Present Perfect Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on have/has, just/already/yet, for/since, and when to choose present perfect over simple past. B1 level.
This quiz checks how confidently you can apply Present Perfect at B1 level, with questions built around real forms such as has been, have lost, ever, since and for rather than abstract rule statements. Each question presents a full example sentence, so you have to judge which form fits the meaning and structure correctly instead of recalling a rule in isolation.
If a question catches you out, the FAQ section below explains the underlying rule in more detail, including common mistakes learners make with this point. Reviewing the explanation immediately after an incorrect answer, then retrying the quiz on a different day, builds more durable grammar knowledge than repeating the same 12 questions back to back.
Present Perfect — FAQ
When do we use the present perfect in English?
We use the present perfect to talk about past experiences without specifying when they happened (I have visited Paris), recent events with present relevance (She has just left), situations that started in the past and continue now (They have lived here for ten years), and actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past (Have you ever tried sushi?).
What is the difference between 'for' and 'since'?
'For' is used with a period of time (for three days, for a week, for years), while 'since' is used with a specific point in time (since Monday, since 2019, since she was a child). Both are used with the present perfect to describe situations that began in the past and continue to the present.
How do you use 'just', 'already' and 'yet'?
'Just' means a very short time ago and comes between have/has and the past participle (I have just finished). 'Already' means earlier than expected and is used in affirmative sentences (She has already eaten). 'Yet' means up to now and is used in questions and negative sentences (Have you finished yet? / I haven't finished yet).
What is the difference between present perfect and simple past?
The simple past is used when the time is specified or clearly in the past (I saw him yesterday). The present perfect is used when the time is unspecified or the action is connected to the present (I have seen him recently). American English often uses the simple past where British English uses the present perfect.
What are the most common mistakes with the present perfect?
Common mistakes include using the simple past instead of the present perfect with 'just', 'already', and 'yet'; using 'since' instead of 'for' with periods of time; forgetting the auxiliary verb 'have/has'; using the wrong past participle; and mixing up the present perfect with the past perfect.
What is the present perfect continuous?
The present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing) emphasises the duration or ongoing nature of an action (I have been studying for three hours). The present perfect simple focuses on the result or completion (I have studied the whole chapter). Use the continuous when you want to emphasise that an activity has been in progress up to now.
How do you form questions in the present perfect?
To form a present perfect question, move have/has before the subject: Have you finished? / Has she arrived? For Wh-questions, place the question word first: Where have you been? / How long have they known each other? Remember that the main verb stays as the past participle.
Which irregular verbs are most important for present perfect?
The most common irregular past participles include: go → gone, come → come, see → seen, do → done, take → taken, make → made, give → given, know → known, think → thought, find → found, become → become, write → written, speak → spoken, and eat → eaten.
Can present perfect be used with specific past time expressions?
No. The present perfect cannot be used with specific past time expressions such as 'yesterday', 'last week', 'in 2010', 'ago', or 'when I was young'. These expressions require the simple past. However, it can be used with 'today', 'this morning/week/year' if the period is not yet finished.
Is 'have got' the same as the present perfect of 'get'?
No. 'Have got' in British English means 'have/possess' (I've got a car = I have a car) and is not a past tense form. The present perfect of 'get' is 'have gotten' (American) or 'have got' in the sense of receiving or obtaining (I've got your email = I received your email). Context usually makes the meaning clear.