Simple Past / Present Perfect

EX1: Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses,
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) that movie.

2. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I (know) each other for over fifteen years. We still get together
once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ten very creative short stories in the last year.
One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I (have, not) this much fun since I (be) a kid.

6. Things (change) a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start)

working here three years ago, the company (have, only) six employees. Since then, we
(expand) to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I (tell) him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander) off
into the forest and (be) bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be)
late to work too many times. You are fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never)
the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George (dream) of going to California before he died, but he didn't make it.
He (see, never) the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very comfortable. In
the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon.
The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things (change) a great deal
in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of
hours.
12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) since the last time I (see)
you. You (grow) at least a foot!

13. This tree (be) planted by the settlers who (found) our city over four
hundred years ago.

14. This mountain (be, never) climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try)
to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) . The climb is extremely
difficult and many people (die) trying to reach the summit.

15. I (visit, never) Africa, but I (travel) to South America several times.
The last time I (go) to South America, I (visit) Brazil and Peru. I (spend)
two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly)
over the Nazca Lines.

EX 2:

Simple Past or Present Perfect - Exercise

1) Peter football yesterday.
2) They the car. It looks new again.
3) Last year we to Italy.
4) John and Peggy the book. Now they can watch the film.
5) I my friend two days ago.
6) We another country before.
7) She a new car in 2005.
8) I'm sorry, but I my homework.
9) the game of chess?
10) The girls their lunch yet.

The Present Perfect worksheet - Exercises

EX 3: Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense.
1. He_______________ (live) in London for two years and then _______________ (go) to Edinburgh.

2. When I left school I_______________ (cut) my hair and_______________ (wear) it short ever
since.

3. My brother_______________ (write) several plays. He_______________ (just/finish) his second

tragedy.

4. I_______________ (not see) him for three years, I wonder where he is.

5. He_______________ (not smoke) for two weeks. He is trying to give up.

6. I_______________ (do) this sort of work when I_______________ (be) an apprentice.

7. I_______________ (write) the letter but I can't find a stamp.

8. _______________ you_______________ (see) the moon last night?

9. The clock isn't slow, it_______________ (stop).

10. A: Who_______________ (you/vote) for in the last election?

B: I_______________ (vote) for Mr. Pitt.

A: He_______________ (not/be) elected, _______________ (be) he?

B: No, he_______________ (lose) his deposit.

11. A: _______________ (you/like) your last job?

B: I_______________ (like) it at first but then I_______________ (quarrel) with my employer and
he_______________ (dismiss) me.

A: How long_______________ you there?

B: I_______________ there for two weeks.

12. A: _______________ (Mary/feed) the cat?

B: Yes, she_______________ (feed) him before lunch.

A: What_______________ (she/give) him?

B: She_______________ (give) him some fish.

13. A: I_______________ (not see) your aunt recently.

B: No, she_______________ (not be) out of the house since she_______________ (buy) her colour
TV.

14. A: How_______________ (you/get) that scar?

B: I_______________ (got) it in a car accident a year ago.

15. She_______________ (say) she'd ring me this morning, but it's now 12.30 and
she_______________ (not/ring) yet.

16. It_______________ (rain) for two hours and the ground is too wet to play on, so the match
_______________ (be) postponed.

17. A: Why_______________ (you/make) such a horrible noise?

B: I_______________ (lose) my key and I_______________ (try) to wake up my wife by throwing

stones at her window.

A: You_______________ (throw) stones at the wrong window. You live next door.

18. He_______________ (not/stop) since he arrived.

19. He_______________ (ride), that's why he's wearing a riding hat.

20. A: How long_______________ (you/drive)?

B: I_______________ (drive) for ten years.

21. _______________ (you/lock) the house before you left?

22. I can't go out because I_______________ (not/finish) my homework yet.

23. A: Where_______________ (you/be or go)

B: I_______________ (be or go) to the dentist.

A: _______________ (he/take) out your bad tooth?

B: Yes, he_______________ .

A: _______________ (it/hurt)?

24. I_______________ (ride) all the horses in this stable.

25. A: What_______________ (you/do)?

B: We_______________ (pick) apples.

A: How many_______________ (you/pick)?

B: We_______________ (pick) ten basketfuls.

26. The car_______________ (make) a very funny noise ever since it _______________ (run out) of
petrol.

27. Originally, horses used in bull fights_______________ (not/wear) any protection, but for some
time now they_______________ (wear) special padding.

28. That pipe_______________ (leak) for ages. We must get it fixed.

29. A: _______________ (you/ever/try) to give up smoking?

B: Yes, I_______________ (try) last year, but then I_______________ (find) that I was getting fat so
I_______________ (start) again.

30. A: _______________ (be) the plumber here yet?

B: Yes, but he_______________ (only/stay) for an hour.

A: What_______________ (he/do) in that time.

B: He_______________ (turn off) the water and_______________ (empty) the tank.

Ex 4: Sentences of questions in the Present Perfect - Exercise

Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use the Present Perfect. Watch the punctuation and form sentences
or questions.

Example: ____ you ______ the car yet? (to clean)

Answer: Have you cleaned the car yet?

Exercise
1) Emma __________ this film on TV. (not/to see)

2) When __________ she __________ the office? (to phone)

3) __________ the Millers __________ yet? (to arrive)

4) John __________ on a trip through Alaska. (not/to go)

5) __________ they ever __________ to New York? (to be)

6) Andy __________ his sister's bike. (not/to repair)

7) What __________ you __________ in the kitchen? (to drop)

8) I __________ a new laptop. (to buy)

9) __________ Toby __________ his blue pen? (to find)

10) The students __________ their homework. (not/to forget)

EX 5:
Simple Past or Present Perfect
1 Joji ________ in Tokyo for five years, but he left in 1993. lived has lived

2 The Titanic ________ in 1912. sank has sunk

3 Somebody ________ my bicycle! Now I'll have to walk home. stole has stolen

4 Gerry ________ off his bike three times this month. fell has fallen

5 Chika ________ from university last July. graduated has graduated

6 I ________ the movie Titanic three times. I'm going to see it again tonight. saw have seen

7 I ________ to work every day for the last six weeks! walked have walked

8 When Young Hee was a child, she ________ in Seoul. lived has lived

9 Ouch! ________ my finger! I cut I've cut

10 I ________ my key yesterday, so I couldn't get into the house. Eventually, I found it in my jacket
pocket. lost have lost
EX 6:
Simple Past or Present Perfect

1. I a great film yesterday. (see)

2. a new car? (you ever buy)

3. Sue the flu last winter. (have)

4. A few days ago we to his uncle. (drive)

5. They bingo Wednesday afternoon. (play)

6. He the bus to get there. (already take)

7. Last week my rabbit away. (run)

8. We a lot last Sunday. (do)

9. to India? (she ever be)

10. I him last Monday. (meet)

11. She yet. (not wake up)

12. I her since last Thursday. (not meet)

13. Bob well last night. (sleep)

14. I a letter from her two days ago. (get)

15. They in Germany. (already arrive)

EX7:

A/ Write sentences in present perfect simple.

1. They / play / football -
2. He / speak / English -
3. I / write / a poem -
4. we / not / wash / the car -
5. Nancy / not / meet / her friends-

B/ Write questions in present perfect simple.

1. They / finish / their homework -
2. She / visit / her friend-
3. The maid / clean / the house -
4. He / drive / the van -
5. You / ever / write / a poem -

C/ Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple or simple past).
1. I (not / work) today.
2. We (buy) a new car last week.
3. We (not / plan) our holiday yet.
4. She (not / see) her mother for a long time.
5. He (write) a beautiful poem yesterday.

Present Perfect and Past Simple - time references

Exercise7. Do we usually use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple

tenses with the following time references?

 
  a long time ago    
  since we last met    
  yet    
  after I got married    
  lately    
  this month    
  the day before yesterday    
  last night    
  since last weekend    
  at the weekend    
 

Present Perfect and Past Simple - Practice

Ex8
1) Jack [?](to live) in Boston for the past 15 years.
2) Janet [?](to work) for Smith and Brothers before she [?](to come) to work for
us.
3) Dad, [?]you [?](to finish) reading the paper yet?
4) I would love to visit Prague sometime. Unfortunately, I [?]never [?](to be)
there.
5) Peter [?](to play) tennis for five years when he [?](to be) at school.
6) Jane: Can you help me? I [?](to finish) my homework, but I still don't understand
number 7.
7) I [?](to work) in Italy now for 5 years. I [?](to begin) work as soon as I
[?](to arrive).
8) I'm afraid I'm not hungry. I [?](to eat) already.
9) When Jack [?]at school, he [?](to learn) to play the saxophone. He
[?](to play) it ever since.
10) Could you give me some advice? I [?](to buy) this sweater at Macy's yesterday. Do you
think I should take it back?
11) Maria lives in Boston. Before she [?](to move) here, she [?](to live) in Seattle
for 3 years.
12) Peter [?](to go) to Paris last year. That means that he [?](to be) to Paris 3
times!
13) Just a moment! I [?]not [?](to have) a good idea yet!
Exercise9. Chose the most suitable tense - the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

 
       She has studied very well at school.
       She studied very well at school.
 
       Have you ever visited Italy?
       Did you ever visit Italy?
 
       Thomas Edison has invented the light bulb.
       Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
 
       How long have you had this job?
       How long did you have this job?
 
       I have never smoked a cigarette ever since.
       I didn't smoke a cigarette ever since.
 
       Charlie Chaplin has made a lot of films.
       Charlie Chaplin made a lot of films.
 
       When have you last been to the cinema?
       When did you last go to the cinema?
 
       It's the best car I've ever had.
       It's the best car I ever had.
 
       How many times have you been married?
       How many times were you married?
 
       We haven't had lunch yet.
       We didn't have lunch yet.
 EX 10.
Choose which verb tense (simple past or present perfect) fits better.
1. I ________ volleyball in several months.
a. haven't played
b. didn't play

2. I ________ you at the party last night.

a. haven't seen
b. didn't see

3. Jack's sister ________ her friend in London last year.

a. has visited
b. visited

4. I ________ in a small town in Italy.

a. have been born
b. was born

5. You ________ her, have you?

a. haven't told
b. didn't tell

6. You ________ her, did you?

a. haven't told
b. didn't tell

7. I ________ in Los Angeles for five years (and I still live there).
a. have lived
b. lived

8. I ________ in Los Angeles for five years (but I no longer live there).
a. have lived
b. lived

9. My girlfriend and I ________ three times last week.

a. have gone out
b. went out

10. I ________ to work every day this week.

a. have walked
b. walked
Ex11: Simple past or present perfect
Q1 - He ..... there when he was a child
has lived
lived
Q2 - I ........ her since last year
haven't seen
didn't see
Q3 - They ......... a few minutes ago
left
have left
Q4 - She .......... unemployed since she left school
has not been
was not
Q5 - They ....... the contract last week
finalised
have finalised
Q6 - The film .......... yet
hasn't started
didn't start
Q7 - She ........ ill since Thursday
was
has been
Q8 - I ........ the project last night
have finished
finished
Q9 - Look- someone ....... their handbag in the room
left
has left
Q10 - ............ to Rome?
Did you ever go
Have you ever been
Q11 - I can't get into my house because I ........ my keys
lost
have lost
Q12 - Nobody ....... the phone when it rang
 answered
has answered
Q13 - I ......... up smoking last year
gave
have given
Q14 - You can't see her because she ......... home
has gone
went
Q15 - ............... to the United States?
Did you ever go
Have you ever been
Q16 - I never ......... my grandmother as she died before I was born
knew
have known
Q17 - It's the first time I ........ caviar
ate
have eaten
Q18 - The first time we ......... was just the other day
spoke
have spoken
Q19 - It stinks in here; someone ........... smoking
was
has been
Q20 - He's in hospital because he ............. leg
has broken
broke
Q21 - I've known her since we ......... at school together
were
have been
Q22 - It's ages since we ........
spoke
have spoken
Q23 - It's been ages since we ........ from Dave
have heard
heard
Q24 - The last time I saw Fran ........ ages ago
was
has been
Q25 - I ........ from her lately
haven't heard
didn't hear
Q26 - I just ........ the time to go to the cinema recently
didn't have
haven't had
Q27 - I ........ just Meg and Brian at the party
have seen
saw
Q28 - I ........ busy for the past fortnight
was
have been
Q29 - She ......... away for the last two weeks
has been
was
Q30 - ......... to the concert on Friday?
Did you go
Have you been
Q31 - This is the first time I ........ here
have been
was
Q32 - I ....... them since my schooldays
have known
knew
Q33 - He ......... yet
hasn't arrived
didn't arrive
Q34 - They ........... the contract yet
didn't sign
haven't signed
Q35 - The newspaper ......... very successful lately
 hasn't been
wasn't
Q36 - He ...... during the war
died
has died
Q37 - I ......... breakfast before leaving home this morning
haven't had
didn't have
Q38 - I ....... a taxi so I came on the bus
haven't found
didn't find
Q39 - John's nervous because he .......... such a difficult test before
has never taken
never took
Q40 - My stereo ....... working last night
stopped
has stopped
Q41 - Two people ....... at the game on Saturday
were arrested
have been arrested
Q42 - I .......... a holiday for ages
didn't have
haven't had
Q43 - We ....... out on Saturday night
haven't gone
didn't go
Q44 - I ....... it last week
bought
have bought
Q45 - She hasn't ........ here for ages
been
gone
Q46 - I .......... to water-ski in 1993
learnt
have learnt
Q47 - She ....... an absolute fortune last year
has earned
earned
Q48 - The weather ....... dreadful for the whole two weeks we were there
was
has been
Q49 - No one ...... to do it yet
has managed
managed
Q50 - I ...... the dog for a walk because it was raining
haven't taken
didn't take
Q51 - I ........... finished the exam in time yesterday
only just finished
have only just finished
Q52 - The weather ..... dreadful at the weekend
has been