Present Perfect Tense: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ lost my wallet. → have

The first person takes have plus the past participle.

2. She ___ finished the report already. → has

Third-person singular takes has.

3. We have ___ to Greece three times. → been

Been means you went and came back; gone means you are still there.

4. They have ___ the film twice. → seen

The past participle of see is seen, not saw.

5. Which sentence is correct? → I saw him yesterday.

A finished time expression like yesterday requires the past simple.

6. He ___ never eaten octopus. → has

He takes has, and never sits between the auxiliary and the participle.

7. ___ you ever been to Japan? → Have

You takes have, and ever asks about experience at any time.

8. The past participle of write is ___. → written

Write, wrote, written — the third form is the participle.

9. She hasn't ___ her homework yet. → done

The participle of do is done.

10. I've ___ in this city since 2019. → lived

Live is regular, so the participle is lived.

11. Which use is this? — I've broken my glasses. → recent news affecting now

The present result — the glasses are broken now — is what the tense expresses.

12. They ___ just arrived at the airport. → have

They takes have, and just goes after the auxiliary.

13. The past participle of take is ___. → taken

Take, took, taken — the participle differs from the past simple.

14. ___ she finished her degree? → Has

She takes has in a present perfect question.

15. We haven't ___ from him for weeks. → heard

The participle of hear is heard.

16. Which sentence means the person is still abroad? → He has gone to Italy.

Gone to means the journey is not finished; been to means it is.

17. I have ___ this book three times. → read

Read has the same spelling in all three forms but a different pronunciation.

18. He ___ worked here for ten years. → has

He takes has, and the situation continues into the present.

19. The past participle of give is ___. → given

Give, gave, given — the past participle is the third form, not the second.

20. Which time expression can NOT be used with the present perfect? → last week

Last week is a finished period, so it requires the past simple.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. I ___ lost my train ticket somewhere. → have

The first person takes have plus a past participle.

2. She ___ already left the building. → has

Third-person singular takes has.

3. They have ___ to Morocco twice. → been

Been to means they went and returned.

4. We have ___ that film before. → seen

The participle of see is seen.

5. He has ___ his keys again. → forgotten

Forget, forgot, forgotten — the participle has a third form.

6. ___ you ever tried Georgian food? → Have

You takes have, and ever asks about experience.

7. I've ___ my phone somewhere in the flat. → left

The participle of leave is left.

8. She hasn't ___ me since Tuesday. → called

Call is regular, so the participle is called.

9. The children have ___ all the biscuits. → eaten

Eat, ate, eaten — the past participle is the third form.

10. He ___ never travelled outside Europe. → has

He takes has, and never sits before the participle.

11. We have ___ in this flat for six years. → lived

Live is regular and continues into the present.

12. ___ your parents arrived yet? → Have

Parents is plural, so the question begins with have.

13. I have ___ the whole book in two days. → read

Read keeps its spelling in the participle.

14. She has ___ a new job in Antalya. → found

Find, found, found — the second and third forms are identical here.

15. They haven't ___ anything about the results. → said

Say, said, said — the participle matches the past simple form.

16. He has ___ me a very long email. → written

Write, wrote, written — the participle is the third and least familiar form.

17. We've ___ the same doctor for years. → had

Have, had, had — the participle is the same as the past simple.

18. I ___ never understood that rule. → have

The first person takes have, with never before the participle.

19. The train has just ___ the station. → left

Just goes between the auxiliary and the participle.

20. She has ___ her hair very short. → cut

Cut is the same in all three forms.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Report something missing, with a result now. → I have lost my umbrella again.

Report something missing, with a result now.

2. Announce a completed piece of work. → She has finished her first novel.

Announce a completed piece of work.

3. Describe an experience with a return journey. → We have been to Rome twice.

Describe an experience with a return journey.

4. Ask about a food experience at any time. → Have you ever eaten sushi?

Ask about a food experience at any time.

5. Report a very recent arrival. → They have just arrived at the hotel.

Report a very recent arrival.

6. State a complete lack of experience. → He has never driven a lorry.

State a complete lack of experience.

7. Say you know a piece of theatre already. → I have seen that play before.

Say you know a piece of theatre already.

8. Explain that somebody is out and not yet back. → She has gone to the chemist.

Explain that somebody is out and not yet back.

9. Report a lack of contact. → We haven't heard from them recently.

Report a lack of contact.

10. Ask about a delivery within an unfinished period. → Has the post arrived this morning?

Ask about a delivery within an unfinished period.

11. Count somebody's achievements up to now. → He has written four books so far.

Count somebody's achievements up to now.

12. Describe a job that continues into the present. → I have worked here for three years.

Describe a job that continues into the present.

13. Report damage with a result you can see. → They have broken the kitchen window.

Report damage with a result you can see.

14. Ask with surprise about an early departure. → Have your friends left already?

Ask with surprise about an early departure.

15. Report a mix-up with a present consequence. → She has taken the wrong bag.

Report a mix-up with a present consequence.

16. Describe a long friendship still continuing. → We have known each other since school.

Describe a long friendship still continuing.

17. Say how often you have read something. → I have read that article twice.

Say how often you have read something.

18. Complain about an unfinished chore. → He hasn't done the washing up.

Complain about an unfinished chore.

19. Report a change of home affecting now. → They have moved to a bigger flat.

Report a change of home affecting now.

20. Ask whether a conversation has happened. → Have you spoken to the manager yet?

Ask whether a conversation has happened.