Learn when to say 'has gone' and when to say 'went' with the present perfect tense, then solve time mysteries with Max, Zara and Tick the clock.
Then or Now? is a free interactive game that teaches children aged 7–9 the present perfect tense, including how 'he has gone out to play' differs from 'he went out to play'. It follows the Year 3 grammar objective in the UK National Curriculum for English.
Players send Max out to play, then build the answer when his friend Zara knocks. They paint a fence and water flowers while choosing has or have. At a picnic, surprises such as a rainbow and a runaway kite introduce past participles like seen, flown and fallen. At the Clock Tower, they use a timeline and time clues to choose the right verb, then solve ten detective cases.
The present perfect is made from a helper verb (has or have) and a past participle. It shows that something happened and still matters now. Every instruction is read aloud, with captions on screen.
The present perfect tense tells us that something happened in the past and still matters now. It is made with has or have plus a past participle, as in 'Max has gone out to play', which means he is still out.
'He went out to play' describes a finished event at a time that is over, often with words like yesterday. 'He has gone out to play' tells us he left and is still out now.
'Has went' is wrong because has and have must be followed by a past participle, not the simple past. Went is the simple past of go, so the correct form is 'has gone', just as we say 'has eaten', not 'has ate'.
The game is designed for children aged 7 to 9 and matches the Year 3 grammar objective in the UK National Curriculum for English. Older children who need a refresher on has, have and past participles can use it too.
It has four short chapters and a ten-question detective quiz, with an animated introduction and ending. Playing everything takes about 30 minutes, and children can start from any chapter on the Tense Town map.
Getting it ready…
You've played chapter 1 for free. Ask a grown-up to make a free family account and become a member to open every chapter of every game.
Ask a grown-up to make a free family account and become a member to open every chapter of every game. There are lots of free games to play too!