Present Perfect for A1 Learners: Talk About Your Experiences! — A1 English grammar lesson by Langcom

Present Perfect for A1 Learners: Talk About Your Experiences!

Raúl Maguiña

Fondateur de Langcom | Examinateur pour les examens de Cambridge et du SIELE

septembre 23, 2026

A1✏️ Grammaire⏱️ 4 min de lecture📅 Mise à jour en septembre 2026
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The Present Perfect tense talks about things you have done in your life, but you do not say exactly when. It connects the past to the present, showing that an action or experience from the past is relevant now. We use it to share experiences, like I have visited Paris, meaning you went there at some point in your life. We also use it for actions that finished recently and have a result now. For A1 learners, the main idea is “life experiences.” The form is always have ou has, plus the past participle of the main verb. For example, I have eaten sushi means you ate sushi at some point before now. You don’t say *when* you ate it. This tense is different from the simple past because the exact time is not important.

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect tense helps you talk about things that happened in the past, but the exact time is not important or not known. It is like telling someone about your experiences in life.

  • We use it for actions that happened at an unspecified time before now.
  • It shows a connection between the past and the present.

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How Do We Form the Present Perfect?

The Present Perfect tense has two parts:

  • First, use have ou has.
  • Second, use the past participle of the main verb.

Remember:

  • For I, you, we, they, utilisez have.
  • For he, she, it, utilisez has.

Most past participles for regular verbs end in -ed, just like the simple past form. For example, play becomes played.

Many common verbs have irregular past participles. Here are a few important ones:

  • bebeen
  • dodone
  • eateaten
  • seeseen
  • writewritten

When Do We Use the Present Perfect (A1 Level)?

At A1 level, the most common use of the Present Perfect is to talk about life experiences.

  • Life Experiences: Things you have done or not done in your life, up to now. The exact time is not important.

Par exemple :

  • I have visited London. (You visited London sometime in your life.)
  • She has never eaten sushi. (She has not eaten sushi at any point in her life.)
  • Have you ever flown in a plane? (Did you fly in a plane at any point in your life?)
Present Perfect Form: Affirmative Sentences
Objet Auxiliary Verb Past Participle
I have played
You have seen
He has eaten
She has been
It has done
We have lived
They have visited

Exemples

  • I have seen that movie before.
  • She has never been to Canada.
  • We have eaten pizza many times.
  • He has played the guitar since he was a child.
  • They haven't finished their homework yet.
  • Have you ever met a famous person?

Entraînement

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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Les hispanophones commettent parfois les erreurs suivantes :

  • Using the simple past instead of the Present Perfect for experiences:
    I went to Paris. (This is correct if you say *when*, e.g., I went to Paris last year.)
    I have been to Paris. (This is correct for a life experience, no specific time.)
    Remember: If you don't say *when*, use the Present Perfect for experiences.
  • Confusing 'have' as an auxiliary verb with 'have' for possession:
    In Spanish, 'haber' is for the Present Perfect, and 'tener' is for possession.
    I have a car. (Possession - correct)
    I have eaten sushi. (Present Perfect - correct)
    Do not say I have hunger (incorrect for 'I am hungry') or I have eaten a car (incorrect meaning).

Questions fréquemment posées

What is the main difference between Present Perfect and Simple Past?

The main difference for A1 is that the Present Perfect talks about experiences without saying *when* they happened. The Simple Past talks about actions that finished at a specific time in the past, like yesterday ou last year.

Why do we use 'have' or 'has' in the Present Perfect?

Nous utilisons have ou has as an 'auxiliary verb' (a helping verb) to form the Present Perfect. It helps to show that the action is connected to the present, even if it happened in the past. It is like the verb 'haber' in Spanish.

Can I use 'never' with the Present Perfect?

Yes! You can use never with the Present Perfect to say that you have not done something at any time in your life. For example, I have never visited Asia.

Leçons associées

À propos de l'auteur : Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña est le directeur de l'Asociación Educativa Langcom, un centre agréé de préparation à l'examen Cambridge English situé à votre pays. Fort de plus d'une décennie d'expérience dans l'enseignement des langues et les certifications internationales, il a aidé des milliers d'étudiants, d'enseignants et d'établissements d'enseignement dans 25 pays à obtenir les certifications d'anglais Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL et Michigan.

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