The present perfect can be a challenging topic for both teachers and learners. In our recent interview with Scott Thornbury, he told us that it’s the grammar question he’s asked the most.
Answers to your frequently asked questions
In his latest book, Scott Thornbury’s 101 Grammar Questions, Scott provides concise, accessible answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the present perfect as well as a wide range of other topics. The questions he answers about the present perfect include ‘Why is the present perfect called the present perfect?’ and ‘When do you use the past and when do you use the present perfect?’ His answers, supported by examples, will help you to deepen your understanding of the subject and build confidence in teaching it to your learners.
Present perfect activities for your classroom
We have selected two sample activities, taken from our bestselling grammar titles, for you to use in the classroom. These activities are both designed to help intermediate learners understand and practise the present perfect in the classroom.
Activity 1: Asking questions using the present perfect
Our first sample activity, ‘Find someone who…’ is taken from Grammar Practice Activities, A practical guide for teachers by Penny Ur. The activity enables learners to practise asking and answering questions using the present perfect.
You can view the activity here.
Activity 2: Sentence completion
The second activity ‘Best ever’ is taken from Lexical Grammar, Activities for teaching chunks and exploring patterns by Leo Selivan. It encourages learners to discuss their experiences using the present perfect with superlative adjectives.
You can view the activity here.
Find more classroom activities to help your learners
You can find these books, along with a full range of resources to help with your continuing professional development and lesson planning on our website. Why not check out Scott’s blog post on How to design a method too.
