Fun with Present Perfect Tense: Teach Kids to Describe Pictures!
Hello, teachers and parents! Want to make the present perfect tense fun for young ESL learners (ages 8–12)? This tense, formed as Subject + has/have + past participle + complement, lets kids talk about actions that are done but still matter—like describing what’s happened in a picture! Today, I’ll share a substitution table to make this tense easy and exciting for your classroom or home. Let’s get started!
Why Teach Present Perfect Tense?
The present perfect tense (e.g., “The boy has written a story”) shows actions finished in the past that connect to now. It’s perfect for kids to describe a picture, like a classroom where students have completed tasks. It builds speaking skills and teaches has (for he/she/it) and have (for I/you/we/they).
The Power of Substitution Tables
A substitution table is like a sentence-building game! Kids mix and match words to create sentences, practicing grammar in a fun way. Our table helps students describe a classroom picture with actions like writing, drawing, or eating. It’s simple and generates tons of sentences to keep kids engaged.
Picture for the Lesson
Picture a colorful cartoon classroom: a boy writing a story, a girl drawing a picture, a teacher reading a book, a dog eating food, and more! Objects like pencils, posters, and notebooks are around. This scene sparks kids’ imagination to talk about what’s happened.
Substitution Table: Create Tons of Sentences!
Here’s a table with 10 subjects, 10 verbs, and 10 complements, creating up to 10,000 sentences! Verbs and complements are matched to each subject to make sense (e.g., dogs don’t write stories, but they can eat food). Use it to describe the classroom picture.
Sample Sentences
The boy has written a story.
The girl has drawn a picture.
The teacher has read a book.
You have finished the homework.
The dog has eaten some food.
The student has painted a poster.
The friend has found a pencil.
The parent has given a gift.
I have taken a notebook.
The cat has chased a ball.
Try mixing for more: “The girl has painted a poster,” “You have read a book,” or “The dog has found a ball.” The table keeps sentences logical (e.g., the dog only eats or chases).
How to Use the Table in Class
Show the Picture: Describe the scene: “The boy has written a story at his desk. The dog has eaten some food.” Point to the boy, story, or dog to make it clear.
Explain the Tense: Say, “Has/have + past participle means the action is done. ‘The boy has written’ means he finished writing.” Use gestures (e.g., pretend to write).
Model Sentences: Write the table on the board. Say, “The teacher has read a book,” pointing to the teacher. Fix errors: “The boy have written” → “The boy has written.”
Pair Practice: Have kids pair up and make 3–5 sentences each (e.g., “You have taken a notebook”). Use starters: “___ has/have ___ ___.”
Group Game: In groups of 4, each child says one sentence. Make it fun—give points for creative sentences!
Check Understanding: Ask, “What has the girl done?” (Point to picture.) If a child says, “All girls draw pictures,” clarify: “In this picture, the girl has drawn a picture.”
Tips for Success
Use Visuals: No picture? Describe it vividly or sketch a simple classroom (e.g., boy at a desk, dog with food).
Make It Fun: Turn the table into a game—kids roll a dice to pick a row and make a sentence.
Praise Efforts: Say, “You’re a grammar rockstar!” to boost confidence.
Adapt It: Use the table for any picture (e.g., a park with kids who have played games or eaten snacks).
Try It Out!
Have your students create as many sentences as possible using the table and share them aloud. They’ll master the present perfect tense while having a blast! Want a table for a different picture, like a park or market? Comment below, and I’ll whip one up!
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