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: “We have tried that restaurant twice.”
• 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: “We have tried that restaurant twice.”
• 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 →
