Gateway to Grammar 02: The present Perfect Tense

This week we are looking at the present perfect tense. The present perfect is used to describe things that started in the past and are still happening now. For things that are finished we use the past simple. Times that started in the past and are still happening now: Today, This week, This year, “yet” etc. We also use the present perfect when something has just finished, but the effects are still active such as “I have been running all day, that’s why I am so tired”.

The present perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb “have”, and then the main verb in the “third form”: I have run, I have eaten, she has given, we have written.

Here is a poem with the positive, negative and question forms all used for you to see them in practice!

Have you ever looked at the stars?

How many times have you eaten chocolate bars?

~You have experienced so many things

You have frozen through winters and run through the springs

You have pet some dogs and snuggled with cats

You have worn some shoes and at least a few hats

But in your whole life have you made a wish?

Have you jumped in the sea and spoken to fish?

I have written this poem just for you.

I have spent hours on it, not just a few!

I have reached into my brain to pull out some ideas,

I have searched through things I had forgotten for years.

In this poem I have created a world,

A place where magic and beauty have unfurled

So even if you haven’t climbed a tree,

And you haven’t sailed the sea of Galilee

You have entered a place where all is possible

You have received a key to see things unmissable

So next time someone asks

“Have you ever seen an elephant dance?”

You can say “Yes I have! This morning in fact!

And I have been to a play where the elephants act!”

“I have sung in a choir with exotic birds.

I have baked hundreds of cakes and eaten two thirds”

“I haven’t moved home or bought a new phone

But I have clapped as the Queen sat on her new throne”

“What have you done today?” You can say.

“Have you let the time just whistle away?”

“Have you dreamed of a world that is magic and new?

Or have you just thought about buying new shoes?”

Now this world has accepted you.

It has changed and developed and started anew

The skies have cleared and nothing is wrong

All the radios have switched to play your favourite song

Now you have given your mind time to unwind.

You see the wonders that have been there all the time

So ask yourself have I left my dreams on the shelf?

Or have I joined in and enjoyed their wealth?

Have you explored what lies in your imagination?

I hope you have enjoyed my little creation.

To read more about the present perfect tense and how to use it you can download my free simple tenses guide here.