PRESENT PERFECT GAMES

1. Liar Game

This next present perfect activity requires no prep and is super fun. Ask students to think of
one truth and one lie about something they have done. Then invite students up to the front of
the class to tell their two things using the present perfect tense.

The other students in class must try to guess which sentence is true and which one is false. For
example, a student might say “I have been to America.” and “I have met the president.” Then
the other students must guess which one of these sentences is really true. This present perfect
game can be played as a whole class, in small groups, or even in pairs.

2. Have you ever…?

Once students are familiar with how to make present perfect sentences and questions, this
game is a great way to practice expanding these sentences.

To play this game, ask one student to make a present perfect question. For example, “Have
you ever watched TV?” Then, the next student should make this question longer, e.g. “Have
you ever watched TV in your bedroom?” Then the next student should make the sentence
even longer, e.g. “Have you ever watched TV in your bedroom while eating pizza?”

Continue like this making the question longer and longer to make the longest present perfect
question possible. This can lead to some very funny questions and makes practicing present
perfect sentences incredibly fun. To make it even more fun, encourage students to answer
‘Yes, I have.” after each question and as the question becomes more and more absurd,
students will find it funnier and funnier.

2. Spot the Difference

This next game is a fun way to elicit present perfect sentences from students. Ask students to
close their eyes or look away. Then, move or change something in the classroom. Next, tell
students to open their eyes and ask them “What have I changed / moved?”

Students should try to guess what has changed in the classroom while making a present
perfect sentence. For example, while students’ eyes are closed you could move a book on your
desk to the other side of the desk. Then, when students wake up and guess they can make the
sentence “You have moved the book over there.” This activity is so simple but incredibly
effective and fun while teaching the present perfect tense.

3. I Have Not…
This next game is really fun and a great way to get your students moving around while
practicing negative present perfect sentences. To begin, arrange the classroom chairs in a
circle. Ensure there are enough chairs for all but one of your students. Now the game can
begin.

One student should stand in the middle and the other students should sit on the chairs. The
student in the middle must say something they have not done using the present perfect tense.
For example, the student might say “I have not bought anything today.”

Then, any student who has bought something that day must stand up quickly and find a
different seat. The student in the middle must try to sit down in one of the seats before the
other students do. The student left standing in the middle must then make a new sentence
and the game starts again.
PRESENT PERFECT GAMES