Grammar: Present Perfect Self-Study Online Resources
For many English learners, the present perfect is one of the most challenging verb tenses to use because it does not exist in many languages. Here are some resources I have collected for you that may help to better understand the present perfect.
How to use the present perfect:
The main thing to remember about the present perfect is that it connects the past to the present. When I teach the present perfect, I find that students understand it better if it’s explained in categories:
1. Life Experiences
2. Giving News
3. The Recent Past
- When the past is not the past yet!
For the websites below, I have noted where the website uses British English (BrE). For the most part, the present perfect is used the same in American and British English. The only difference is when talking about the recent past. Americans will sometimes used the simple past, while the British will always use the present perfect. The only reason I point out that the website is BrE is because some of the vocabulary may be different than American English.
How to form the present perfect:
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Englishclub.com
Englishpage.com
University of Victoria Study Zone
JenniferESL videos – Lesson 6a
List of irregular verbs:
MyEnglishTeacher.net
Ego4u.com (BrE)
Pronunciation of past participle:
Regular verbs: Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Irregular verbs: (BrE)
Since and For:
Quizzes:
Positive form:
University of Victoria Study Zone
University of Victoria Study Zone
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Negative form:
Ego4u.com (BrE)
(*sentences with ‘never’ – put a period at the end of your sentence.)
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Ego4u.com (BrE – put a period at the end of your sentence.)
Question form:
University of Victoria Study Zone (Have you ever?)
Ego4u.com (BrE)
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Ego4u.com (BrE – you have to decide which question word to use)
All forms:
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Englishclub.com
Ego4u.com (BrE)
Ego4u.com (BrE – put a period at the end of your sentence)
Since and For:
University of Victoria Study Zone
Simple past vs. present perfect quizzes:
Englishpage.com
Englishpage.com
University of Victoria Study Zone
Perfect-english-grammar.com (BrE)
Perfect-english-grammar.com
Perfect-english-grammar.com
Tests:
Ego4u.com (BrE)
Ego4u.com
Ego4u.com
(*Remember to put a period (.) at the end of your sentences.)
Happy Studying!
Hello Melanie,
Thank you very much indeed for mentioning my website – I hope it’s useful for your students. I’ve just found your blog and really like it – I’ll be directing my readers here for your podcasts. Congratulations also on the English Club site of the month!
All the best,
Seonaid (from Perfect English Grammar)
Hello Seonaid!
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a kind comment! It’s great to hear from you. I have sent students to your page on ‘how to pronounce the -ed endings’ for years as it is the best source on the internet! Your quizzes are excellent as well.
Thanks for putting together such a great website! I know how much work it must be.
Take care,
Melanie
Hello Melanie!
I am not sure about giving news. Is it correct to say: I’ve heard that Mike is coming or I heard that Mike is coming, or both?
Thank you!!
Hi, Athena,
Both are correct when giving news!
= )