How to Teach the Present Perfect for ESL Students

The present perfect is one of the most difficult tenses to learn for students. Teaching the present perfect effectively involves making sure students understand that the present perfect in English is always connected in some way to the present moment in time. Many languages including French, German, Spanish and Italian use the present perfect for past events. The present perfect in English covers what happens from a past moment to the present moment in time. Establishing this connection in students minds early will help students avoid mistakes. It helps to divide usage into three major areas: 1) From the past until now: Ive lived in New York for twenty years. 2) Life experience: Ive visited every state in the country. 3) Recent past events that influence the present moment: Ive just had lunch. Start by Speaking about Your Experiences Introduce the present perfect by providing three short situations One about life experiences, one speaking about some things that started in the past and continue into the present. Finally, also illustrate the present perfect for events that influence the present moment in time. Speak about yourself, your family or your friends. Life Experience: Ive visited many countries in Europe. Ive been to Germany and France a few times. My wife has also been in Europe quite a lot. However, our daughter has never visited.Past to Present: My friend Tom has a number of hobbies. Hes played chess for more than fifteen years. Hes surfed since he was a little boy, and hes practiced the art of the Japanese tea ceremony since September.Recent Events that Influence the Present:  Wheres Pete? I think hes gone to lunch, but hes been away for about ten minutes. I know hes been to the bank this afternoon so hes probably decided he needs a nice meal.  Ask students about the differences in these forms. Once the differences have been understood, return to your short scenarios and ask students related questions using the present perfect.Life Experience: Ive visited many countries in Europe. Which countries have you visited? Have you ever been to XYZ?Past to Present: My friend Tom has a number of hobbies. Hes played chess for more th an fifteen years. Which hobbies do you have? How long have you done them?Recent Events that Influence the Present:  What have we just studied? Have you understood the form? Explaining the Present Perfect Using the verbs youve introduced, quickly ask students the infinitive form for each verb. (i.e. Which verb is gone? - go, Which verb is bought? - buy, etc.). After having studied the past simple, students should recognize that many past verbs in -ed whereas others have irregular forms. Introduce the past participle form use in the present perfect. Its a good idea to provide an irregular verb sheet for future reference. Use three timelines showing the differences between usages: life experience, past to present, and recent events. At this point in the curriculum, students should easily be able to switch between positive, negative and question forms. However, its important to point out that questions in the present perfect are most often formed with How long for past to present usage, and Have you ever..? for life experiences. Finally, for present perfect that affects the present moment, its important that students understand the differences between the time expressions just, yet and already as well as for and since for past to present. Comprehension Activities Each of these uses of the present perfect can be practiced through present perfect role plays and reading comprehension activities. Its also a good idea to compare and contrast time expressions used for the present perfect and past simple. Present perfect worksheets and quizzes focusing on differences asking students to choose between the present perfect or the past simple will also help. To practice switching between the present perfect and the simple past practice short conversations with Have you ever...? followed by a question asking for specifics with when, or where. Have you ever been to France? - Yes, I have.When did you go there?Have you bought a car? - Yes, I haveWhen did you buy one? Challenges with the Present Perfect Common challenges with the present perfect include: Use of present perfect for events that happened in the pastSwitching between present perfect and past simple fluidlyUse of yet and already in questions, negative and positive formsUse of since with dates and for with periods of time