A selection of English ESL present perfect simple printables

This worksheet is designed for B1-B2 level students, aligning with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It focuses on the Present Perfect Simple and Continuous tenses, offering detailed practice and explanations to help students understand and use these forms correctly. The worksheet integrates reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through a thematic exploration of the impact of smartphones on society. Students begin by engaging with an article on the pros and cons of smartphones, followed by comprehension questions and vocabulary exercises. They then explore various opinions through interviews, which serve as a basis for introducing and practicing the target grammar. The worksheet culminates in a reflective writing activity and a pronunciation practice session. The primary objective is to enable students to accurately use the Present Perfect tenses in various contexts while expanding their vocabulary and improving their fluency. By the end of the worksheet, students will be able to express opinions, discuss technology's influence on their lives, and apply nuanced grammatical structures in both written and spoken communication.

The Impact of Smartphones (Present Perfect Simple vs. Continuous)

Students complete the questions with the past participle form of the verbs in brackets and then ask and answer in pairs. All the forms can be found in the word search to help them with the correct spelling. Answer key included! 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO PARIS? (Present Perfect simple + word search)

This is an illustrated timeline that I prepared to demonstrate the use of Â´yetÂ´ with the present perfect simple.

Illustrated timeline demonstrating the use of Â´yetÂ´ with the present perfect simple.

 prepared this illustrated timeline to show how Â´alreadyÂ´ is used with the present perfect simple.

Illustrated timeline to show the use of Â´alreadyÂ´ with the present perfect simple

This worksheet should help learners fix their knowledge of tenses, namely Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Present Perfect Simple. Key is included.

Tenses revision - present simple and continuous, past simple and continuous, present perfect simple

This lesson is designed for upper-intermediate learners (CEFR B2 level) who already have a solid foundation in English but are working on refining their grammatical accuracy and fluency, particularly with more advanced tenses like Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous. At this level, students are familiar with English verb forms but may struggle to apply them correctly, especially when distinguishing between results and processes, or completed versus ongoing actions.


The vocabulary used in the lesson draws from both conversational English and more academic language (e.g., "cheat code," "minefield," "pronunciation"), making it suitable for learners who are comfortable with abstract concepts and complex sentence structures. Additionally, the article itself incorporates humor and a light, relatable tone to engage students and help them digest the grammar points more easily.


In terms of skills development, the lesson focuses primarily on reading comprehension, grammar accuracy, and writing, with opportunities for speaking practice through partner discussions. The inductive grammar approach aligns well with the language level, encouraging learners to analyze examples and figure out the rules themselves before confirming their understanding through explicit teaching. By combining both controlled and free practice exercises, students are able to gradually build confidence with these two tenses and use them more effectively in real-life situations.


This level of detail and structured learning is ideal for teenagers or young adults who are motivated to move beyond basic grammar and want to polish their ability to express nuanced ideas in English.











How Hard Is It to Learn English?: Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous.

Using picture clues to answer the questions (with full answers) Students read the questions, look at the pictures to find the answers and write full sentences. The aim is to revise the irregular verbs through an engaging exercise with Santa performing the actions.

Christmas With Santa Worksheet 1 Grammar with Santa (Past Simple – Present Perfect Simple Irregular Verbs)

3-page reading about giant pandas with cloze exercise focusing on present simple/continuous/perfect, past simple, modal verbs and some vocabulary. Can be used as starting point for a discussion about endangered species. I compiled this some time ago from various Internet resources such as Animal Planet. Photos taken by yours truly.

Reading (1) - What Do You Know About Giant Pandas

With the easy board game, learners will practise the present perfect in an enjoyable way. Every square provides a verb and a picture clue. Every time a correct question is asked, the game can be used as a communicative activity whereby players ask each follow-up questions. (e.g. Have you ever ridden a camel? Where did you do this? Was it fun? How much did it cost? How long did it last? etc.) Answer key and grammar tip included. LetÂ´s make learning fun! 

Board Game - Have You Ever?

This is one of the 'top' google search verb tense mind maps.  All Past Tenses are shown in an easy to follow, colour associated, hierarchic mind map.  It couldn't be more simple.  All active and passive forms are shown on one page.  A hit on 'like' or a thank you would be highly appreciated.  

ALL PAST TENSES - active and passive - mind map 

A few exercises to practice the difference between the simple past and the present perfect tense. Answers included 0:)

Past simple Vs. Present Perfect

It is often difficult for students to realize which form of a verb should be used.  Visualizing verb types (simple, continuous/perfect on a time-line can make understanding which verb to use a little easier.  I use a time-line made of wood (similar to the design) in my lessons.  It seems to make the explanation easier to understand. 

USING A TIME-LINE TO FIND  THE CORRECT VERB FORM

Culture, intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication

Adjectives to describe feelings, emotions

Adjectives to describe personality and character

Adjectives: Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives

Articles: Definite or indefinite article (a, an or the)

BE + infinitive structures (e.g. he was to become famous)

Clauses of contrast (e.g.  although, while)

Clauses of purpose (e.g. in order to, so that, so as to)

Clauses of reason (e.g. because, because of, due to, as, since)

Cleft sentences (e.g. It's Joey we're looking for)

Comparison: Comparative adjectives and structures

Comparison: Superlative adjectives and structures

Conditional 2 (second conditional) - would

Conditionals: Conditional phrases (e.g. unless, provided that, as long as)

Conjunctions (aka connectives, e.g. and, but, or, so, then)

Contractions (shortened forms, e.g. don't, aren't, etc.)

Determiners (words that can come before nouns)

Formal and informal English (politeness or colloquial language)

Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Future perfect simple and continuous (progressive) tense

Future phrases (e.g. be about to, bound to, likely to, due to, set to + INF)

Homonyms (two words with the same pronunciation - homophones and homographs)

It as preparatory subject (e.g. it's raining, it's nice of you to)

Linking verbs (aka copulas, e.g. I am a student)

For personal or classroom use only. Uploading on other internet sharing platforms or any commercial use NOT PERMITTED. Share Alike.

Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike License

Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives License

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License

how to accuse somebody of something in English

how to apologize, say sorry, forgive and express regret in English

how to ask for information and make inquiries in English

how to ask for something, make requests in English

how to blame somebody for something in English

how to defend yourself from criticism in English

how to deny or admit something in English

how to describe things or people in English

how to emphasize important things in English

how to encourage or discourage people in English

how to evaluate people or progress in English

how to express agreement /disagreement in English

how to express approval and disapproval  in English

how to express cause and effect in English

how to express interest in something in English

how to express likelihood, probability in English

how to express likes and dislikes in English

how to express sequence and chronology in English

how to express shock and disbelief in English

how to express sympathy and condolences in English

how to give permission, authorization in English

how to inform somebody about some news in English

how to interpret what was said in English

how to keep a conversation going in English

how to make guesses about something in English

how to make, accept and refuse offers in English

how to order or make a booking in English

how to persuade, convince people in English

how to praise people and express appreciation in English

how to reassure somebody of something in English

how to refuse and object to something in English

how to remind people of something in English

how to rephrase, paraphrase what was said in English

how to say thank you, express gratitude in English

Nouns: Collective nouns (team, class, family, committee)

Nouns: Proper nouns (names of people, cities, companies)

Oxymorons (phrases with words of contradictory meaning, e.g. living dead)

Participles: Past participle (e.g. HAVING DONE)

Participles: Present participle (e.g. DOING)

Parts of Speech (aka word classes, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)

Past perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Phonetics (pronunciation, IPA, phonetic symbols)

Plural nouns: regular plurals with S ending

Prefixes (e.g. A, UN, IM, DIS, MIS, EN, etc. )

Prepositions vs adverbs (e.g. before me, saw him before.)

Prepositions: Double prepositions (e.g. out of)

Prepositions: Participle prepositions (e.g. pending, concerning)

Prepositions: Phrase prepositions (e.g. by means of)

Present perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Present perfect simple or present continuous tense

Present simple tense: S for third person singular verbs

Present simple vs continuous (progressive) tense

Pronouns: EACH OTHER, ONE ANOTHER (reciprocal pronouns)

Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (e.g. my, mine)

Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns (e.g. myself, yourself))

Pronouns: SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING, etc.

Pronouns: THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE (demonstratives)

Pronouns: YOU and THEY to talk about people in general

Quantifiers (e.g. some, many, much, any, few, little)

Questions: WH questions (open-ended questions)

Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

There is / there are / there was / there were / there will be, etc.

Verbs: Transitive or intransitive verbs (words that can or cannot stand with objects)

Working with Paragraphs: ordering, titling

Role play, miming, drama activity or improv game

Pictionary (picture dictionary) or picture matching

Writing an opinion essay (persuasive essay)

Learners who are Pre-A1 have just begun learning English and will first learn how to:<ul><li>Say the letters in the alphabet and numbers</li><li>Say hello, talk about names and age</li><li>Name the colors and dates, express likes and dislikes</li></ul>

Absolute beginners who have begun to learn the letters and numbers

Learners taking the A1 Elementary exam should be able to:<ul><li>Introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, things he/she has, people he/she knows.</li><li>Communicate using very basic phrases as long as the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: common adjectives & adverbs of frequency, going to, how much/how many, imperatives, I'd like, 's – possessive, common prepositions of place and time, present simple & continuous, there is/are</li></ul>

A very basic tourist level, which is enough for buying food and a bus ticket

Learners taking the A2 Pre-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).</li><li>Complete tasks that are routine and exchange information about familiar matters.</li><li>Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: countable/uncountable nouns, adverbs of frequency, future will/going to, much/many, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, common phrasal verbs, common modals: can/should</li></ul>

A tourist who can do basic conversations about the past, present and future

Learners taking the B1 Intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.</li><li>Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.</li><li>Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.</li><li>Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: question tags, intensifiers: too/enough, future tenses, past tenses, modals, conditionals, wh-questions in the past</li></ul>

Learners who can deal with both familiar and routine situations, in friendly and work contexts

Learners taking the B2 Upper-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.</li><li>Interact with fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without difficulty for either party.</li><li>Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain an opinion on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: perfect tenses, mixed conditionals, modals in the present, phrasal verbs, reported speech, wish, relative clauses</li></ul>

The level where you can be a tour guide for your foreign friends and talk about a lot of topics, even abstract ones, with ease and fluency

Learners taking the C1 Advanced exam should be able to: Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, using linking phrases (=words that connect ideas between sentences). Main grammar points to know: inversion, mixed conditionals, modals in the past, all passive forms, phrasal verbs (all patterns), wish/if only for regrets

Learners who can smoothly communicate in every walk of life, read long texts and write well

Learners taking the C2 Proficient exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.</li><li>Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.</li><li>Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.</li><li>Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations</li></ul>

Get here and you are ready to study in English at university

1,174 Present perfect simple English ESL worksheets pdf & doc