Present Perfect in real stories
The past that still matters now. The tense learners of English get wrong most often, and the one that is easiest to feel in a line of speech.
- Form
- have/has + past participle
- Use
- A past action that is connected to the present.
8 sentences, 8 different stories
One example per story, so this is the tense across the shelf and not one tale retold.
Now the little old Woman had left the spoon of the Great, Huge Bear, standing in his porridge. “Somebody has been at my porridge!” said the Great, Huge Bear, in his great, rough, gruff voice.
THE STORY OF THE THREE BEARS →"Peter," said little Benjamin, in a whisper, "who has got your clothes?" Peter replied, "The scarecrow in Mr.
BENJAMIN BUNNY →"I have lost my rod and basket; but it does not much matter, for I am sure I should never have dared to go fishing again!" He put some sticking plaster on his fingers, and his friends both came to dinner.
MR. JEREMY FISHER →When he had made two snips, he saw the little Red-Cap shining, and then he made two snips more, and the little girl sprang out, crying: ‘Ah, how frightened I have been!
LITTLE RED-CAP [LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD] →The next morning she was asked how she had slept. “Oh, very badly indeed!” she replied. “I have scarcely closed my eyes the whole night through.
THE REAL PRINCESS →The old woman, however, nodded her head, and said: ‘Oh, you dear children, who has brought you here? do come in, and stay with me.
Hansel and Gretel (part 2) →I've had nothing to eat since yesterday morning, really and truly, mum,” says Jack. “I may as well be broiled, as die of hunger.” Well, the ogre's wife wasn't such a bad sort, after all.
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK →I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so.
THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES →
Read them where they live
Every sentence above comes from a story on this site, free to read, with the audio and a tap on any word for its meaning. The grammar is easier to keep once you have met it in something you wanted to read anyway.