Present Perfect Tense
Read the following sentences taken from the Section D ‘Heena’s Determination’ (Unit-Where There’s a Will…) of My English Reader.
- I have never had a prize.
- You have heard of Winston Churchill.
- This scientist has given so many discoveries to the world.
Underline the verbs in sentences B and C as done in sentence A.
Notice that these verbs tell us that the ‘action is complete’ at the time of speaking.
Worksheet I
Not So Far
Write down five things you have not done so far but want to do. Follow the examples given below.
- I have not ridden an elephant.
- I have not seen the Taj Mahal.
(i) I have not visited a foreign country.
(ii) I have not learned to swim.
(iii) I have not climbed a mountain.
(iv) I have not flown in a hot air balloon.
(v) I have not tasted exotic food.
Note: These sentences use the present perfect tense (“have not”) to indicate actions not yet completed.
Worksheet II
Spot the Difference
Look at the two pictures given below. The first picture shows Rahul’s room before he left for the school. The whole room is in a mess. His Mother Mrs Jain tidied the room after he left. The second picture shows the room after Mrs Jain tidied it. Now write six things about what has changed. The first sentence has been written to help you.
- In Picture B,
(i) Mrs Jain has arranged the books on the shelf.
(ii) She has made the bed neatly.
(iii) She has picked up the clothes from the floor.
(iv) She has dusted the table.
(v) She has organised the desk items.
(vi) She has closed the almirah.
Note: The sentences use “has” to indicate actions completed by Mrs Jain, aligning with the present perfect tense.
Worksheet III
Guess What Has Happened
Ankita is waiting for her mother at the bus stop. As she is waiting, she listens to other people’s conversation and tries to guess what has happened from what people say to each other. Follow the example done for you and guess what has happened.
(i) A boy to his friend: ‘Congratulations!’
I think the boy’s friend has won a prize.
(ii) An old man to a boy: ‘Thank you.’
I think the boy has helped the old man.
(iii) A child to her teacher: ‘Thank you so much, ma’am!’
I think the teacher has given her a gift or help.
(iv) A boy to a lady: ‘Sorry.’
I think the boy has bumped into her or made a mistake.
(v) An old lady to the man sitting next to her: ‘What?’
I think the man has said something she didn’t hear clearly.
Note: The guesses use “has” to reflect completed actions inferred from the dialogue.
Worksheet IV
Look at these pictures that depict different moods of some people. Let us guess why they are in this mood. The first one has been done for you.
(i) She is worried because her son has not returned home.
(ii) He is crying because he has lost his favourite toy.
(iii) He is angry because someone has broken his bike.
(iv) She is tired because she has worked all day.
(v) He is laughing because he has heard a funny joke.
(vi) He is excited because he has passed his exam.
Note: The reasons use the present perfect tense (“has”) to indicate completed actions causing the moods.
Worksheet V
Work with your partner and write down five important events that have taken place in the world till today. One is done for you.
(i) Man has landed on the moon.
(ii) Scientists have discovered penicillin.
(iii) The internet has been invented.
(iv) The Berlin Wall has fallen.
(v) Vaccines have been developed for COVID-19.
Note: These events use the present perfect tense (“has”) to indicate actions completed up to the present (June 26, 2025).
Do It Yourself
- Read the following outlines of a newspaper item. Then complete the news report that appeared in your school magazine.
Results of All India Painting Competition Out
Tarini First Prize winner – broken record announced best painter in all categories done school proud – Principal congratulated her – invited for tea by the President of India.
Tarini is a Star
The results of the All India Painting Competition are just out. Tarini, a student of our school, has won the first prize. She has broken all previous records as she has been declared first in all categories. She has made the school proud. The Principal has congratulated her. The President of India has invited her for tea.
Note: The present perfect tense (“has won,” “has broken,” etc.) indicates actions completed at the time of reporting.
- Sonali appeared for an interview for the post of an English teacher. She was asked some questions. Imagine yourself to be Sonali and taking help from her curriculum vitae given in the box, write answers to the questions. The first one has been done for you.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Sonali Singh
Qualifications: M.A. (English), B.A. (English honours)
Married : 10 years
Teaching Experience: 10 years
Service in rural areas: 4 years
Books written: Two English textbooks
(i) For how long have you taught English?
I have taught English for ten years.
(ii) In what subject have you done honours?
I have done honours in English.
(iii) Why have you not gone in for higher studies?
I have not gone in for higher studies because I have two young children.
(iv) For how long have you been married?
I have been married for ten years.
(v) Have you written any books?
Yes, I have written two English textbooks.
(vi) Have you ever served in a village?
Yes, I have served in a village for four years.
Note: Answers use the present perfect tense (“have taught,” “have done,” etc.) to reflect completed experiences up to the interview.
- Read the following news report taken from C.3 ‘The Fearless Fighter’ (Unit-
Where There’s a Will…) of My English Reader.
C.N. Janaki Swims the Channel
Despite Janaki’s legs being made useless by polio, she has made India proud by swimming across the English Channel.
The underlined words tell us of an ‘action that is complete’ at the time of speaking.
Read the following headlines and news reports. Underline words in the reports that tell us of an action completed at the time of speaking.
(i) Tatatech chairman resigns for personal reasons
The chairman of Tatatech has resigned from his job because of some personal reasons.
(ii) Faster and cheaper computers developed
Scientists in the USA have developed faster and cheaper computers.
(iii) Delhi police bursts a gang of car thieves
The Delhi police has burst a notorious gang of car thieves.
Note: Underlined words (“has made,” “has resigned,” “have developed,” “has burst”) indicate completed actions.
- Now expand the following news headlines.
(i) International Film Festival starts
The International Film Festival in New Delhi has started with great enthusiasm.
(ii) Rise in deaths due to road accidents
The number of deaths due to road accidents has risen significantly this year.
(iii) Water wells in rural areas dry
The water wells in rural areas have dried up due to the prolonged drought.
Note: Expanded sentences use the present perfect tense (“has started,” “has risen,” “have dried”) to indicate recent completions.
Integrated Tense Practice
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given in the brackets.
Sunday, as everyone (know), is named after the sun which (be) worshipped all over the world.
Corrected Version:
Sunday, as everyone knows, is named after the sun which was worshipped all over the world.
Monday (be) named after the moon. The moon may have (be) worshipped on this day in ancient days.
Corrected Version:
Monday is named after the moon. The moon may have been worshipped on this day in ancient days.
Tuesday is named after Tin, the god who (has) only one hand, (have) lost the other while capturing a terrible wolf.
Corrected Version:
Tuesday is named after Tin, the god who has only one hand, had lost the other while capturing a terrible wolf.
Wednesday is named after Woden and Thursday after Thor. Thor, who was very strong, had a simple way of solving problems. He (kill) anyone who (go) near him at that time.
Corrected Version:
Wednesday is named after Woden and Thursday after Thor. Thor, who was very strong, had a simple way of solving problems. He killed anyone who went near him at that time.
Friday is named after Thor’s mother, Frigga and Saturday (take) its name from Saturn.
Corrected Version:
Friday is named after Thor’s mother, Frigga and Saturday takes its name from Saturn.
- Find the correct word(s) to fill up the blanks given below.
Mt. Kanchenjunga is a mountain peak in the Himalayan range. It is the third highest peak in the world and is worshipped as a deity of Sikkim. This peak rises to a height of 8,598 metres and was first scaled in 1955 by a British team. But now some people are objecting to the fact that so many people have tried to climb the mountain peak. They say that just as no one climbs the statue of any god, in the same way no one should climb Mt. Kanchenjunga. By climbing the peak, people are insulting it.