Mastering Present Perfect Tense: Connecting Past and Present in IELTS

Objective

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
✅ Form and use the Present Perfect tense correctly.
✅ Understand when to use it instead of Past Simple or Present Simple.
✅ Apply it fluently in IELTS Writing and Speaking to talk about experiences, achievements, and recent changes.
✅ Master signal words, transformations, and IELTS-style speaking drills that show grammatical range and natural fluency.

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🧭 1. What Is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect Tense connects past actions with the present moment.
It’s used when:

• The time of the action is not specified, or
• The result or impact of the action continues to the present.

Think of it as a bridge between the past and the now — perfect for IELTS!

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🧩 2. Structure of Present Perfect

Sentence Type	Structure	Example
Affirmative	Subject + has/have + Past Participle	I have visited London.
Negative	Subject + has/have + not + Past Participle	She hasn’t finished her report.
Question	Has/Have + Subject + Past Participle?	Have you ever taken the IELTS exam?

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🪄 Common Signal Words

already, just, yet, ever, never, recently, so far, since, for, still, up to now, until now

Examples:

• I have already completed my IELTS mock tests.
• She hasn’t received her result yet.
• Have you ever visited an English-speaking country?
• I have lived here since 2010.
• We’ve known each other for many years.

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🧠 3. Usage Rules

1. To describe experiences:
   • I have visited three countries.
   • Have you ever met a native English speaker?
2. To describe recent actions with present results:
   • I’ve just submitted my IELTS application.
   • He has broken his glasses, so he can’t read right now.
3. To describe changes over time:
   • The city has developed rapidly in the last decade.
4. To describe actions continuing up to now:
   • I’ve lived in Lahore for ten years.
5. With ‘since’ and ‘for’:
   • She has worked here since 2015.
   • We have studied together for three months.

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✍️ 4. IELTS-Style Examples

✅ In IELTS Writing Task 1 (Trends & Comparisons):

• Over the past five years, the population has increased significantly.
• The number of students enrolling in online courses has doubled since 2018.

✅ In IELTS Speaking:

• I have never been abroad, but I would love to study in Canada.
• I have just started preparing for IELTS Speaking.
• I have improved my grammar skills a lot recently.

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🧩 5. Practice Activities

🧮 A. Verb Conjugation Drill

Complete the Present Perfect form.

Base Verb	Subject	Present Perfect
see	I	_______
work	they	_______
eat	she	_______
live	we	_______
start	he	_______
write	I	_______
visit	you	_______
do	they	_______
make	she	_______
go	he	_______

Answers:
have seen, have worked, has eaten, have lived, has started, have written, have visited, have done, has made, has gone

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🧱 B. Tense Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences in the Present Perfect Tense.

1. I saw that movie last week.
2. They finished their IELTS homework yesterday.
3. She started working here in 2010.
4. We met him two days ago.
5. He didn’t read the report.

Answers:

1. I have seen that movie.
2. They have finished their IELTS homework.
3. She has worked here since 2010.
4. We have met him recently.
5. He hasn’t read the report.

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🧩 C. Fill-in-the-Blanks

Complete the sentences using Present Perfect form.

1. I ______ (never/try) sushi before.
2. She ______ (already/finish) her writing task.
3. They ______ (live) in Karachi for six years.
4. ______ (you/ever/visit) London?
5. He ______ (not/decide) on a university yet.
6. We ______ (improve) our speaking a lot this month.
7. My teacher ______ (just/give) me feedback.
8. It ______ (rain) heavily since morning.

Answers:

1. have never tried 2. has already finished 3. have lived 4. Have you ever visited 5. hasn’t decided 6. have improved 7. has just given 8. has rained

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🔍 D. Error Spotting (IELTS Style)

Find and correct the mistakes.

1. I have saw that movie already.
2. She have finished her report.
3. Have you ever went abroad?
4. We didn’t visited London yet.
5. He has live in this city since 2010.

Answers:

1. ❌ I have seen that movie already.
2. ❌ She has finished her report.
3. ❌ Have you ever gone abroad?
4. ❌ We haven’t visited London yet.
5. ❌ He has lived in this city since 2010.

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🧩 E. IELTS Mini Speaking Drills

🗣 Task 1: Talking About Experiences (Part 1)

Use Present Perfect to talk about what you’ve done or learned.

“I’ve attended several IELTS workshops.”
“I’ve learned a lot about writing coherence recently.”

🗣 Task 2: Describing Achievements (Part 2)

Cue Card: Describe something you have achieved recently.

“I’ve finally completed my IELTS mock tests. It’s been challenging but rewarding.”

🗣 Task 3: Changes Over Time (Part 3)

Discuss how things have changed:

“The education system has become more competitive over the past few years.”
“Technology has completely transformed how people study.”

🧩 Pro Tip: Use Present Perfect + time phrases like over the years, recently, in the last decade — they impress examiners!

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✏️ F. Write Your Own Practice

Create five original Present Perfect sentences about:

1. Your IELTS journey so far
2. A skill you have improved recently
3. Something you’ve achieved
4. A place you’ve visited
5. A change you’ve noticed in your country

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🎓 IELTS Tip of the Lesson

💡 Use Present Perfect in IELTS when:

• Talking about life experiences (I’ve travelled to…)
• Describing recent changes or trends (The rate has increased…)
• Discussing progress (I’ve improved my writing skills.)

⚠️ Don’t mix it with Past Simple unless a specific time is mentioned.
👉 Incorrect: I’ve visited London last year.
✅ Correct: I visited London last year.

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🐐 GoatGuru Wrap-Up

The Present Perfect is a subtle yet powerful tense — it makes your English sound mature, fluent, and naturally connected.
Mastering it will make your IELTS Writing more coherent and your Speaking sound more polished.