NAME:

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Finished or Unfinished?

The present perfect tense can be used to talk about life experiences. In the present perfect, if
the action or event is finished, we do not say when it happened or associate a time with it.

A. Are these present perfect sentences grammatically correct? Put right or wrong
next to each sentence.

1. I've been camping. ............

2. We have eaten sushi one year ago. ............

3. I've watched Avatar twice. ............

4. They have taken an English exam yesterday. ............

5. I've listened to classical music. I don't like it. ............

6. I've seen my favourite band in concert two years ago. ............

7. My brother has visited my new apartment last week. ............

8. My best friend has helped me many times. ............

If an action or event is unfinished, we use 'for' or 'since' to say how long it has continued.

B. Read the present perfect sentences and write 'finished' or 'unfinished' beside them.

1. I've lived in Rome for five years. ...............................

2. I've flown in a helicopter. ...............................

3. I've been to Japan. ...............................

4. I've been friends with Jason since 2001. ...............................

5. We have learned English for three years. ...............................

6. I've sung in front of a big audience. ...............................

7. Carl has played the piano since he was a child. ...............................

8. I've read the Lord of the Rings. ...............................

C. Write two present perfect sentences about actions or events in your personal life
that have finished.

1. ...............................................................................................................................

2. ...............................................................................................................................

D. Write two sentences about unfinished actions or events using 'for' or 'since'.

1. ...............................................................................................................................

2. ...............................................................................................................................

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 PRESENT PERFECT

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Finished or Unfinished?

For unfinished actions or events, certain time expressions can be used with the present perfect.

E. Put the time expressions below in the correct category.

yesterday in my life last week today last semester this century

this year last year three years ago this month when I was a child this week

Finished time expressions Unfinished time expressions

F. Write the sentences in the present perfect using the prompts.

1. She / have / two coffees / today.

..................................................................................................................................
2. We / travel to / two countries / this year.

..................................................................................................................................
3. They / watch / four films / this week.

..................................................................................................................................
4. I / cook / pasta / many times in my life.

..................................................................................................................................
5. He / go to / class / only once this month.

..................................................................................................................................
6. Society / evolve a lot / this century.

..................................................................................................................................

G. Write true present perfect sentences about yourself using the time expressions.

1. ..................................................................................................................... today.

2. ................................................................................................................ this week.

3. .............................................................................................................. this month.

4. ................................................................................................................. this year.

5. ................................................................................................................ in my life.

H. Read your sentences to a partner and discuss if you have had similar experiences.

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