Present perfect tense connects the past to the present. It tells us about things that happened sometime before now but still matter now. Words like have eaten, has gone, have seen, and has finished are all present perfect verbs. For a six-year-old, present perfect helps them talk about experiences and things that just happened. Learning the 70 most common present perfect verbs for a 6-year-old gives children the tools to share what they have done and what has changed. These words bridge the past and the present.
Meaning of Present Perfect Present perfect tense has several important uses. It connects past actions to the present moment.
Life experiences that happened sometime in the past. The exact time is not important.
I have seen an elephant at the zoo.
She has visited her grandma in Florida.
We have eaten pizza many times.
They have played in the snow.
Actions that just happened very recently. We often use words like just or already.
I have just finished my homework.
She has already eaten her lunch.
We have just arrived at the park.
He has just woken up .
Actions that started in the past and continue now. We often use words like for or since.
I have lived in this house for five years.
She has liked ice cream since she was a baby.
We have had our dog for two years.
He has been sick since yesterday.
Past actions with present results. Something happened and we can see the result now.
Someone has eaten all the cookies! (The plate is empty now.)
She has lost her shoe. (She can't find it now.)
He has broken his toy. (It doesn't work now.)
For a six-year-old, present perfect is a new and exciting way to talk about what they have done and what has happened.
When we talk about the 70 most common present perfect verbs for a 6-year-old, we mean the have/has + past participle forms of the verbs children use most often in their daily conversations.
Conjugation of Present Perfect Present perfect is formed with the helping verb have or has and the past participle of the main verb.
For I, You, We, They we use have + past participle.
I have played .
You have eaten .
We have gone .
They have seen .
For He, She, It we use has + past participle.
He has played .
She has eaten .
It has gone .
Regular past participles end in -ed, just like simple past.
play → played → have played
walk → walked → have walked
jump → jumped → have jumped
Irregular past participles are special forms that children must learn through practice.
eat → ate → have eaten
go → went → have gone
see → saw → have seen
do → did → have done
have → had → have had
make → made → have made
come → came → have come
run → ran → have run
sing → sang → have sung
drink → drank → have drunk
For a six-year-old, the most important thing is learning to use have and has correctly with common irregular verbs. They will learn the forms through hearing and using them.
Present Tense Examples Here are examples of present perfect verbs in action. These are the kinds of sentences six-year-olds use every day.
Talking about experiences:
I have been to the beach.
She has seen a rainbow.
We have played in the rain.
They have flown in an airplane.
He has met my teacher.
I have tried broccoli.
Talking about recent events with just:
I have just finished my snack.
She has just called me.
We have just arrived home.
The movie has just started .
He has just woken up .
Talking about things with already:
I have already eaten my lunch.
She has already done her homework.
We have already seen that movie.
They have already left .
He has already brushed his teeth.
Talking about things that haven't happened yet with not:
I have not finished my dinner yet.
She has not come home from school.
We have not seen that movie.
They have not arrived .
He has not called me.
Questions with Present Perfect Asking questions in present perfect helps children find out about experiences and recent events.
Yes/No questions put have or has at the beginning.
Have I been good?
Have you seen my shoe?
Has he eaten his lunch?
Has she called you?
Have we finished yet?
Have they arrived ?
Wh- questions start with a question word followed by have or has.
What have you done ?
Where has she gone ?
Why have they left ?
How have you been ?
Who has he seen ?
Questions with ever ask about life experiences.
Have you ever seen a dolphin?
Has she ever eaten sushi?
Have they ever been to New York?
Has he ever ridden a horse?
Here are some question examples children ask every day:
" Have you seen my teddy bear?"
" Has Daddy come home yet?"
" Have we finished cleaning up?"
" Have you ever tried this game?"
" Has she eaten all the cookies?"
Other Uses of Present Perfect Present perfect has several other important uses in English. Learning these helps children understand more complex language.
With for and since to show duration from past to now.
"I have had this bike for two years."
"She has lived here since she was born."
"We have known each other for a long time."
"He has been sick since yesterday."
With never to talk about things that haven't happened.
"I have never seen a ghost."
"She has never eaten snails."
"We have never been to the moon."
"He has never ridden a camel."
With this morning, today, this week when the time period is not finished.
"I have eaten two apples today."
"She has called me three times this morning."
"We have played outside twice this week."
"He has had a busy day."
To announce news or new information.
"Guess what! I have lost a tooth!"
"Mom! The baby has taken her first steps!"
"Look! The sun has come out!"
For a six-year-old, these uses will become more natural as they hear and use present perfect in everyday conversations.
Categories or Lists: The 70 Most Common Present Perfect Verbs Here is a practical list of the 70 most common present perfect verbs for a 6-year-old. These are the have/has + past participle forms children use most often.
Regular Past Participles (20 words)
have played
have walked
have jumped
have talked
have asked
have helped
have looked
have listened
have watched
have painted
have washed
have brushed
have cleaned
have picked
have pushed
have pulled
have kicked
have climbed
have crawled
have colored
Irregular Past Participles - Common Actions (20 words) 21. have eaten 22. have drunk 23. have slept 24. have woken up 25. have gone 26. have come 27. have run 28. have swum 29. have ridden 30. have driven 31. have flown 32. have sung 33. have danced 34. have drawn 35. have written 36. have read 37. have spoken 38. have told 39. have said 40. have heard
Irregular Past Participles - States and Changes (15 words) 41. have been 42. have had 43. have made 44. have done 45. have seen 46. have found 47. have lost 48. have broken 49. have fixed 50. have bought 51. have sold 52. have given 53. have taken 54. have brought 55. have caught
Irregular Past Participles - Thinking and Feeling (10 words) 56. have thought 57. have known 58. have understood 59. have forgotten 60. have remembered 61. have wanted 62. have needed 63. have liked 64. have loved 65. have hated
Present Perfect with Be (5 words) 66. have been happy 67. have been sad 68. have been tired 69. have been sick 70. have been good
Daily Life Examples with Present Perfect The best way to teach present perfect is to use it naturally in everyday conversations. Children learn these verbs best when they hear them in context.
Morning routine: " Have you brushed your teeth? Yes, I have brushed them. Have you eaten breakfast? I have already eaten . Your sister has just woken up ."
At school pickup: " Have you had a good day? What have you done today? We have painted pictures. I have read a new book. We have played outside."
At snack time: "Who has eaten the last cookie? I have not had one yet. Daddy has bought more at the store. We have finished the milk too."
At the park: " Have you ever gone down the big slide? Yes, I have gone down it many times. Have you seen the ducks? They have swum to the other side."
At home: "Look what I have made ! I have built a fort. Have you seen my crayons? I have lost the blue one. We have had such a fun day."
At bedtime: "You have been so good today. I have read you two stories already. Have you brushed your teeth? Yes, you have . Now you have fallen asleep."
Printable Flashcards for Present Perfect Flashcards are a wonderful tool for learning present perfect verbs. You can make them together, which makes the learning even more meaningful.
To make present perfect flashcards, you will need index cards or thick paper, markers, and crayons. On one side of the card, write the present perfect phrase. On the other side, write the base form and draw a simple picture.
For example:
"have eaten" with a picture of someone eating
"has gone" with a picture of someone leaving
"have seen" with a picture of eyes looking
"have made" with a picture of something built
"have been" with a picture of a person
Here are some fun ways to use your flashcards:
Matching game: Make pairs of cards with the base verb and its past participle. Match "eat" with "have eaten." Match "go" with "have gone." Match "see" with "have seen."
Sentence building: Pick a card and use it in a sentence. "I have eaten pizza." "She has gone to school." "We have seen that movie."
Have or Has practice: Pick a card and practice using it with different subjects. "I have eaten . He has eaten . They have eaten ."
Experience game: Pick a card and ask your child if they have ever done that. " Have you ever eaten a mango?" " Have you ever gone camping?"
Story cards: Pick several cards and use them to tell a story about what has happened. "We have gone to the park. We have played on the swings. We have eaten a snack."
Learning Activities or Games Games make learning present perfect fun and memorable. Here are some games you can play with your child to practice these important verbs.
The Have You Ever? Game: Take turns asking each other about experiences. " Have you ever seen a shooting star?" "Yes, I have !" " Have you ever eaten a bug?" "No, I have not !" This is fun and builds conversation skills.
The Just Now Game: Do an action and then say what you have just done. Jump and then say, "I have just jumped !" Clap and say, "I have just clapped !" Your child does the same.
The Already and Yet Game: Practice using already and yet. Ask, " Have you eaten lunch yet?" Your child answers, "Yes, I have already eaten ." or "No, I have not eaten yet."
The Lost and Found Game: Pretend something is lost and talk about it using present perfect. "My shoe has disappeared ! Have you seen it? I have looked everywhere. Who has taken it?"
The News Reporter Game: Pretend to be a news reporter announcing recent events. "Good news! The sun has come out! The ice cream truck has arrived ! The baby has learned to wave!"
The Story Time Present Perfect Hunt: When you read stories together, have your child raise their hand every time they hear present perfect. "The bear has found some honey. He has eaten it all. Now he has fallen asleep." This builds listening skills.
The Memory Game: Take turns saying what you have done today. "I have brushed my teeth." Next person says, "I have brushed my teeth and have eaten breakfast." Next adds another. See how long the chain can get.
The Find Someone Who Game: Make a list of experiences and have your child find someone who has done them. "Find someone who has visited another country." "Find someone who has seen a rainbow." They ask family members, " Have you ever visited another country?"
By using these examples, flashcards, and games, you are helping your child master the 70 most common present perfect verbs for a 6-year-old in a natural and enjoyable way. These have/has + past participle forms will become a valuable part of their language. They will use them to share experiences, to talk about recent events, and to connect the past to the present. Every conversation gives them more practice. Your child will gain confidence as they learn to use have and has correctly with both regular and irregular verbs. The more they hear and use present perfect, the more naturally these words will flow in their everyday speech. Soon they will be telling you all about what they have done , what they have seen , and what has happened , and you will hear their language growing more sophisticated and connected.