I remember doing this particular exercise with some students on an evening back in 2014.  For the first time, I looked lost while teaching.  They were asking me about auxiliary verbs and I had not a clue what they were.  After a few months, I learned a lot about grammar and how to teach it, but present perfect in the beginning was a pain in the BEHIND! Let’s get into it!

Look at these sentences and match the numbers with the bullet points.

1. Have you ever tried Durian?
2. I’ve had a bad cold for a week.
3. They have made it illegal for under- 18s to drink alcohol in Thailand.

• An experience or experiences which happened at an unspecified moment in the past.
• A past action which has a result in the present.
• A situation that started in the past and continues to the present.

Rule: we make the present perfect with the present simple of have + the past participle of the main verb.

Affirmative: He has seen the doctor.

Negative: He hasn’t seen the doctor.

Question: Has he seen the doctor?

Task

Complete the sentences with the present perfect form of the verbs given. 

1. I have decided (decide) to study medicine.
2. My friend _____________(meet) Dr. Smith.
3. We ______________(study) anthropology back in grade school.
4. I ______________(not have) any bad customers.
5. _______________your dad_______________(watch) a football game?
6. My sister ________________ (become) a singer.

Put ever or never in the correct place.

1. Have you been to Mongolia?
2. I’ve been to Mongolia.
3. She’s taken antibiotics.
4. Has your dad helped anyone in an accident?
5. My friend and I have written a fairytale.
6. Have you flown with Emirates?

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