How to Teach the Present Perfect?

by kim mui
(nyc)

Can you provide examples on how to teach it and really help esl students understand it?

Answer:

Sure I can! Sorry for the long wait Kim Mui! I've been really busy with my new job, but things have settled down and I can now work on the site more. :) Thank you for your patience!

As for the present perfect, this can be tricky for students to understand, but quite easy for teachers to explain, demonstrate and practice with the students.

Many students, especially Spanish learners, find it very difficult to know when to use the present perfect and the past simple.

I like the explanation that Michael Swan gives in "Practical English Usage". This is the best grammar reference book out there!

Basically speaking, the present perfect refers to finished events which are connected to the present.

But how can that be?

Basically you are thinking about the past and the present at the same time.

Example: I have read three books this month.
We would use the present perfect because you read three book BUT the month is not over so you could read another. (Past and present at the same time!)

More examples:

They arrived late.
They have never arrived late (ever in their life and they are still alive).

I worked in Canada for 6 years.
I have worked in Spain for 3 years (and I plan to work here for many more years).

I had a coffee after lunch yesterday.
I've had two coffees so far today (and the day isn't over and I could have another).

How to teach the difference?

The best way to demonstrate the difference it to use personal examples. Get the students to create their own questions and answers for certain topics.

I suggest creating a list of questions that use the present perfect and a list that uses the simple past.

It is also a good idea to use similar topics for each tense so that you can really see the difference between the two tenses and when to use them.

Working through the questions orally is a great exercise and you can move around the class, and also get the students to ask one another questions.

I hope that helps. Kim Mui. If anyone else has any other suggestions for teaching this grammar point, please share them.

Cheers,
Diana