PRESENT PERFECT TENSE EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for IELTS
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
This exercise focuses on the everyday, affirmative form of the present perfect: have or has plus the past participle, used whenever a past action still matters right now. Fill in each blank with the correct helping verb and participle — no negatives, no tricky word order, just the core pattern. The grammar review below explains when English reaches for this tense instead of the simple past.
Grammar review
The present perfect — linking past and present
The present perfect (have/has + past participle) is used to talk about a past action that is connected to the present — either because it has a result now, or because the exact time it happened isn't the point.
Structure: have/has + past participle
“I have finished my homework.”
“She has visited Paris three times.”
When to use it:
• A finished action with a present result: “I’ve lost my keys.” (so I don’t have them now)
• An experience at an unspecified time: “They have visited London several times.”
• An action continuing up to now: “We have lived here since 2015.”
• News or a recently completed action: “He has just left the office.”
Signal words that often trigger the present perfect:
already, just, yet, ever, never, since, for, so far, recently
Present perfect vs. simple past:
If the sentence gives a specific finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last week), use the simple past instead:
“I visited Paris in 2019.” (simple past — specific time)
“I have visited Paris three times.” (present perfect — unspecified time, experience)
The present perfect (have/has + past participle) is used to talk about a past action that is connected to the present — either because it has a result now, or because the exact time it happened isn't the point.
Structure: have/has + past participle
“I have finished my homework.”
“She has visited Paris three times.”
When to use it:
• A finished action with a present result: “I’ve lost my keys.” (so I don’t have them now)
• An experience at an unspecified time: “They have visited London several times.”
• An action continuing up to now: “We have lived here since 2015.”
• News or a recently completed action: “He has just left the office.”
Signal words that often trigger the present perfect:
already, just, yet, ever, never, since, for, so far, recently
Present perfect vs. simple past:
If the sentence gives a specific finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last week), use the simple past instead:
“I visited Paris in 2019.” (simple past — specific time)
“I have visited Paris three times.” (present perfect — unspecified time, experience)
Complete each sentence using the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle).
KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
More perfect tense exercises:
Present Perfect Tense Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Tense Exercise 3 (Adverbs) (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Continuous Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Continuous Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Past Perfect Tense Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Past Perfect Tense Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Future Perfect Tense Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Already or Yet? Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Already or Yet? Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Related simple past exercises:
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 1 (I)
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 2 (I)
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 3 (I)
Simple Past Tense Exercise 1 (A1/A2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
More perfect tense exercises:
Present Perfect Tense Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Tense Exercise 3 (Adverbs) (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Continuous Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Present Perfect Continuous Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Past Perfect Tense Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Past Perfect Tense Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Future Perfect Tense Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Already or Yet? Exercise 2 (B1/B2)
Already or Yet? Exercise 1 (B1/B2)
Related simple past exercises:
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 1 (I)
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 2 (I)
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect 3 (I)
Simple Past Tense Exercise 1 (A1/A2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
