ESL Grammar: PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (2) – Experiences

In this ESL grammar lesson, students practicing using the present perfect tense to talk about their experiences.

ESL Grammar: Using the Present Perfect Tense for Experiences

The present perfect tense is ideal for discussing experiences because it connects past actions with the present. It emphasizes the relevance or impact of these experiences rather than the specific time they occurred.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb
  • Example: I have visited Paris.
• Negative: Subject + have/has + not + past participle
  • Example: She has not traveled to Asia.
• Interrogative: Have/has + subject + past participle?
  • Example: Have you ever tried scuba diving?

Examples of Talking About Experiences

• Affirmative: They have seen that movie before.
• Negative: He has not eaten sushi.
• Interrogative: Have you ever been to a concert?

Practical Applications

• Sharing Personal Experiences: Use the present perfect tense to discuss experiences that are relevant to your current situation or conversation.
  • Example: I have learned a lot from this course.
• Asking About Experiences: Use the present perfect tense to inquire about someone else’s experiences.
  • Example: Have you ever met a celebrity?

The English grammar lesson below teaches students to talk about experiences using the present perfect tense, in a clear and simple manner that is easy for ESL learners to understand. Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on advanced aspects of English grammar (past continuous tense, present perfect tense, present perfect continuous tense, passive voice, embedded questions, relative clauses) in our comprehensive, intermediate- to advanced-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 3: Tenses and More!).