Grammar: Present Perfect or Past Simple? (1)


1: Work it Out

Two tenses often used to talk about events that happen in the past are the past simple and the present perfect. Can you work out when we use 'past simple' and when we use 'present perfect'?

A: I read a great book last week.
B: I've read three books so far this week.
A: I lost my keys and had to get in through a window.
B: I've lost my keys. How am I going to get in?
A: I passed my exams in 2008 and went to university.
B: I've passed my exam ... fantastic!

Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Present Perfect or Past Simple

Decide if the missing verbs in the following sentences should be 'present perfect' or 'past simple':

1) You should take an umbrella with you. It to rain.
2) It to rain so we decided to stay in.
3) Steve his homework and then went out with his friends.
4) I my homework. Can I see what's on TV?
5) My father in the same house until the day he died.
6) I in this town for the past 3 years.

Well done. We generally use 'past simple' when we describe something that happened at a finished time such as 'yesterday', 'last week' or 'this morning' (if the morning has finished). We use 'present perfect' to describe something that may have happened in the past but is connected to the present. Firstly this might be because we are talking about an unfinished time such as 'today', 'this week' 'this year'. Or the past event might be connected to the present because it is of importance now, such as 'I've lost my keys' (I can't get in) or 'I've passed my exam' (I've just heard the news).Try again. Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

3: Sentence Transformation

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use no more than three words.

1. I started my English course 3 weeks ago.
........................................ on this English course for three weeks.

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'have been' or ''ve been'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

2. I haven't seen John since Friday.
The last time ........................................ John was Friday.

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'I saw'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

3. The last time Claire went on holiday was five years ago.
Claire ......................................... on holiday for five years.

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'has not been' or 'hasn't been'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

4. Marie has been married for seven months.
Marie ........................................ seven months ago.

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'was married' or 'got married'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

5. Do you know what score you got in the test?
........................................ had the result of your test?

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'Have you'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer

 

6. I watched one film this morning and one this afternoon.
I ........................................ 2 films so far today.

That's right.No. The correct answer is 'have watched' or ''ve watched'.Your answer has been saved.Check your answer
 ! 

Study Tip!

To practise 'past simple' and 'present perfect' compare things you did last week or last year with this week or this year. For example:

Last week I went out with my friends twice.
I haven't been out yet this week.
Last year I probably read about 10 new books.
I think I've read 2 books so far this year.

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