Present Simple vs. Present Perfect ESL Activities and Games

In this fun present simple vs. present perfect game, students complete sentences about their partner using the two tenses and then ask them questions to find out if their guesses were right or wrong. Working alone, students complete sentences with verbs in the present simple or present perfect, guessing and adding the numbers they think are true for their partner, e.g. 'I think my partner has two siblings.' After that, students rewrite the sentences as questions to ask their partner, e.g. 'How many siblings do you have?' Next, students take turns asking their partner each question and writing their answer in the second column. In the 'points' column, students write the difference between their guess and their partner's answer. For example, if they guess their partner has two siblings but the correct answer is three, they score one point. The student with the lowest number of points at the end of the game is the winner.

In this insightful present simple vs. present perfect speaking activity, students write questions on different topics using both tenses and then ask and answer the questions with a partner. First, in two groups, students look at two question prompts for each topic and decide which one should be in the present simple and which should be in the present perfect. Students then write one present simple question and one present perfect question for each topic. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking and answering the questions, giving as much information as possible when answering. Afterwards, students share what they found out about their partner with the class.