Present perfect tense in English
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
In this chapter the present perfect will be explained. The present perfect talks about an action that happened in the past and continues in the present. When the action took place is not specified.
The present perfect is formed with the present simple of the auxiliary verb 'to have' and the past participle:
to have + past participle
The verb 'to have' has to be conjugated according to the subject of the sentence.
The past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding '-ed' to the infinitive of the verb.
The irregular verbs have different endings.
How the present perfect tense is formed depends on whether the sentence is:
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
Structure: Subject + auxiliary verb 'to have' + past participle + rest of the sentence.
Take a look at the table below to see the conjugation of the verb 'to have' in present simple tense.
Subject | Verb 'to have' |
---|---|
I | have |
You | have |
He / she / it | has |
We | have |
You | have |
They | have |
Examples:
Structure: Subject + negative form of auxiliary verb 'to have' (have not / has not) + past participle + rest of the sentence.
The table below will show you the conjugation of the negative form of the verb 'to have'.
Subject | Negative form of 'to have' |
---|---|
I | have not |
You | have not |
He / she / it | has not |
We | have not |
You | have not |
They | have not |
Examples:
Structure: Auxiliary verb 'to have' + subject + past participle + rest of the sentence + question mark.
Examples:
The table below shows you the situations when to use the present perfect tense.
Situation | Example |
---|---|
Actions initiated in the past and continuing in the present |
|
When reference is made to an unfinished time period |
|
Repeated action in a nonspecific period located between the past and the present |
|
Actions concluded in a very recent past |
|
When the temporal dimension is not relevant or known |
|
The use of the present simple tense can be recognized when the sentence contains one of the signal words in the table below.
Signal words | Function | Example |
---|---|---|
For | For + period of time: Means "during", indicating its duration to define a period of time before the present time. |
|
Since | Since + concrete moment: Means "from", indicating the beginning of a period of time that is still going on. |
|
Already | To express an action that has happened earlier or sooner than expected. |
|
Ever | It is used above all in questions, to explain if it has happened. |
|
Never | Used with actions that have not happened any time prior to the present. |
|
Just | Actions that happened in a very recent past. |
|
Still | For actions that have not happened or have not ended. |
|
Yet | For actions that we hoped would have already happened but have not happened. It is used in negative phrases. |
|
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Complete the sentence by filling in the present perfect tense in English.
Remember:
She the questions many times. (to repeat)
They already that movie twice. (to watch)
We just to the dentist. (to be)
I the programme so we can see it when we get home. (to record)
He a fish. (to catch)
You the bus. (to miss)
you enough water today? (to drink)
She not any letters to him. (to write)
The teacher that eating is not allowed. (to say)
It a lot this week. (to rain)
The present perfect can not be formed without the verb 'to have'. The conjugation of this verb changes according to the subject.
Fill in the correct conjugation of the verb 'to have'.
I come to the office today.
She walked to the station.
They needed your help many times.
We graduated this year.
You felt left out.
He tried to do the exercise.
My sister listened to my music.
Her brother stolen his shoes.
Paul and Angela been on holiday together.
I helped you twice this week.
Fill in the English present perfect. The present perfect consists of the verb 'to have' + past participle.
Remember:
Examples:
My mother me to pick her up from work. (to ask)
She to congratulate me. (to remember)
The restaurant already the food. (to serve)
The municipality to build new houses. (to decide)
Construction workers new houses in my street. (to build)
The lion a rabbit. (to kill)
She her child on her own. (to raise)
The hairdresser my hair. (to cut)
The offer in my email. (to appear)
She many letters to him.
Fill in the English present perfect tense.
Remember:
The bus for the running man to arrive. (to wait)
I a present for my aunt. (to buy)
She Berlin. (to visit)
He the finish earlier today. (to reach)
The glass just off the table. (to fall)
They their keys many times. (to lose)
The teacher the naughty boy's parents.
The car at the right time. (to stop)
Maria a page to the assignment. (to add)
The child a lot since last year. (to grow)
Complete the sentence by filling in the present perfect tense in English.
Remember:
She the questions many times. (to repeat)
They already that movie twice. (to watch)
We just to the dentist. (to be)
I the programme so we can see it when we get home. (to record)
He a fish. (to catch)
You the bus. (to miss)
you enough water today? (to drink)
She not any letters to him. (to write)
The teacher that eating is not allowed. (to say)
It a lot this week. (to rain)
The present perfect can not be formed without the verb 'to have'. The conjugation of this verb changes according to the subject.
Fill in the correct conjugation of the verb 'to have'.
I come to the office today.
She walked to the station.
They needed your help many times.
We graduated this year.
You felt left out.
He tried to do the exercise.
My sister listened to my music.
Her brother stolen his shoes.
Paul and Angela been on holiday together.
I helped you twice this week.
Fill in the English present perfect. The present perfect consists of the verb 'to have' + past participle.
Remember:
Examples:
My mother me to pick her up from work. (to ask)
She to congratulate me. (to remember)
The restaurant already the food. (to serve)
The municipality to build new houses. (to decide)
Construction workers new houses in my street. (to build)
The lion a rabbit. (to kill)
She her child on her own. (to raise)
The hairdresser my hair. (to cut)
The offer in my email. (to appear)
She many letters to him.
Fill in the English present perfect tense.
Remember:
The bus for the running man to arrive. (to wait)
I a present for my aunt. (to buy)
She Berlin. (to visit)
He the finish earlier today. (to reach)
The glass just off the table. (to fall)
They their keys many times. (to lose)
The teacher the naughty boy's parents.
The car at the right time. (to stop)
Maria a page to the assignment. (to add)
The child a lot since last year. (to grow)
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
My name is Alexis Joseph, I am a TESOL/ TEFL Certified teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Education Major in Modern Languages, a postgraduate degree of Specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Master's degree in Science of Education Major in School Management and I am very interactive and dynamic.
I have seven years of teaching experience in the classroom and online, I have worked with students of all ages from children to adults and for different institutions as an academic coordinator and language area coordinator, in addition I have taught ESL / EFL, English Language Arts, English Conversation, Spanish and Basic French to students of multiple nationalities.
I hope to see you in my class!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Alexis has over 7 years of teaching experience. He has experience in teaching to people from all around over the world. His classes are very interactive. Furthermore, he teaches English from A1 to B2 and Spanish to all levels. You will surely learn a lot!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I’m Mediha, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but have been living in Croatia for many years. I love making learning fun and have successfully helped my students improve their English in a pleasant atmosphere. I have experience helping my learners prepare for exams, job interviews, presentations etc. Whether business English, general conversational English or to help you prepare for a particular situation, feel free to book a trial lesson and we can discuss your needs and how I can help you! I graduated on University of Philosophy, and became (MA) master of English. I have many years of experience. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Mediha is great teacher. She understands personality of the student and she helped me to find correct goals, methodology and guides me great. I recommend here and I will use here services for sure in the future
Mediha D.
Thank You very much, Mirsad! I appreciate Your postive feedback and I hope we continue to work together on Your progress. I can see a bright future for You in this field as a confident public speaker
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm Rick, a CELTA-certified English language teacher.
Raised bilingually by an English mother and Dutch father. Lived, studied and worked in London.
Originally a classically trained singer and therefore have a sharp ear for pronunciation and vowel formation.
As a singer, I'm used to speaking and singing a lot of different languages (Italian, German, French, Russian, Czech, English, Dutch) and am used to working, and speaking English, with people from all around the world, which I like very much!
I have a lot of experience with online teaching, as well as live in person.
I teach grammar, listening, reading and speaking, using materials from different course books, adapted to the needs of you as a student.
My lessons are a combination of depth and personal touch.
I'm flexible, creative and fun, so send me a message and I hope to be helping you out with your English language learning in the near future!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Rick is a new teacher on our platform, and he is eager to help you learn English. He has experience in giving exam training and teaches English from the level A1 until B2. Furthermore, he is very structured and adjusts his classes to your needs. You will surely learn a lot from him!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
-About Me
Hi! My name is Daniel. I'm 26 years old and I currently live in Seville, Spain. I have been teaching Spanish for 4 years now because I love to teach my language and culture to others. I'm interested in movies, especially french cinema of Nouvelle Vague, literature and music of all genres.
-Me as a Teacher
I graduated in Hispanic Philology with a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language at University of Sevilla with more than 3 years of experience teaching Spanish to students from different nationalities, countries, ages and levels (from absolutely begginer to C2).
I have worked with USA and Erasmus university students, refugees with any knowledge of Spanish, British, Chinese or Koreans students, among others. For doing that I have prepared personalized lessons based on the needs and interests of the students.
Also, I’m an official DELE Examiner certified by Instituto Cervantes who has helped a lot of students to get their Spanish level certificated in different levels.
-My Lessons & Teaching Style
-Very communicative lessons adapted to the needs and interests of my students.
-Personalised lessons based on each student and their goals.
-Lessons about conversation, gramar, culture…
-My main goal is to help you to speak Spanish with confidence and fluently.
-Access to all the material used.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Daniel has over 4 years of teaching experience. He has experience in teaching online, offline and to people from all different cultural backgrounds. He teaches all levels from A1 to C2. Furthermore, he has a broad variety of learning materials available for each level. You will surely learn a lot from him!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Well done on making the first step to learning English! It is a fantastic addition to your professional or personal profile. I started my journey as an actress, I moved quickly into the world of Education finding my passion in early childhood development. I am a qualified teacher and have been working in international schools for many years. I recently acquired my TEFL certificate allowing me to expand my horizons and teach online. I grew up in Hong Kong before moving back to England. I have lived in Portugal for the last year teaching Portuguese and French children, I loved the diversity and felt I wanted to teach adults too. Since then I have been tutoring online which has given me the chance to meet people from all over the world and help them on their language journey in a comfortable and open environment. I am married to a Frenchman so I have basic understanding of French and I have a French tutor myself!
I usually test the level at the beginning and then plan with the students the goals they want to achieve. After that with every lesson I check progress and points to review with the help of a log to have a clear plan in every lesson. I believe it is VERY important for the teacher and student to share a positive connection and for both parties to feel comfortable. Drop me an email to make the booking!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Samantha is a fantastic teacher, she clearly has lots of experience and I felt an instant connection with her. I have been looking for the right person to help me with my spoken English and I believe we will be a good fit when I am ready to book more lessons. Thanks Samantha I cant wait to start learning with you,
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Dear Sir/ Mam
My name is Monesh Nankoo. I am an I.T specialist/ Teacher. I am writing to show my keen interest for the position at your organization. I have completed my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science as well as my TEFL/ TESOL English master course. I do have several other qualifications in the field of I.T and logistics with are stated on my Resume.
I am a capable person along with excellent communication skills. I assure you that I will prove myself to be a valuable employee. I possess the necessary qualities needed to persevere such as adaptability, integrity and I am self-motivated.
I am really good at learning quickly and efficiently. I want to work at your company because I feel I could definitely add quality to the work that you do. I would love to work with you to achieve a greater reputation for your organization.
My future plans are to gain more experience in the field of Education or Information Technology to enhance my career.
Thank you for taking your time to review my application. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Monesh Nankoo
Contact details:
Skype: moneshnankoo
Line: moneshnankoo
WeChat: Monesh_Nankoo
Email: Moneshnankoo@gmail.com
Alternative email: Moneshnankoo@hotmail.com
Mobile number: 0813307660/ 068 099 0519
Country: South Africa
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Monesh is a very enthusiastic and patient teacher. He is very well-organized and a native English speaker from South Africa.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
English teacher with 13 years teaching experience in Italy. Speaks English and Italian.
Hi, I'm Jason, I'm English and live in Central Italy where I teach English to students of all levels, all ages and all abilities. English for school, for exams or tests, for work or for business.
My methods are based on building your confidence to speak English, developing your listening skills so you can understand English and helping you understand the grammar rules of the English language.
Why in this way? Because my students have the best results when they are able to speak in English as soon as possible. Then, when you can converse in English and understand simple conversation you can develop all your language skills very quickly.
Of course, for some students, grammar and written English is a priority and I can help you develop these skills first if that is what you need.
For others they need to learn specific vocabulary for their work, I have given courses in business, medicine and tourism that can be adapted for all types of work situations.
I am teaching students from 3 to 70 years old and my lessons are adapted for every individual so they have the best opportunity to realize their goals.
If you are interested then please contact me for a chat and a free trial lesson.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm William and I'm a Belgian student who was looking for a teacher to improve my English because I have to pass a test in September before I may start a Master education at the university. I contacted Jason and we've had 2 lessons at this time. These lessons were very usefull and Jason explained everything to me when I had a question or when there was something I understood very well on that moment. So Jason is a very good teacher also very kind and he will help you a lot with a lot of passion.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hey everyone!
My name is Ashlyn, and I am a native English speaker from New Zealand :) I love to create lessons for my students to help them make their English language journey as enjoyable as possible! I am an online university student studying history and social anthropology.
I have two years of teaching experience in private English language schools, and I also have a CELTA certificate. Therefore, I know how to teach English effectively and create lessons to practice speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.
I love to use technology in the classroom, and I always create fun and colourful PowerPoint presentations to guide us through the lesson. I am always open to suggestions from my students. If you want to focus more on certain topics or activities, I am happy to make that possible for you.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Ashlyn is a very competent teacher, her courses are very clear and structured. The lesson is adapted to match with our interests and also there are some games which make the course interactive. I highly recommend her!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I hace an advanced certificate of Cambridge and a TEFL certificate. I am an enthusiastic, creative, dynamic and easy going person looking to meet students of all ages and nationalities. I tailor my classes to students needs and interests. I always introduce new kind of activities to my lessons in order to keep these entertaining.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hanke has taught to all ages. She also has experience in helping you prepare for potential exams. Furthermore, she has lots of learning materials for all levels. She is kind, and you will surely feel comfortable in her class!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
This is Kezia , she is a Native English Speaker who loves meeting new people and learning about countries and their cultures. She has over 8 years of teaching experience both in the classroom and online, she is able to teach from age 20 years old to age 80 years old, teaching from the beginner level to the advanced level student. She has a customized teaching skill set that is unique to all her students as each student has different learning goals and needs as well as each student has different strengths. She teaches in a fun, relaxed, easy and simple way that will have you more confident and be able to communicate much better after a few lessons. She is able to teach you grammar,writing,reading and pronunciation.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Kezia has taught to all ages and backgrounds. She has over 8 years of teaching experience. Furthermore, she adjusts her classes to the needs of every individual student. She teaches to all levels (A1-C2). She is very enthusiastic and ready to help you learn the English language!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My aim is to help as many people achieve their goal of learning English. 10+ years of tutoring experience(classroom and 1-1). Have taught from kindergarten to senior secondary as well as doing communication and pronunciation correction with adults.
I will start were you are … ABC's, colours, numbers and beginner reading OR reading with comprehension, grammar and sentence structure or just plain communication focusing on pronunciation, tenses, and general grammar.
For the little ones I use flash cards, puppets, star chart, etc to keep them involved and interested in the lesson. For the older students I find out where their interests lay, and what their requirements are, and work my lessons around that. As long as you are interested, you will learn.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Susan is a new teacher and eager to help you learn or improve your English. She is very patient, and you'll surely feel comfortable in her presence.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Oksana is a very experienced teacher. She has written several Russian course books. Since she is a native speaker, she can teach you more than only the language. Her classes also include culture, she adjusts her classes to your needs. She is an enthusiastic teacher, ready to help you learn a new language!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I really want to thank the teacher for their patience, perfectly prepared lessons, a friendly and warm learning atmosphere. Throughout the years of study, Nancy helped me tremendously. I highly recommend her to everyone, she's an excellent teacher.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, my name is Corinne and I am a qualified ESL English teacher from England. I have been teaching in classrooms and online for over 3 years and I have many satisfied students.
My lessons are student-centred and usually take place on Skype. I treat every student as an individual and tailor my lessons to meet their goals. I use a variety of text books and free online resources including exercises, articles and videos. I usually give out a little homework at the end of each lesson to reinforce what we have done together.
In your first lesson, we will discuss your needs and check your current level. From this, we can decide what sort of lessons will suit you the best. Perhaps you struggle with grammar and sentence structure? Perhaps you need to practice English for a specific purpose, like understanding lectures, making phone calls at work, or travelling? Or perhaps you need a structured course so that you can learn English step by step?
Whatever you need, I’m here to help. I see it as my job to make you feel safe, build your confidence and make your lessons enjoyable. I look forward to hearing from you and to helping you on your path to speaking better English. Book your first lesson now and let’s get started.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Corinne is a kind, professional teacher and a great person! I strongly recommend her excellent lessons.
Corinne P.
![]()
Thank you, Anastasiia!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My name is Alexis Joseph, I am a TESOL/ TEFL Certified teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Education Major in Modern Languages, a postgraduate degree of Specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Master's degree in Science of Education Major in School Management and I am very interactive and dynamic.
I have seven years of teaching experience in the classroom and online, I have worked with students of all ages from children to adults and for different institutions as an academic coordinator and language area coordinator, in addition I have taught ESL / EFL, English Language Arts, English Conversation, Spanish and Basic French to students of multiple nationalities.
I hope to see you in my class!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Alexis has over 7 years of teaching experience. He has experience in teaching to people from all around over the world. His classes are very interactive. Furthermore, he teaches English from A1 to B2 and Spanish to all levels. You will surely learn a lot!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I’m Mediha, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but have been living in Croatia for many years. I love making learning fun and have successfully helped my students improve their English in a pleasant atmosphere. I have experience helping my learners prepare for exams, job interviews, presentations etc. Whether business English, general conversational English or to help you prepare for a particular situation, feel free to book a trial lesson and we can discuss your needs and how I can help you! I graduated on University of Philosophy, and became (MA) master of English. I have many years of experience. I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Mediha is great teacher. She understands personality of the student and she helped me to find correct goals, methodology and guides me great. I recommend here and I will use here services for sure in the future
Mediha D.
Thank You very much, Mirsad! I appreciate Your postive feedback and I hope we continue to work together on Your progress. I can see a bright future for You in this field as a confident public speaker
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm Rick, a CELTA-certified English language teacher.
Raised bilingually by an English mother and Dutch father. Lived, studied and worked in London.
Originally a classically trained singer and therefore have a sharp ear for pronunciation and vowel formation.
As a singer, I'm used to speaking and singing a lot of different languages (Italian, German, French, Russian, Czech, English, Dutch) and am used to working, and speaking English, with people from all around the world, which I like very much!
I have a lot of experience with online teaching, as well as live in person.
I teach grammar, listening, reading and speaking, using materials from different course books, adapted to the needs of you as a student.
My lessons are a combination of depth and personal touch.
I'm flexible, creative and fun, so send me a message and I hope to be helping you out with your English language learning in the near future!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Rick is a new teacher on our platform, and he is eager to help you learn English. He has experience in giving exam training and teaches English from the level A1 until B2. Furthermore, he is very structured and adjusts his classes to your needs. You will surely learn a lot from him!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
-About Me
Hi! My name is Daniel. I'm 26 years old and I currently live in Seville, Spain. I have been teaching Spanish for 4 years now because I love to teach my language and culture to others. I'm interested in movies, especially french cinema of Nouvelle Vague, literature and music of all genres.
-Me as a Teacher
I graduated in Hispanic Philology with a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language at University of Sevilla with more than 3 years of experience teaching Spanish to students from different nationalities, countries, ages and levels (from absolutely begginer to C2).
I have worked with USA and Erasmus university students, refugees with any knowledge of Spanish, British, Chinese or Koreans students, among others. For doing that I have prepared personalized lessons based on the needs and interests of the students.
Also, I’m an official DELE Examiner certified by Instituto Cervantes who has helped a lot of students to get their Spanish level certificated in different levels.
-My Lessons & Teaching Style
-Very communicative lessons adapted to the needs and interests of my students.
-Personalised lessons based on each student and their goals.
-Lessons about conversation, gramar, culture…
-My main goal is to help you to speak Spanish with confidence and fluently.
-Access to all the material used.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Daniel has over 4 years of teaching experience. He has experience in teaching online, offline and to people from all different cultural backgrounds. He teaches all levels from A1 to C2. Furthermore, he has a broad variety of learning materials available for each level. You will surely learn a lot from him!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials