening now" meaning more. It seems like a really current and immediate concern for the speaker. In comparison, if we say "Stefan has looked really sad since ...", the issue seems less immediate.

Also, it's common to use continuous forms for actions that we consider to be temporary, or not the usual situation, which also seems to be the case here.

I hope that helps to understand it.

Hello, Sir. I wanted to know why the present perfect simple is the correct option. A: I'm very hungry. B: I'm not surprised. You ..... all day. a. haven't been eating b. haven't eaten I think the phrase "all day" is mostly used with the perfect continuous except the stative verbs. Could I use the present perfect continuous in the sentence above? If so, I wanted to know what the difference between them is. Thank you for your time. Best Wishes!

The simple form is best here because you are interested in the result of a situation. Generally, the progressive form focuses on the activity, especially an incomplete or interrupted activity, while the simple form focuses on the result. Here are some examples to clarify:

  • I've read War and Peace > I can tell you about it / I don't want to borrow it / I want to see the film
  • I've been reading War and Peace > my eyes are tired / I haven't read another book / I haven't been out much recently
  • I've cooked dinner > you can have some / I'm ready to go out / I don't want to phone for a pizza
  • I've been cooking dinner > the kitchen is a mess / I'm tired / there's a smell in the house

It's generally more a question of nuance than a black and white rule, of course.

Hi, can you please clarify this? you have mentioned here that present perfect tense can be used when saying something which happened in past but important for now.

Is this sentence correct "I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key yesterday?

I have heard like present perfect tense should not be used when describing an event which happened in definite time in past and simple past tense has to be used instead Please kindly sort this out

advance thanks

Hi zamrasahamed,

Yes, what you said at the end of your message is right. With the present perfect, the past time is not normally given. Both of these sentences are fine:

  • I cannot enter my home because I lost the key yesterday . (past simple)
  • I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key . (present perfect)

In both sentences, "I lost the key yesterday" and "I have lost the key" are clearly important now, since they are the cause of the current situation ("I cannot enter my home"). However, in the first sentence, the word "yesterday" locates the action "lost the key" at a past moment, so the past simple is used. In the second sentence, no time is mentioned, and the use of the present perfect presents the action as relatively recent and connected to the present topic or situation.

It's not usual to use the present perfect with a defined past time moment, e.g.  I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key yesterday , and this may be considered a grammatical mistake.

I hope that helps!

Hello, Could you explain why present perfect is used when we use the time adverbial like for the past three days?

If you say  for the past three days , the meaning is "from three days ago until now". It is a time period that is unfinished at the moment of "now". We use the present perfect to talk about actions in this unfinished time period. 

You may be interested in our Present perfect page (linked) , which has a few more examples and exercises about this. I hope it helps.

Hello example This car has been sold ten times can I say life experience for things ?

Yes, that's fine.

Hello Peter can I use ever for things example Has this car ever been damaged?

Hello again.

Yes, you can use the present perfect to describe things which happen in an unfinished time period (a person's life when they are still alive, an object's history when the object still exists etc). Once the time period is finished (the person dies, for example, or the object no longer exists) you use a past form.

Hello, My friend said"I'm hungry" at 3:00 pm, should I ask him have you had lunch or did you have lunch?

Hello Khangvo2812,

Both are possible. I think 'Have you...' sounds better as you are talking about something with a present result. However, I'm a British English speaker and speakers of other dialects may prefer 'Did you...' In US English, for example, the past simple is common in this kind of context.

I have a question. Are these sentences have the same meaning? Is there any difference?

1. I have not been to Qatar. 2. I have never been to Qatar.

They have a similar meaning, but sentence 2 with "never" is more emphatic. "Never" means "not at any time".

Hello, Is it possible to ask a question about the previous lesson? Thank you.

Hi capelle,

Sure, feel free to post your questions here! We'll try our best to help.

Good Afternoon Sir. I have gone through the entire lesson on present perfect as well as the comments thereunder. Although the lesson is well-prepared with lots of practice exercises, still I have some doubts left in my mind. May I request you to please clear the following doubts:-

1. I have had a headache. Does it mean that "headache started at some unspecified time in the past & continues up to the present moment" i.e. I am still suffering from headache or "headache started at some unspecified time in the past & ended in the past itself" i.e. I am no longer suffering from headache or can it mean both.

2. In the comments section, someone asked "He has been a soldier" and he was told that it means "he was a soldier at some point in time but no longer now". Other person asked "He has been a software Engineer" and he was told it could mean both "He may be a software Engineer now or He may not be". How to interpret the meaning of " He has been a soldier or software engineer or businessman etc."

3. Normally, if a sentence in present perfect is followed by a prepositional phrase (for/since) then it means that the action continues up to the present moment such as He has been married for 30 years (still married) or I have known him for 10 years (still known to me). But It is mentioned in the comment section that "I have waited for 03 hours" means that the action of waiting is completed. How to interpret present perfect tenses with for/since.

Mohit Gupta

Hello Mohit,

It's difficult to respond to these questions without knowing the context for the utterances you're asking about. The context is important because it tells us something about the speaker's perspective and purpose. But I'll make some comments that perhaps are useful.

'I've had a headache' would normally have a time clause with 'since' or 'for' accompanying it. In these cases, I would understand it to mean that the speaker still has the headache at the time of speaking. Perhaps you come home and find your brother laying on the sofa. He's normally very active and so you ask him if he's OK and he says, 'I've had a headache for the past three hours and can't concentrate'.

Regarding 2, I'm afraid I don't have time to go and find the comments you've asked about, but I imagine it was due to the context mentioned in them, or perhaps the context we imagined when responding. In a job interview context, saying 'He has been a soldier/software engineer' could be used to refer to a person's specific past work experience, i.e. to say he has experience in that position, but it could also be used to refer to the job they still currently have. It depends.

Regarding 3, it's difficult for me to imagine a situation when someone would say this. People normally use a present perfect continuous form to talk about waiting that is still in progress, i.e. 'I've been waiting for three hours' is what we'd normally say if we're still waiting at the time of speaking.

I hope this helps.

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello, Could you check this sentence for me? I haven’t met you for a long time. How’s everything going?

Among native speakers, we'd use 'haven't seen' or some other verb instead of 'haven't met', but in international contexts, people use sentences like this all the time and they are fine.

Hello team! I have a question regarding "for and since" can I use them at the beginning of the sentence? For example: Since 2020(,) I have been a teacher. For three years(,)I have been a teacher.

And can be written with commas or without?

Hello AboodKh9,

It's fine to start sentences in this way, and it can be a good way to emphasise how long the action or state has been continuing. No comma is necessary.

Hello sir, Could you explain the difference between these sentences as i am unable to understand the exact difference in the meaning, He has been a soldier. He was a soldier.

He has been brave. He is brave. In the last two sentences ,the state of being brave is continuing till the present so what is the difference?

Hello priyansh030,

If I understand the speaker's intentions correctly, 1a means that the man was a soldier at some point in his life but is not now. It's similar to saying 'I've visited Bangladesh' when you are now in Lahore -- it's a statement about an experience you have had in the course of your lifetime. This sentence shows that this man's life experience includes being a soldier at some point in time. Perhaps another person has said that the man was never a soldier, but this speaker says this sentence to insist that he has experienced being a soldier.

1b simply says that he was a soldier at some point in the past. Like 1a, it shows he is no longer a soldier. Both 1a and 1b could be used to answer many questions, but without knowing more about the situation, it's hard for me to justify using one or the other.

1a and 1b are about a man's work in the past. 2a and 2b are different because they speak about a man's personal qualities. In most cases, we would say 2b because we generally use the present simple to refer to the qualities a person has. It's not explicitly said, but we often assume that these qualities were also true in the past and will be true in the future. Again, without knowing more about the situation, I can't say much more.

2a is much more specific. It could, for example, refer to a recent experience in which a person has behaved in a way that is very brave. It could be that this surprised the speaker, but in any case it refers to a more specific time, a time the context presumably makes clear.

It's quite difficult to explain the differences between verb forms without more context, but I hope this gives you some ideas.

Hello Sir, thanks a lot for the reply. I think i was confused between having a quality from a specific and unspecific point of time in 2a,2b as simple present talks about talks about having a quality from an indefinite point of time.(Past-present-future) Thanks a lot.

Is it grammatically correct "The children play all day long."

Hello User02,

Yes, it is. Well done!

Thank you very much and kindly tell me one more thing,Which is more accurate:"The children play all day long." Or "The children have been playing all day long."

Hello Vijdan Rizvi,

Both are possible but have different meanings.

  • 'The children have been playing all day long' tells us about their activity on a particular day.
  • 'The children play all day long' tells us about how they typically spend their time. It is a general statement about the children's habits, not about a specific day.

Hi, I have a problem. Please consider this

"I have been a software engineer" (I know this is a vague sentence)

if I introduce myself like the above without any complement like "for 10 years, all my life, etc", could it mean :

**for something that started in the PAST and CONTINUES in the present

**when we are talking about our EXPERIENCE up to the present

Or both is possible? Thanks

Hi LitteBlueGreat,

If you say the sentences without any time reference (without 'for' or 'since', for example) then it tells us about your life experience. You can imagine listing achievements in a CV: I have had several jobs. I have been a project manager, I have been a consultant and I have been a software engineer. Note that you may or may not still be any of these things; the sentence by itself does not make this clear.

If you include a time phrase such as 'for ten years' or 'since 2015' then it tells us about something that began in the past and continues into the present.

Hello everyone, I have a question.

According to 'We use present perfect when we are talking about our experience up to the present' and the example ‘I’ve seen that film before.’ If I say ‘I’ve seen that film when I was a child’ does this sentence still correct? The example (When we were children we have been to California.) in ‘We do not use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to a finished past time’ shows that we don’t use present perfect with past time adverbials. Does it correct If I say ‘We have been to California before’ instead of ‘When we were children we have been to California’ ? Why can’t we consider the sentence ‘When we were children we have been to California’ as an experience up to present?

Hi Kay0129,

No,  I’ve seen that film when I was a child isn't considered correct. "When I was a child" refers to a finished past time. Other examples of finished past time references are last year  and in 2018 , and these are not usually used with the present perfect.

But it is fine to say  We have been to California before , because "before" refers to a period of time lasting until the present moment (i.e., an unfinished past time). The sentence  When we were children we have been to California isn't an experience up to the present, because "when we were children" is a finished time in the past. It locates the action (going to California) in the past, so it doesn't go with the present perfect.

Does that make sense?

The sentence "I've seen that film when I was a child" is not grammatically correct because the adverbial phrase "when I was a child" refers to a specific finished past time. In this case, the past simple tense should be used instead of the present perfect tense. The correct sentence would be "I saw that film when I was a child."

The sentence "We have been to California before" is grammatically correct because the adverbial "before" is not a specific finished past time, but rather a general reference to a time that occurred before now. This is an acceptable usage of the present perfect tense.

The sentence "When we were children we have been to California" is not grammatically correct because it uses the present perfect tense with an adverbial phrase that refers to a specific finished past time. The sentence implies that the experience of going to California is ongoing, which is not the case. It would be more appropriate to say "When we were children, we went to California."

Hello everyone! According to present perfect, we use it for past actions with a result in present. So, I saw an example here says” Extremists have reached/ seized power in this country. You replied that past simple is more appropriate. But here, there is a result! Now they are running the country. I know that the verbs (reach and seize) occur at a particular moment, but here the focus is on the result that they maybe enact new laws and so on.

Thanks in advance.

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50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus Resources to Find More Prompts)

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page with no good ideas of how to fill it?

We all do, even the most experienced writers.

But for many ESL students, the dreaded blank page isn’t just intimidating—it’s immobilizing.

After all, they’re working in a second language that might not even share the same writing system as their own.

Today, we’re going to look at more than 50 different writing prompts and how you can use them to give students a boost in the right direction.

Then we’ll cover the web’s top resources to find more great writing prompts.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Process Writing

A person writing in a notebook

Process writing is a good place to start with your beginner students.

Simple process writing can be nothing more than a numbered list of steps written in the simple present with imperative grammar.

You can also use these prompts for intermediate and advanced students by asking them to write full paragraphs using smooth transitions.

Process Writing Prompts

  • What’s your favorite food from your home country? How do you make it?
  • How did you travel from your home country to the U.S.?
  • What’s the best way to study for an exam?
  • How does a person learn to read? What are the necessary steps?
  • What’s something you’re good at? How did you learn to do it?
  • How do you get ready every morning? Discuss each step of your morning routine.
  • How does a person get a job? What steps must they take?
  • How do you get a driver’s license? What steps must you follow?
  • How does an acorn grow into a tree? What are the stages of its life?
  • What are the stages of the water cycle?

How to set your students up for success

When brainstorming ideas, ask your students to list the steps of how they came up with the content to write about. If you want to challenge intermediate and advanced students, have them write paragraphs describing the brainstorming process rather than writing a numbered list.

For certain topics, students may need time for additional research, like when writing about science.

Also, be aware of any vocabulary that may be specific to the process students are describing. For example, if they’re describing a food from their home country, students may need to define a particular ingredient (e.g. kimchi, herbs de provence ) that may not have a good English equivalent.

Opinion Writing

A person writing on a laptop

Opinions are everywhere. From social media posts to commentary on news programs, we’re constantly exposed to other opinions and ideas. For this reason, it’s important for students to be able to both express their own opinions and evaluate the opinions of others.

And what better way to express one’s opinions than with a written argument? Here are some prompts to help your students vocalize their opinions.

Opinion Writing Prompts

  • Should people under the age of 21 be allowed to drink alcohol? Please explain.
  • Should college students be allowed to choose their own courses or study from a set list of required courses? Please explain.
  • Is it better for young adults to live at home with their parents or to live on their own? Please explain.
  • Should your country require young adults to serve in the military? Why or why not?
  • Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics? Why or why not?
  • Should people be allowed to smoke in restaurants? Please explain your opinion.
  • Should parents be allowed to arrange marriages for their children? Why or why not?
  • Should students be required to take physical education? Why or why not?
  • Should teenagers be allowed to make decisions about their sexual health without the consent of their parents? Please explain your opinion.
  • Should students be required to clean their schools? Please explain.

Before starting the assignment, review modal verbs with your class . Explain to your students that the verb, “should,” is a signal word for opinion writing and is commonly used when expressing one’s thoughts, opinions and ideas.

Graphic organizers are a great way to help students think through what they believe about a given topic and get those thoughts in the right order for writing. Curriculum developer, Scholastic, has some great organizers you can print and give to your students to help them gather their thoughts before they write.

Good opinion writing takes both sides of an argument into consideration. While students should devote the majority of their essay to supporting the facts they agree with, they also need to dedicate a section to addressing the opposition’s argument and explaining why it’s wrong. This is called the rebuttal and should come just before the conclusion in an opinion piece.

Narrative Writing

A person writing with a pen and paper

Narrative writing tells a story.

It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and aims to engross the reader and make them feel as if they’re experiencing the story firsthand. Moreover, narrative writing covers a sequence of events, telling the reader how these events relate to one another.

Narrative Writing Prompts

  • Think about a time in your life when you were disappointed. What caused this, and how did you get over it?
  • Did you have a pet as a child? If so, tell the story of how you got it.
  • Who’s your hero? What did they do to gain your respect and admiration?
  • What was an important event in your childhood? Write about what happened and how it has affected you.
  • Tell about a time you were embarrassed.
  • How did you meet your significant other? Tell the story of that first meeting. (For younger students, you can ask the question, “How did your parents meet each other?”)
  • When did you first think about traveling overseas to study English?
  • What would the perfect day look like? Discuss how you would spend it from when you woke until you went to sleep. (Note: Your students need to use the conditional form for this narrative. Take time to review it with them before assigning this prompt.)
  • Describe the life of a dollar bill, from when it comes off the printing press until it retires.
  • Describe the life of someone famous in your culture. Where did they come from? How did they become famous?

Absolutely essential for narrative writing, transitions ensure the sequence of events flows smoothly. Before beginning the writing exercise, take a few minutes to review transition words and phrases with your students. You can even  give them a copy of this list  to help them get started.

Another important part of narrative writing is action words. Great for boosting the imagination, action words help the reader visualize the story while reading. Encourage your students to add extra color to their stories by having them brainstorm a list of action words at the beginning of the lesson.

Lastly, make sure that your students use proper verb tenses throughout their writing. Regardless of whether the story is being told in past or present tense, students must learn to keep the verb tense is consistent throughout the story without switching from past to present, or vice versa, unless talking about two different points in time.

Descriptive Writing

A person writing with a fountain pen on paper

Descriptive writing is all about writing the details, and mixing them in with sensory words and literary devices . While there’s definitely a stylistic component to descriptive writing, anyone with a good-sized vocabulary and a little bit of practice can write a vivid story.

Descriptive Writing Prompts

  • Go to a coffee shop or restaurant and watch the people. Describe what you see.
  • Write a travel brochure for your favorite vacation spot. Describe in detail why others should visit this location.
  • Describe a classroom in your home country. How’s it different from our classroom?
  • Think about a time you were scared. Describe where you were and what frightened you.
  • Think of a scene in your favorite movie. Describe what happened without referencing characters in the movie.
  • What’s something that is very valuable to you? Describe that object.
  • Close your eyes. Tune in to what you can hear, smell and feel. Now open your eyes and write about what you observed.
  • (First, have your students close their eyes, then play them a clip from a movie scene)  What did you picture as you listened to the scene?
  • Describe your favorite Halloween candy, making note of how it tastes and smells.
  • Describe your dream car.

The best way to help your students master descriptive writing is to get them accustomed to using sensory words —the words that describe how something looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes.

If your students are describing a person, have them start at their head and move down to their feet, or vice versa. If they’re describing a room, have them start at the door and work their way around the room clockwise. That way, their descriptions are organized and structured, making it easier for the reader to form a clear picture of the imagery in their mind as they read.

Creative Writing

A neon sign in a window that says "what is your story?"

Everyone loves a good story, but not all people feel confident writing one of their own.

With a solid setting, character and conflict, anyone can come up with a gripping and exciting story—even your students.

Here are some writing prompts to get your students expressing themselves with stories.

Creative Writing Prompts

  • A young boy sees what appears to be a UFO land outside his home late one Tuesday night. What happens next?
  • Use the following scene for inspiration: The boat rocks as each towering wave tosses it into the air and then lets it plunge. You hang over the edge of the boat waiting for the current wave of nausea to pass. Suddenly you hear at least a dozen sets of boots running along the deck…
  • The year is 1880, and a young girl whose bonnet hangs down her back from its strings sighs in relief. She’s in a ghost town. How did she get there? Tell the story of her past.
  • This morning is just like any other school morning, except one thing: No one else is at school. The doors are opened and unlocked, but you’re completely alone. Write the story of what happened.
  • Start a story with the following phrase: It was the worst mistake he’d ever made.
  • Use the following scene for inspiration: She’d never seen an animal like this before, but it seems to be friendly. Just then a news alert comes over the radio…
  • Start a story with the following phrase: He could see eyes in the shadows.
  • Use the following scene as inspiration: They said I was free to leave, but sitting in a helicopter with the city beneath me, where could I really go?
  • Choose a favorite character from a book or movie. Then put this character in a setting from a different movie or book—for example, Harry Potter finds himself on the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca. Then, tell the story of what happens next.
  • Have each person in class write down a setting, one character and one object on three separate slips of paper. Collect each category separately, shuffle them and redistribute the papers to your students. Each person must write a story incorporating the setting, character and object they received.

For a story to be successful, it needs three important elements: setting, character and conflict .

Take a few moments to talk about each of these elements with your students before they begin the activity. Have them think about these elements and how they’ll be presented in their own stories by asking the following questions:

  • Where will the story take place?
  • Who’s the main character of the story?
  • What conflict will that person face?
  • How will they overcome what is stopping them?

Once they can answer these essential questions, they’re ready to begin writing.

If you’re teaching beginner or intermediate students, separate the language from the story elements by having them write a story they already know. They can write a story of their favorite movie, rather than come up with a plot of their own.

Also, if your students are struggling to come up with their own stories, use comic books for inspiration . Writing comics is also a great way to give students writing practice without requiring imagination to go along with it.

Resources for Finding More Inspiring ESL Writing Prompts

A woman writes in a notebook

Writer’s Digest

The  Writer’s Digest  website and magazine is full of tips and tricks for writing, interviews with authors, and insight into what it’s like to be in the writing business. The prompts section contains mostly fiction and creative writing prompts, and is updated every week with a new prompt.

Reddit is a huge community of people who love to share things they find around the Internet, and have conversations. The Writing Prompts section has some really creative ideas, and you can even see what other people have written in the comments.

Tumblr is a great place to find ideas. It’s a place where people can blog about whatever they want, but it’s more visual than most other blogs. (That means it focuses more on pictures.) The “Writing Prompts” Tumblr uses pictures to share prompts, both creative and nonfiction. There’s even one prompt for a song!

Lindsay Ann Learning

The prompts on this website are meant for school children, but they are excellent writing starters for any age. The page focuses on journal writing, so these prompts are mostly for nonfiction writing.

Language Is a Virus

The Writing Prompts Generator on this site has a huge number of ideas for fiction and nonfiction writing, which you can see one at a time. This website also has some fun  word games  to get you thinking and being creative.

This website has over 300 prompts for you to try. Just reading through the prompts will give you some new words to learn! Most of these prompts are for creative writing, but there are a small number of nonfiction thoughts in there too.

Writing Forward

This list of creative writing prompts has 25 story starters. Just pick a first sentence and see where the story takes you! There are also some questions and ideas to explore. When you’re done here, head over to the  Grammar section  for some tips from the pros.

Writing Prompts by 21×20 Media

Want to get your prompts in a phone-friendly format? Try the Writing Prompts app from 21×20 Media. It’s not free, but at just $1.99 you get hundreds of prompts organized by type. Look through pictures, place and character ideas, and much, much more.

Wrighting Words

You’ll find almost 500 creative writing prompts on Wrighting Words. The long list has everything from interesting story starters to fun with vocabulary words. There are even some titles and dialogue ideas. You’re sure to find something to inspire you here.

Pinterest has many great collections of writing ideas and exercises. You can really browse the entire website for ideas and inspiration. For some more focused writing, check out the Writing Picture Prompts board linked to above, which has nearly 400 picture prompts meant to inspire you.

Think Written

How about a prompt for each day of the year? Think Written has that. The list here focuses on words and themes, so you can write fiction or nonfiction—it’s up to you. For a real challenge, try following the list, doing one prompt every day. How far down the list can you make it?

Visual Prompts

If you prefer to see your prompts and not just read them, you will love the Visual Prompts website. Each prompt is written over a picture that can help you imagine what you’re writing about. There’s also a nice mix of creative and nonfiction prompts here.

The Write Prompts

The Write Prompts has almost 2,000 prompts, but you might find the word prompts the most useful. Each prompt comes with a list of vocabulary words that you have to use in your story. Can you string the words along and make an interesting story or essay?

Seventh Sanctum

The Seventh Sanctum is a collection of writing generators—websites that create prompts for you. There is a nearly  infinite  (never-ending) number of possible prompts! You can also try any of the other generators, like the  setting  (place) one , or the one that asks creative  “What if…?” questions . There is so much to play with here!

Buzzfeed is mostly known for its funny picture articles , but this article has an excellent list of prompts for all kinds of writing. These prompts can be used in a school, but they can also be used by adults. Some of these will get you feeling creative, and some will make you think. Have fun with both!

The Journal

The Journal is another website for nonfiction and blog writing ideas. There is even more here too—get ideas for writing your opinions about topics, your memoirs (writings about yourself), and free-writing, which is when you don’t stop writing for 10 or 15 minutes.

Education World

Education World is a website for teachers, so these prompts are meant for the classroom. This means that they will make you think, and each prompt has a helpful tip box with some ideas for what you can write on the topic.

These are just some of the ways to get your students thinking about how to fill the page with their thoughts and ideas. A list of writing prompts and a helpful teacher can go a long way in preventing writers’ block and helping students look at every empty page as an opportunity to express themselves.

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esl writing prompts present perfect

ESL Activities

ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans, Jobs & More

in Listening · Reading · Speaking · Writing

ESL Present Perfect Activities and Games

Are you looking for some ESL present perfect games and activities to try out with your students today? Then you’re most definitely in the right place. Keep on reading for our top ten p.p. activities for English learners, along with some present perfect questions and a quick primer on what the present perfect actually is.

esl-present-perfect

Present Perfect Activities and Games

Present Perfect Games and Activities for ESL

Are you ready? Let’s get to our top picks for best present perfect games and activities, along with tips and tricks for how to teach the present perfect.

You may also want to check this out: Present Continuous Games .

#1 ESL Present Perfect Activity: Surveys

I’m ALL about ESL surveys for a wide variety of topics and grammar points in my classroom. They’re awesome for a number of reasons, including the following:

  • Student-centred to the max
  • They cover a wide range of skills
  • Students interact with lots of others
  • They’re useful for sleepy classes
  • You can adapt them easily for any level, grammar point, or vocabulary

One area that fits in very well with surveys is the present perfect and the simple past. The initial question is in the present perfect and then the follow-up is in the simple past, either with a regular or an irregular verb (more irregular verb games here). For example:

“Have you taken a fun vacation before?”

“Yeah, sure, I went to Italy last year?”

“What city did you go to?”

(more Travel and Holiday ESL Activities )

Do you want to find out more about this present perfect activity? Then you’ll need to check it out right here: Surveys for ESL.

You could also consider doing a survey for daily schedules or routines and then switching to the simple past for the follow-up question related to time (more ideas here: telling time activities ).

#2: Error Correction Relay Race

#3: Present Perfect Board Games

I love to play board games in real life, so like to incorporate some into my classes as well. Of course, I make my own to match whatever I’m teaching. In this case, I’d fill up the board with lots of questions using the present perfect.

Do you want to find out more about how you can make your own ESL board games for your students? Then you’ll want to check out this short article right here: How to Make ESL Board Games . Or, you watch this video below:

#4: Is that Sentence Correct?

This is a simple grammar review activity that can also make a quick warm-up at the beginning of class. The way it works is that you write some sentences on the board. Some are correct while others are not. Students have to work with a partner to decide which ones they need to change to make correct.

Of course, you’d use the present perfect for the sentences. It’s also an ideal way to differentiate grammatically between things like the p.p. and the present perfect continuous or simple past.

More details right here: ESL Grammar Review Activity .

#5: Dictation Listening and Writing Activity

#6: Using Timelines to Teach Verb Tenses

It can be a little bit confusing for our students when it comes down to the finer details of present perfect vs present perfect continuous. Or, simple past vs present perfect. There are certainly some important differences, but they can also be quite subtle.

One of the best ways to explain this is to use timelines. Basically, you can show when an activity started and finished, whether that’s in the past, present, or future . Do you want to know more about this? Then you’ll want to check this out:

Timelines for Teaching the Present Perfect .

#7: Running Dictation

I know, I know, it’s a bit of a theme here. I’m sharing all of my favourite, super-versatile ESL activities and games that lend themselves well to just about topic or grammar point. ESL Running dictation is certainly another one of them.

The way I do it to post sentences from a conversation at various points around the classroom. Then one student has to read them, remember them and report back to their partner who writes them down. Once they’ve finished writing down all the sentences, they have to put them in the correct order to make coherent conversation.

Of course, you’d want to choose a conversation that focuses on the present perfect. Look in your textbook for some examples.

39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Grammar Activities and Games: For English Teachers of Teenagers and Adults...

  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bolen, Jackie (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 87 Pages - 10/24/2019 (Publication Date)

#8: Using Videos for Teaching the Present Perfect

I’m ALL about using videos in my ESL classroom . It brings a bit of excitement to learning that a boring old textbook just doesn’t! The good news is that it’s super easy to find an ESL video on just about any topic or grammar point on YouTube or English Central.

In this case, you’ll want to search for “present perfect ESL” to see what comes up. You should be able to find a video to suit the level and age of your students quite easily. Have a look at this one:

#9 Present Perfect Speaking Activity: The Memory Circle

One of the most versatile activities is this memory circle one. You can use it for just about anything from names to vocabulary to grammar. In this case, you’d want students to make a sentence about something they’re never done.

The first student starts off the game with the sentence, “I’ve never played tennis.” The next student says that first sentence and then adds their own. “She’s never played tennis and I’ve never eaten sushi.” The game continues on until all the students have gone. Or, you can play indefinitely with students sitting down when they make an error and can’t remember something.

More information about this fun present perfect speaking activity right here: Memory Circle ESL Game .

#10: Never Have I Ever…

We’ve probably all played this fun party game with our friends before. The way it works is that each person takes turns saying a statement. For example, “Never have I ever been drunk.” It should be something that they’ve actually never done. If people have done it, they would raise their hand or stand up.

When you play with friends, this game can usually get a bit raunchy. However, it doesn’t have to be like that and you can certainly play it with kids! Here’s an example of a kid friendly never have I ever question. “Never have I ever stayed up all night.”

Do you want to find out more about how you can play this with your ESL students? Then you’ll want to check out all the details right here: Never Have I Ever for English Learners .

#11: Need to Do, But Haven’t Done Yet

Working in pairs, students try to find something that their partner needs to do but hasn’t done yet this week. For example, “Have you taken out the trash yet?” Or, “Have you washed your floor yet?”

#12: Dialogue Substitution 

#13: Storytelling

Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a set of picture cards or prompts. Students take turns using the present perfect tense to tell a story based on the pictures or prompts. Encourage them to create a coherent narrative using the present perfect tense. This activity enhances speaking skills and promotes creativity and storytelling.

#14: Guessing Game

Prepare a set of present perfect tense sentence cards that describe personal experiences or achievements. One student picks a card and reads the sentence aloud, omitting the past participle verb. Other students take turns guessing the missing word to complete the sentence correctly. This activity reinforces sentence structure and encourages students to think critically about the present perfect tense.

#15: Present Perfect Charades

Write a list of present perfect sentences on small cards, each describing an action or experience. Divide the class into teams. One player from each team acts out the sentence without speaking, while their team tries to guess the action or experience using the present perfect tense.

#16: Present Perfect Snakes and Ladders

Adapt the traditional Snakes and Ladders game to focus on the present perfect tense. Each square on the board contains a sentence or prompt in the present perfect. When students land on a square, they must provide a relevant answer or form a sentence using the present perfect tense to progress through the game.

#17: Present Perfect Guess Who

Create a variation of the classic “Guess Who” game by using present perfect questions. Each student is given a picture or description of a person, and they take turns asking yes/no questions in the present perfect to guess the identity of the person. For example, “Have they ever been to Asia?” or “Have they ever eaten sushi?”

#18: Present Perfect Bingo

Create bingo cards with various experiences or actions in the present perfect tense. The teacher calls out sentences or prompts in the present perfect, and students mark the corresponding squares on their bingo cards. The first student to complete a line or full card shouts “Bingo!”

#19: Present Perfect Role-Play

Divide students into pairs or small groups. Each group is given a scenario or situation. Students take turns having conversations using the present perfect tense to talk about their experiences related to the given scenario. Encourage creativity and provide feedback on the accurate use of the present perfect tense.

#20: Present Perfect Story Chain

Begin a story using the present perfect tense. Each student adds a sentence or two to continue the story, using the present perfect to describe actions or experiences. The story continues around the classroom until it reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Present Perfect Questions

Are you looking for some questions in the present perfect? Then you’re certainly in the right place. If you want to get the discussion and conversation ball rolling, here are a few questions that you could start with:

Ask your students if they’ve seen any of your favorite movies or TV shows.

What sports have you played recently?

Where have you traveled?

What’s the most amazing place you’ve ever been to?

What interesting foods have you eaten in your life?

How long have you studied English?

What’s the longest amount of time you’ve been awake for?

Have you ever…

appeared on TV?

eaten something strange?

fallen down the stairs?

forgotten something quite important?

built a snowman?

been swimming in the ocean?

gotten a bad haircut?

played a practical joke on someone?

worked at a job you hated?

esl-present-perfect-activities-games

Present Perfect Tense ESL

Present Perfect Worksheets

If you’re looking for some worksheets to help your students out with the present perfect, then these activities and games won’t really help you out. Not to worry though—here are some of our favourite sources for grammar practice worksheets:

ISL Collective

All Things Grammar

However, the first place I take a look is the textbook that I’m using for the class. It will often have some excellent practice activities, or you can check out the teacher’s resource book or the homework book.

Present Perfect Online Practice

If you’d like some resources to recommend to your students for online grammar practice, then here are our favourite resources:

ESL Games Plus

English Club

British Council

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching this concept. Here are the answers to some of the most common ones.

What are some common time expressions used with the present perfect tense?

Some common time expressions used with the present perfect tense include “just,” “already,” “yet,” “since,” and “for.”

Can the present perfect tense be used to talk about a specific past time?

No, the present perfect tense is not used to talk about a specific past time. It focuses on the connection between the past and the present.

What is the difference between the present perfect and simple past tenses?

The present perfect tense emphasizes the connection between the past and the present, while the simple past tense focuses on past actions that are completed and not connected to the present.

What are some typical mistakes English learners make when using the present perfect tense?

Some common mistakes include the incorrect formation of the present perfect (e.g., using the wrong auxiliary verb or forgetting the past participle) and incorrect use of time expressions.

How can I help English learners understand the concept of the present perfect tense?

You can help by providing clear explanations, using relevant examples, and offering practice activities that highlight the connection between past events and the present.

What are some effective teaching techniques for the present perfect tense?

Some effective techniques include using real-life examples, engaging students in communicative activities, providing error correction and feedback, and offering opportunities for meaningful practice.

Why is it important for English learners to master the present perfect tense?

Mastering the present perfect tense allows learners to express themselves accurately in various contexts, describe experiences, and understand English texts and conversations that use this tense.

Did you Like these ESL Present Perfect Activities?

101 ESL Activities: For Teenagers and Adults (Teaching ESL/EFL to Teenagers and Adults)

  • 145 Pages - 03/10/2016 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)

Yes? Thought so! Then the book you’re going to love is this one over on Amazon: 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults . The key to interesting, engaging English classes is a wide variety of games and activities. And this is the book that’ll help you get there.

Do you want to know the best part? The book is well-organized into various sections, including review, speaking, writing, warmers, and more. You should be able to find yourself an awesome ESL activity to use in your classes in just a minute or two. If that’s not some ESL gold, then I’m not sure sure what is.

Does it sound like exactly what you need? You can bring the digital copy with you on your phone or tablet to your favourite coffee shop for some lesson planning on the go. Or, keep the physical copy on the bookshelf in your office and use it as a handy reference guide. Yes, it really is that easy.

Head over to Amazon to pick up a copy today:

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Have your Say about these Present Perfect ESL Games and Activities

What did you think about these games and activities to help your students practice the present perfect? Or, do you have another one that you’d like to recommend to us? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.

Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

esl writing prompts present perfect

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at: YouTube Facebook Pinterest TikTok LinkedIn Instagram

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ESLBUZZ

Mastering Present Perfect Tense: Your Ultimate Guide to Perfecting Your English Grammar

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: August 21, 2023

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Welcome to our article about the Present Perfect Tense in English grammar! If you’re learning English, you’ve likely encountered this tense before. It’s a common verb tense used to describe actions that began in the past and continue up to the present. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of how to form and use the Present Perfect Tense, as well as provide plenty of examples to help you understand it better.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, mastering the Present Perfect Tense is an important step in improving your English grammar skills. So let’s get started!

Present Perfect Tense – Image

Present Perfect Tense

Structure of the Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect Tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or events that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continue to the present. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” followed by the past participle of the verb.

Affirmative Form

The affirmative form of the Present Perfect Tense is used to express an action or event that has occurred at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continues to the present. The structure of the affirmative form is as follows:

Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb

  • I have eaten breakfast already.
  • She has finished her work for the day.

Negative Form

The negative form of the Present Perfect Tense is used to express the absence of an action or event that has occurred at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continues to the present. The structure of the negative form is as follows:

Subject + have/has + not + past participle of the verb

  • I have not seen that movie yet.
  • She has not finished her work for the day.

Interrogative Form

The interrogative form of the Present Perfect Tense is used to ask questions about an action or event that has occurred at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continues to the present. The structure of the interrogative form is as follows:

Have/Has + Subject + past participle of the verb + ?

  • Have you ever been to Paris?
  • Has she finished her work for the day?

Signal Words for the Present Perfect Tense

Signal words are words that indicate which tense to use. For the present perfect tense, some common signal words include:

For example, “Have you ever been to Paris?” or “I have never seen that movie before.”

In conclusion, the Present Perfect Tense is a useful verb tense for describing actions or events that have occurred at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continue to the present. By mastering the structure of the Present Perfect Tense, you can effectively communicate about past events in English.

Usage and examples of The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is a very common English tense used to describe actions or events that happened in the past but have a connection to the present. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here are some examples of present perfect tense in action:

  • She has studied English for five years.
  • They have traveled to many countries.
  • We have seen that movie before.

As you can see, the present perfect tense is used to talk about experiences or actions that have happened at an unspecified time in the past, but the effects or results of those actions are still relevant in the present.

In addition to using the present perfect tense to describe past actions with present relevance, it can also be used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into the present. For example:

  • He has lived in New York City since 2010.
  • They have been married for ten years.
  • I have worked at this company for five years.

Note that in these examples, the actions started in the past but are still ongoing in the present.

Another use of the present perfect tense is to describe actions that have happened at an unspecified time in the past, but the speaker is interested in the result of the action. For example:

  • She has written a book.
  • He has painted a picture.
  • They have built a house.

In these cases, the speaker is not concerned with when the action happened, but rather with the fact that the action was completed and has a result in the present.

Overall, the present perfect tense is a versatile and important tense in English grammar. By understanding its uses and practicing with examples and exercises, learners can improve their language skills and communicate more effectively in English.

Common Mistakes in Using the Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect tense is a commonly used tense in English grammar, but it can be tricky to use correctly. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using the Present Perfect tense:

Using the wrong time expressions

The Present Perfect tense often goes with adverbs of indefinite time, such as already, yet, before, ever, just, and never. Using the wrong time expressions can lead to confusion and incorrect usage of the tense. For example, saying “I have seen him yesterday” is incorrect. Instead, you should say “I saw him yesterday.”

Using the Present Perfect for past actions with specific time references

The Present Perfect tense is used to talk about past actions that are related to or continue into the present. It is not used for past actions with specific time references. For example, saying “I have finished my homework yesterday” is incorrect. Instead, you should say “I finished my homework yesterday.”

Using the wrong auxiliary verb

The Present Perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verbs have or has, depending on the subject. Using the wrong auxiliary verb can lead to incorrect usage of the tense. For example, saying “I has finished my homework” is incorrect. Instead, you should say “I have finished my homework.”

Using the Present Perfect instead of the Simple Past

The Simple Past tense is used to talk about completed actions in the past. Using the Present Perfect instead of the Simple Past can lead to confusion and incorrect usage of the tense. For example, saying “I have eaten breakfast this morning” is incorrect. Instead, you should say “I ate breakfast this morning.”

In conclusion, the Present Perfect tense can be tricky to use correctly, but avoiding these common mistakes can help you use it more effectively. Remember to use the correct time expressions, auxiliary verbs, and tense forms. With practice, you can master the Present Perfect tense and use it confidently in your English communication.

Exercises to Practice the Present Perfect Tense

To master the Present Perfect Tense, it is essential to practice it regularly. Here are some exercises that will help you improve your understanding and usage of this tense.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the Present Perfect Tense of the verbs in brackets:

  • I ___________ (not see) my best friend for two months.
  • She ___________ (already visit) the Eiffel Tower twice.
  • They ___________ (just arrive) from their vacation in Bali.
  • He ___________ (not finish) his homework yet.
  • We ___________ (live) in this city for ten years.

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the following sentences:

  • I ___________ (have / has) never been to New York City.
  • They ___________ (have / has) eaten sushi before.
  • She ___________ (have / has) studied French for five years.
  • We ___________ (have / has) seen that movie twice.
  • He ___________ (have / has) lost his phone again.

Exercise 3: Writing Exercise

Write five sentences using the Present Perfect Tense. Use the following prompts to help you:

  • I ___________ (never / travel) outside of my country.
  • She ___________ (just / graduate) from university.
  • They ___________ (already / watch) the latest episode of their favorite TV show.
  • He ___________ (not / decide) where to go for his next vacation.
  • We ___________ (have / visit) many countries in Europe.

By practicing these exercises regularly, you will become more comfortable with using the Present Perfect Tense in your daily conversations and writing. Keep practicing and you’ll master this tense in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between present perfect tense and past tense?

The main difference between present perfect tense and past tense is that present perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continues into the present, while past tense describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past and is now finished.

What is the structure of present perfect tense?

The structure of present perfect tense is: subject + auxiliary verb (have/has) + past participle verb. For example, “I have eaten breakfast.”

What are some examples of present perfect tense?

Some examples of present perfect tense are: “I have finished my homework,” “She has traveled to many countries,” and “They have seen that movie before.”

What are the rules for using present perfect tense?

Present perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continues into the present. It is also used to describe an action that has just been completed or to talk about experiences or changes that have happened over a period of time. It is not used to describe a specific action that happened at a specific time in the past.

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the structure of present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The structure of present perfect tense is: subject + auxiliary verb (have/has) + past participle verb. For example, \"I have eaten breakfast.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the forms of present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The forms of present perfect tense are affirmative, negative, and interrogative. In affirmative form, we use the subject followed by the auxiliary verb and the past participle of the main verb. In negative form, we use the subject followed by the auxiliary verb \"have/has\" and \"not\" and the past participle of the main verb. In interrogative form, we use the auxiliary verb \"have/has\" before the subject and the past participle of the main verb.

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some examples of present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Some examples of present perfect tense are: \"I have finished my homework,\" \"She has traveled to many countries,\" and \"They have seen that movie before.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do you conjugate verbs in present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

To conjugate verbs in present perfect tense, we use the auxiliary verb \"have/has\" and the past participle of the main verb. For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding \"-ed\" to the base form of the verb. For irregular verbs, the past participle form varies and needs to be memorized.

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the rules for using present perfect tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

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Shyam Patra

Sunday 27th of August 2023

Writing Prompt ~ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt: The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action from the past that has recently stopped or is still continuing. As with other perfect tenses, the words for and since are often used to indicate time. Review the structure and uses of the present perfect continuous tense . Then demonstrate your understanding by writing a script for a short interview between two people. Try to use for and since in your writing.

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11 comments

I love this conversation so much

Thanks a lot

Amanda: ¡Hi Mom! How have you been feeling these days? I didn’t visit you for a long time. Mom: I have been very good because your father bought three airplane tickets to travel to Paris the next week, with you. Amanda: ¡Wow! Its is a big surprise, I don’t believe it. Mom: He has saved a lot of money to give us this present. However, the main reason to do this travel is to share with you much time than we have been sharing since you move out. Amanda: Awww, my dad is so beautiful with us, I love it. Amanda: Mmmm Mom, I have a little problem, I don’t have clothes to go to Paris, all my shirts, skirts and jeans are dirty because I haven’t cleaned them yet. Can you accompany me to clean up in the laundry? Mom: Ok, but Why didn’t you wash the clothes before? Amanda: I’m sorry, but I have been very busy with my university homeworks and I forgot my clothes laundry. Mom: Don’t worry, but you need to be more focus with these little things that are very important. I have been thinking that I could help you these days If you do want. To accompany and give my support in all possible house works that you could have. Amanda: Thanks mom, you’re very special with me but I will try to organize all things that I have. But if you do want, we can prepare our bags to travel to Paris. Mom: Yeah! I love it, because ¡we are travelling to Paris the next week! And we need to prepare all things to carry to this wonderful city.

Job Interview Interviewer: Why do you want this job? Applicant: I have been wanting to be an editor-in-chief since I had completed high school. I have always wanted a 9 to 5 job and when I am getting the opportunity, I would use it all. Interviewer: I have noticed from your resume that you have been working in Montera n’ Co. since 5 years. Why are you resigning from there? Applicant: Due to some professional grudges I have been looking for a job since the time the grudges started as I was unable to stand much. Interviewer: What have you been looking for in a job? Applicant: I have been looking for a knowledgeable job so that I never stop learning.

It is informative

Information

Job Interview Interviewer: Could you introduce your self? Job applicant: Sure, I’m Carlos and I have been programming software since 2004 when I finished the university. I have been working in different roles as software engineer, technical lead and software architect. All my career I have been programming in Java language. Interviewer: Perfect, could you tell me about your architecture career? Job applicant: I have been working as a software architect for 7 years, this period I have been designing many architectures under java platform and I have been managing many development teams. Interviewer: I think while you have been managing a development team you have been faced some conflict at some moment, could you tell me about how you faced those situations. Job applicant: Yes, well, when some things were difficult, like different opinions from a specific decision I have always been trying to put in priority our work as a value for our customer, the products we have been creating are always to give an additional value to an end user, with this in mind is how I have always been trying to resolve some conflict.

Hello samuel i`m very happy in my new house you can visit my on the weekend, in the saturday i my 🎈happy birday🎁 in my hause in case you want to come an we make a pajamada and cook a cake.

Job Interview Interviewer: Where have you been working the recent years? Job applicant: I’ve been working on sales and and public relations for about three years. Interviewer: Since when have you been searching for a new job? Job applicant: I’ve been searching for almost three months Interviewer: I’ve noticed in your curriculum that you are studying business at university ¿Since when have you been studying? Job applicant: I’ve been studyng the Master of Artes since the last year.

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How To Teach The Present Perfect | Step By Step

The present perfect form can be particularly challenging for teachers to teach and students to learn. This is because in many other languages, the present perfect tense functions differently than it does in English. The main goal when teaching the present perfect tense to English language learners is to get them to understand its two main usages. Follow this easy step-by-step guide on how to teach the present perfect tense and your students will be using it confidently in no time.

How To Teach The Present Perfect Tense

Step 1: the two main uses.

To begin the lesson, explain to students that there are two main uses of the present perfect tense; to talk about finished past actions , and to talk about an action that started in the past and continued to the present . Write these two uses as headings on the board and draw a simple timeline below each heading. Students will likely not quite understand what you mean at this point, so it’s time to give them lots of examples to help them grasp these uses of the present perfect tense.

Step 2: Finished Past Actions

A great way to demonstrate this first usage of the present perfect tense is to talk about your past experiences. For example, you can tell students “ I have visited many countries. “, “ I have been to South Korea and Japan. “, “ I have climbed Mt. Fuji. “, etc. Write these examples on the board.

Next, elicit from students the fact that these actions/events took place in the past and finished in the past. For example, you can ask students “ Am I in Japan now? “, “ Am I still climbing Mt. Fuji? “, etc.

Step 3: Actions That Started In The Past And Continue To The Present

Once students have grasped the first usage, it’s time to teach them the second usage of the present perfect tense. To do this, you can elicit many examples from students. For example, you can ask students how long they have lived in the current country/city you are in (“ I have lived in England for 5 years “), how long they have studied English (“I have studied English for three years. “), how long they have known their best friend (“ I have known Kelly for 7 years “), etc. Write all these examples on the board so you can refer to them later.

Step 4: Present Perfect Tense Structure

Present Perfect Tense Structure

Next, show students the present perfect structure. The present perfect structure is as follows:

subject + have/has + past participle

You may need to explain what ‘subject’ and ‘past participle’ refer to. A great way to do this is to use the examples on the board from steps 2 and 3 and have students identify the subject and past participle in each sentence. Once students understand the present perfect tense structure, swap out the subjects and verbs in each sentence to make new sentences.

Step 5: Ask And Answer Using The Present Perfect

Now students understand the main uses and the structure of the present perfect tense, teach students how to ask and answer questions in the present perfect tense. For example,

T: “ Have you been to France? “ S: “ Yes, I have.” / “No, I haven’t. “ T: “ What other countries have you been to? “ S: “ I have been to Spain, Germany, Thailand, and Vietnam. “ T: “ How long have you studied English? “ S: “ I have studied English for 3 years. “ T: “ How long have you lived in this town? “ S: “ I have lived here for 2 months. “

Once students understand, have them practice asking and answering present perfect questions with their partner. After 10 minutes, stop the class and ask some students to tell you what their partner said. This way, students can practice changing the subject in the sentence (i.e. “ He/She has studied English for 3 years. “).

Step 6: Review With A Quiz

Finally, it’s time to review what students have learned with a fun quiz. You can use the above quiz video or you can find many free present perfect exercise worksheets here .

Related Resources

Thanks for reading. I hope you found this guide on how to teach the present perfect tense useful. Before you go, be sure to check out these related resources: Present Perfect Games How To Teach The Present Perfect Continuous English Grammar Exercises How To Teach The Present Simple

esl games for adults

Present Perfect Activities – Have You Ever Tried These?

These present perfect activities cover the different uses of the tense for talking about past experiences, recently completed actions, past actions connected to the present etc.

Teaching Online

You can find online present perfect exercises and activities at our online-focused site LearnHip.com .

Present Perfect – Past Participles

Present perfect crossword.

esl writing prompts present perfect

Use the present perfect forms to complete this crossword . See ESL crosswords and how to make them for more examples and instructions on how to create your own.

50 top verb cards

Give pairs or threes of students a set of Top 50 Verb Cards . Ask them to write what they think is the past participle of the verb on the back of the card. As they are doing the end of the task, go around the groups and check the cards which have been written and put a line through any that are wrong. Have the learners continue to submit the cards until they all have the correct form on the back.

Now have the groups place their deck of cards face up on the desk. They should take it in turns to take the top card and make a present perfect sentence using the verb. If they can’t remember the past participle then they can turn over the card to check. Continue until all the cards have been used.

Present Perfect – Unfinished Time / Life Experience

How long have you ….

This is a great present perfect speaking activity for practising the question form as well as for/since answers. Students ask each other do you …? questions and attempt to elicit a positive answer and then they follow up with a how long have you …? question.

For example:

Do you have a dog?

– Yes, I do

How long have you had a dog?

– for about 5 years

Have you … this week?

Divide the board into two and write finished-time at the top of one section and unfinished-time at the top of the other.  Read out the finished and unfinished time phrases and have students tell you which side of the board to write them. You can add further examples to each side.

Elicit examples of questions which can be asked for each side, i.e., past simple and present perfect.

Give pairs of learners a set of unfinished-time phrases . They should take it in turns to take a card and then ask their partner a present perfect question which they think will elicit a positive answer. For example, today: have you cleaned your teeth today?

In the following class repeat the exercise but with the finished-time phrases added to the deck thus forcing learners to switch tenses depending on the phrase.

Stand up if you’ve ever/never …

One of my favourite games to play, this activity encourages students to talk about their life experiences and often reveals interesting stories.

Before you play, you can use this handout as a more controlled practice and refresh activity.

The aim of the game is to be the only person standing by sharing life experiences and inviting other students to stand if they’ve also had the same experience.

First, demonstrate the game using some examples from your own life. For example:

  • Stand up if you’ve ever flown in a helicopter.
  • Stand up if you’ve ever been to Disneyland
  • Stand up if you’ve never eaten a hamburger

If you manage to be the only person standing for one of your examples, you would get a point.

Now, give the learners five to ten minutes to think of three experiences from their own lives which they can use in the game.

Write the name or initials of each student on the board in a line on the board. This is where you will keep track of the points total for each player.

The first player makes their first stand up if … statement and gets to their feet. If they are the only student standing they get a point. Mark the point on the board under their name and move on to the next player.

Go round the class two or three times and make sure to encourage questions about some of the stories as you uncover them.

The winner is the student with the most points under their name at the end.

Talking about trends – with graphs

Draw four simple charts on the board. One showing an upward trend, one a downward trend, one fluctuating, and one steady.

present perfect trends

In turn, elicit possible language to describe each trend. For example, gone up, risen, increased, fallen, dropped, gone up and down, remained steady , etc.

Give examples from your city and have students tell you how things have changed over the last ten years.

rent prices

– rent prices have gone up

 – wages have gone down

You could also ask about: the cost of living, number of tourists, number of students, pollution, amount of cars / bicycles / scooters.

Now, ask them to think of examples from their own lives and write four or five sentences. Make sure to go over the correct usage of for & since  before they start writing.

Find someone who…

This is a mingling activity. Students circulate with a question sheet and ask questions to find people who have had a particular life experience.

Conversation cards

After reviewing Present Perfect for life experiences. We have two sets of fun conversation cards from our conversation questions section .

  • Life history
  • Have you ever?

Present Perfect – Connection to the Present

Just, already and still.

Give students some scenarios and challenge to write sentences using just , already and yet .

Use one of the following situations, for example, Dave has a new job and elicit some ideas. They might include:

He hasn’t met his boss yet.

He’s already made some friends.

He’s just learnt how to use the coffee machine.

Possible scenarios:

  • Dave has a new job
  • Bill and Angela got married last month
  • Patrice moved into her new home last week
  • We moved to England last year

Present perfect problems

This short and simple activity is designed to draw attention to the connection to the present moment. I often underline the word present when giving an overview of the present perfect tense.

Give students this list of work problems . Students complete the problems using the present perfect form and must explain what the connection to the present is and talk about possible solutions.

Present Perfect Picture Set

Students view a slideshow of present perfect pictures and offer explanations as to what has (just) happened in each photo.

Other Activities

Grammar translation.

I find that translation activities can be quite useful if you have a class of monolingual speakers.

As a grammar activity, I write down some sentences in the students’ native language that would logically, usually be translated into the target form I am aiming for. Then I get the students to attempt to translate the sentences into English.

Here are ten sentences I use for Present Perfect.

How long have you known John?

I’ve been here for five years.

I’ve never seen Game of Thrones.

I haven’t eaten yet.

Have you ever been to India?

Have you sent the documents to Tom?

Nobody has seen Jennifer for weeks.

Her English has improved since she moved to Scotland.

I think I’ve already seen this episode.

It hasn’t stopped raining for three days.

For example, here is a German present perfect grammar-translation activity .

4 thoughts on “ Present Perfect Activities – Have You Ever Tried These? ”

Excellent activities!!!! Thanks a lot!

Great activities! Thanks for sharing!

Very cool thanks you

I REALLY APPRECCIATE THESE KIND OF ACTIVITIES, THOSE ARE PRETTY USEFUL AND EASY TO CATCH STUDENTS´ATTENTION

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esl writing prompts present perfect

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esl writing prompts present perfect

Present Perfect Tense ESL Worksheets

Just already yet esl grammar exercises worksheet.

esl writing prompts present perfect

Have You Ever …? Present Perfect Tense Questions Worksheet

esl writing prompts present perfect

Have or Has Present Perfect Tense ESL Exercise Worksheet

Answer Key Included

For or Since Present Perfect Tense ESL Exercise Worksheet

Answer Key Included

Present Perfect Tense ESL Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Answer Key Included

Present Perfect Tense ESL Dialogue Comprehension Exercises Worksheet

Answer Key Included

Present Perfect Tense ESL Gap Fill Exercise Worksheet

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Present Perfect Tense ESL Grammar Exercises Test Worksheet

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Present Perfect Tense ESL Multiple Choice Questions Worksheet

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Present Perfect Tense ESL Printable Speaking Activity Cards

Esl Speaking Cards

Present Perfect Tense ESL Writing Activity Worksheet

Esl Writing Activity

Present Perfect Tense ESL Word Order Exercise Worksheet

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60 Interesting Writing Prompts For The ESL Classroom

December 15, 2022 //  by  Christina Swiontek

Writing prompts are a great way for ESL learners to explore writing and practice their writing skills. English language learners will greatly benefit from responding to writing prompts. They can learn basic language skills and express themselves through descriptive, narrative, creative, opinion, and journal-based writing. By using these engaging writing assignments, beginner and intermediate learners can look forward to becoming strong writers. Help your young ones become more confident writers with the help of these fun prompts! 

Descriptive Writing Prompts 

esl writing prompts present perfect

For these descriptive writing prompts, guide students to be as specific as possible. It may be helpful to provide them with a list of adjectives and have a classroom discussion about how they can be used to describe various scenarios. Encourage writers to be creative and have fun with their writing topics. 

  • Do you remember your first pet? What were they like?
  • What is your happiest amusement park memory?
  • Share your favorite meal in detail. 
  • What does a perfect day include? What is the weather like? 
  • What do you like to do on a rainy day? Share your ideas. 
  • Have you ever been to the zoo? What did you see and hear? 
  • Use your senses to describe an open area of grass and trees.
  • Describe a sunset to someone who cannot see it.
  • Share information about something that brings you joy.
  • Imagine you are taking a trip to the grocery store. Share your experience.

Learn more: Teacher’s Notepad

Opinion Writing Prompts

esl writing prompts present perfect

An important aspect of opinion writing practice is for the writer to state their opinion and provide facts that support it. Opinion writing exercises can also be referred to as persuasive writing; in which the writer’s goal is to have the reader agree with their opinion. A tip for writers is to select a topic they are passionate about and provide enough supporting details. 

  • Have you ever read through a book that has been made into a motion picture? Which do you prefer?
  • Do you like to spend time inside or explore the big city? Share reasons to support your answer.
  • What do you feel is the best invention? What would life be like without it? 
  • Share details about a fun trip with your best friend. 
  • Write and describe what it would be like if you didn’t have homework. 
  • Do you think every sporting event should have a winner? Why or why not? 
  • Is it better to vacation in the mountains or on the beach? Why is it better? 
  • Share your thoughts about your favorite sport and why it interests you. 
  • Think about your favorite book. What makes it your favorite?

Learn more: ThoughtCo

Narrative Writing Prompts

esl writing prompts present perfect

Narrative writing prompts are an effective way for students to improve their writing and creativity skills. It also motivates children and makes them excited to write. ESL writing topics such as these are a great way to spark creativity and imagination. 

  • Think about what may happen if you took a picture of your friend in front of a volcano. 
  • Imagine you had three wishes that could be granted, but you cannot use them for yourself. What would you wish for? Explain your reasoning. 
  • What do you think would happen if you were to plan the luckiest day of your life? 
  • If you had the option of bringing home a zoo animal, how would you spend your time together?
  • Include the following words in a funny story: grapes, elephant, book, and airplane. 
  • Write a short story from the viewpoint of an ant. What are the pros and cons of being so tiny?
  • Can you imagine having the opportunity to meet your favorite book character? Who would you choose and why?
  • What would your school day be like if there was no electricity? 
  • Imagine you are a pirate, and you just took off on a voyage. What are you searching for? 
  • Finish this story: The pirates set sail on their ship in search of . . .
  • If you could be a teacher for the day, what decisions would you make and why?

Learn more: Vibrant Teaching

Creative Writing Prompts

esl writing prompts present perfect

Creative writing has many benefits for all children, including foreign English language learners. It helps improve communication skills, memory, and knowledge. Creative writing also stimulates higher-level thinking and self-expression.  

  • If you could have a pet elephant, what would you do with it? 
  • If you could spend the day in animal form, which animal would you be? 
  • Oh no! You look up on the roof and you see your cat is stuck. What can you do to help?
  • Share your adventures in detail if you were to own a pair of magical shoes.
  • If you could have dinner with your favorite character, what would you ask them?
  • If you could spend a day on a time machine, what would you do?
  • Imagine you are taking your dog on a trip through the forest. What do you see?
  • What is fun about playing in the rain?
  • Think about playing hide and seek. Where is your favorite place to hide?
  • If you could be a part of the circus for a day, what would be your special talent? 

Learn more: Squibler

Essay Writing Prompts

esl writing prompts present perfect

Essay writing prompts help students learn the fundamentals of writing. The following essay topics aim to strengthen reading comprehension and develop context and structure. Both ESL students and native English speakers can benefit from essay writing practice. 

  • Share your favorite class subject and why.
  • Explain the reason why it is good to share with friends.
  • Share your favorite sport and why it is so special.
  • What would it be like to be a superhero?
  • What is your favorite game? How would you describe the goal of the game to someone who has never played it?
  • Think about the tools you use in the classroom. Which one is most useful?
  • What makes your best friend unique?
  • Think about your least favorite subject. What would make you like it more? 
  • What is your favorite thing to do over the weekend?
  • Is there a story you could read over and over? Share why you enjoy it.

Learn more: Splash Learn

Journal Writing Prompts

esl writing prompts present perfect

Journal writing is an awesome way for children to practice writing. While writing in a journal, students can focus less on quality writing and mechanics and more on self-expression and the meaning behind their writing. Children may want to find a sacred writing space where they can avoid distractions and focus easily.

  • What makes your school community unique?
  • What does it mean to be kind?
  • What should you do if you can’t get along with a classmate?
  • What qualities are important in a friend?
  • If you could invent something to solve a problem, what would it be?
  • Did you ever break something by accident? How did you fix it?
  • What is your favorite game to play in, and out of the classroom?
  • Think about an imaginary friend. What are they like?
  • Look in the mirror and write about what you see.
  • What is your favorite playground equipment? Why? 

Learn more: YourDictionary

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  1. PRESENT PERFECT

    esl writing prompts present perfect

  2. perfect tenses esl worksheet by ildibildi

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  3. perfect tenses esl worksheet by ildibildi

    esl writing prompts present perfect

  4. Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Examples, & Rules» Onlymyenglish.com

    esl writing prompts present perfect

  5. Present Perfect general gramma…: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

    esl writing prompts present perfect

  6. Present perfect (grammar, reading, writing)

    esl writing prompts present perfect

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  1. Writing Tenses: Tense-Specific ESL Writing Prompts and Topics for

    The present tense, in these cases, includes the simple present ("She always forgets something") and the present continuous ("I am coming "), as well as the trickier present perfect ("We have seen The Matrix far too many times") and present perfect continuous ("She has been singing since her second glass of wine").

  2. 4 Present perfect tenses, Creative writing prompt, Writing P…

    4 Present perfect tenses, Creative writing prompt, Writing Practice English ESL worksheets pdf & doc SORT BY Most popular TIME PERIOD All-time ozlemmunire present perfect perfect tense - have - has - 40 sentences positive- negative - question answer forms - yes - no questions - yet - just - already - never - for - since usages and writing t...

  3. Present Perfect ESL Activities Games Worksheets

    I have never... ESL Present Perfect Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Asking Questions, Guided Discussion - Pair Work - Pre-intermediate (A2) - 35 minutes< In this engaging present perfect activity, students write about things they have and haven't experienced and then discuss their answers with a partner.

  4. A perfect story

    The present perfect is a tense that many students have problems with. Most course books provide only controlled grammar sentences where students choose the correct tense. Author Jackie McAvoy This activity leads students into writing a short story using the past simple, present perfect simple and continuous, but in a more creative way. Procedure

  5. 8 Perfect Activities for Practicing the Present Perfect

    8 Perfect Activities for Practicing the Present Perfect by Susan Verner 601,184 views Try These 8 Perfect Activities for Practicing the Present Perfect 1 Great Accomplishments What are some of the things your students have already accomplished at this time in their lives?

  6. Creative Writing: The Most Exciting…: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

    Let's do English ESL creative writing prompt. Another activity for the A2 My Writings booklet. This time practice with the present perfect and the past simple.…

  7. 213 Present perfect writing English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

    213 Present perfect writing English ESL worksheets pdf & doc SORT BY TIME PERIOD meva Present perfect simple -short grammar review -matching the sentences to the pictur... 6001 uses aysenurekinci Present Perfect- The Movie of Your Life Talking about past experiences using present perfect tense.

  8. Teaching the present perfect

    Write the following prompts on the board and have the students work individually to make present perfect sentences. Tell them that at least two should be negative. My friend / Circus I / zoo They / practicing / Chinese He / Star Wars / yet? You / ice hockey? When finished, correct as a group and elicit both the positive and negative solutions.

  9. PDF Present Perfect Practice

    Purpose: practice present perfect in a conversation. Instructions: 1. Look at the prompt on the paper. 2. Think of a two verbs to make a question about that thing. 3. Write the past participle for 2 verbs 4. Make a question Have you ever …?" with one of those verbs. 5. Ask follow up questions.

  10. Present perfect

    Level: beginner The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb. We use the present perfect: for something that started in the past and continues in the present: They've been married for nearly fifty years. She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

  11. 50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus

    50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus Resources to Find More Prompts) Ever find yourself staring at a blank page with no good ideas of how to fill it? We all do, even the most experienced writers. But for many ESL students, the dreaded blank page isn't just intimidating—it's immobilizing.

  12. ESL Present Perfect Activities and Games

    "What city did you go to?" (more Travel and Holiday ESL Activities) Do you want to find out more about this present perfect activity? Then you'll need to check it out right here: Surveys for ESL.

  13. Writing Prompts

    Belief Writing Prompt ~ Present Perfect Continuous Tense Writing Prompt ~ Abbreviations Writing Prompt ~ Subjunctive Mood Writing Prompt ~ Collocations with Save Writing Prompt ~ Collocations with Do Writing Prompt ~ British Vs. American Spelling Writing Prompt ~ Collocations with Get Writing Prompt ~ Directions Writing Prompt ~ Future Goals

  14. Mastering Present Perfect Tense: Your Ultimate Guide to ...

    The Present Perfect Tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or events that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that began in the past and continue to the present. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb "have" or "has" followed by the past participle of the verb. Affirmative Form

  15. Present Perfect Stories

    Grammar Stories. Int. All ages. Grades 6-12. In this lesson, students read three stories that use the present perfect in context. They answer comprehension questions and respond to questions about themselves using the present perfect tense. Launch Tasks.

  16. Present Perfect

    Grades 2-5. In this lesson, students study the form and uses of the present perfect tense. Situations that combine the present perfect and simple past are also covered. Students practice using the present perfect in speaking, writing, and group work exercises. For teaching teen and adults, use our Grammar Practice Worksheets lesson on the ...

  17. Writing Prompt ~ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

    Writing Prompt: The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action from the past that has recently stopped or is still continuing. As with other perfect tenses, the words for and since are often used to indicate time. Review the structure and uses of the present perfect continuous tense.

  18. Creative Writing: What Have You Done…: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

    40 0 1/1 Let's do English ESL creative writing prompt. Practice with the present perfect affirmative and negative. List things you have done in your life and things you…

  19. How To Teach The Present Perfect

    Table of Contents. How To Teach The Present Perfect Tense. Step 1: The Two Main Uses. Step 2: Finished Past Actions. Step 3: Actions That Started In The Past And Continue To The Present. Step 4: Present Perfect Tense Structure. Step 5: Ask And Answer Using The Present Perfect. Step 6: Review With A Quiz. Related Resources.

  20. Present Perfect ESL Lesson Plan

    Present Perfect ESL Lesson Plan. Trisha has taught academic English reading and writing courses for ESL students for 10 years and has a Master's in Teaching English as a Second or Other Language ...

  21. Present Perfect Activities

    Present Perfect - Connection to the Present Just, already and still. Give students some scenarios and challenge to write sentences using just, already and yet. Use one of the following situations, for example, Dave has a new job and elicit some ideas. They might include: He hasn't met his boss yet. He's already made some friends.

  22. Present Perfect Tense ESL Worksheets

    Present Perfect Tense ESL Grammar Exercises Test Worksheet. A simple esl printable grammar exercises test for learning, teaching and practising Present Perfect Tense. Write the past participle forms of the verbs. Rewrite the sentences with the subjects in brackets. Fill in the blanks with have or has.

  23. 60 Interesting Writing Prompts For The ESL Classroom

    Writing prompts are a great way for ESL learners to explore writing and practice their writing skills. English language learners will greatly benefit from responding to writing prompts. They can learn basic language skills and express themselves through descriptive, narrative, creative, opinion, and journal-based writing. By using these engaging writing assignments, beginner and intermediate ...

  24. PDF Strategies for Essay Writing

    prompt, they often find that it answers many of their questions. When you read the assignment prompt, you should do the following: • Look for action verbs. Verbs like analyze, compare, discuss, explain, make an argument, propose a solution, trace, or research can help you understand what you're being asked to do with an assignment.