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A Day in La Réunion: Present Perfect for Recent Events

August 6, 2026 · Sourov · 2 min read

5-Minute English Lab · Young Learners

🦋 A Day in La Réunion: Present Perfect for Recent Events

⏱ 5 minutes · PPP · Cambridge Young Learners Flyers

From my own experience: My daughter will grow up on an island with a volcano, beaches, and three languages around her. Every day on this island is a little adventure — and adventures are best told in the present perfect: I have climbed, I have seen, I have tried. This lesson is her world, put into grammar.

By the end of this 5 minutes, you can:

use the present perfect to talk about recent events and experiences, using have/has + past participle.

Language Focus:

I have seen / She has eatenHave you ever…? Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.just / already / yetever / never

Quick Explanation

Welcome to La Réunion! A Volcanic Island Adventure!

La Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean. It has a real volcano, white and black beaches, tropical fruit, and beautiful mountains. Let’s learn the present perfect with a day on the island!

I / You / We / They

I have visited the volcano!
We have eaten tropical fruit.
They have swum in the sea.

He / She / It

She has seen a sea turtle!
He has climbed the mountain.
It has erupted before!

Questions: Have you ever seen a volcano?
Yes, I have! / No, I haven’t. / No, I never have.

Practice

Task 1: The Island Day Story!

Complete Mia’s story with the correct form (have/has + past participle):
Today Mia ___ (visit) the famous Piton de la Fournaise volcano. She ___ (see) real lava rocks! Her friends ___ (swim) in a beautiful lagoon. They ___ (eat) mango ice cream. Mia ___ (take) many photos. It ___ (be) the best day ever!

Show answer
has visited / has seen / have swum / have eaten / has taken / has been

Task 2: Have you ever…?

Answer these questions about YOURSELF. Write YES or NO, then a full sentence:
1. Have you ever seen the sea? → ___
2. Have you ever eaten tropical fruit? → ___
3. Have you ever climbed a big hill or mountain? → ___

Show answer
Learner’s own answers. Model: 1. Yes, I have seen the sea! / No, I have never seen the sea. etc.

Task 3: Just and already!

Add JUST or ALREADY to make the sentence correct:
1. Mia has ___ arrived at the beach. She got there 2 minutes ago! (very recent)
2. The children have ___ finished their ice cream. It is all gone!

Show answer
1. just (very recent event) · 2. already (it happened before expected time)

Use It Now

Write your own ISLAND ADVENTURE story (4-5 sentences). Imagine you are on a tropical island. Use the present perfect to tell your friend what you have done today! Start with: Today has been amazing! I have… Draw a picture of your adventure if you like!


Independent teaching resource. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification. Based on publicly available ELT methodology and 18 years of professional experience.
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