Past Simple or Present Perfect

Exercise 1
Choose ‘Past Simple’ or ‘Present Perfect’

We normally use the __________________ when we want to talk about

something which happened in the past but is relevant now. Often we use words like
‘just’ / ‘already’ / not … yet’ with this tense. We also use the
_________________ to talk about an imprecise time in the past but as soon as
we become precise we swatch to the ____________________.

E.g. : I haven’t spoken to Luke yet but I’ve already informed Brian.
I’ve never been to Australia. Have you ever been there ?
Yes I have. I went in 2008.

Exercise 2
Fill in the appropriate tense: present perfect or past simple

1. I (see) ______________ that programme about telepathy last night.

2. He (come) ________________ back from Uganda a week ago.
3. Last week, he (phone) _______________ me to inform me about the matter.
4. He (travel) ___________________ a lot recently.
5. Claire (have) ________________ an appointment at the hairdresser’s
yesterday.
6. He’s the most difficult customer I (have to - ever) ______________ deal
with.
7. Sales (rise) _______________ in 2001, but then (fall)
_________________ again in 2002.
8. We (sign) ________________ a binding contract last year which is still valid.
9. I feel really tired. I (finish - just) ______________________ my homework.
10. Look at George ! He (have) __________________ a haircut.

Exercise 3
Select either the past tense or the present perfect form in the following sentences.

1. Mr. Johnson left/has left last week for a business trip.

2. Sam lost/has lost his car keys and can’ get home.
3. The choir sang/has sung that song a hundred times.
4. The garage had/has had my car for a week now, and it still isn’t fixed.
5. We moved/have moved there ten years ago.
6. We lived/have lived there ever since.
7. We lost/have lost the power about noon.
8. Let’s go to the arrival section - the plane landed/has landed a few minutes ago.
9. I went/have gone to Duke University a few years ago.
10. The city permitted/has permitted parking on that street for years.
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11. After the interview, the personnel director showed/has shown me the cafeteria.
12. I complained/have complained about that problem a dozen times.
13. Last winter, my grandmother fell/has fallen and broke her hip.
14. Since the train strike began, I drove/have driven to work every day.
15. I drove/have driven my wife’s car to work this morning.

Exercise 1
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We normally use the Present Perfect when we want to talk about something which happened in
the past but is relevant now. Often we use words like ‘just’ / ‘already’ / not … yet’ with this tense.
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about a imprecise time in the past but as soon as we
become precise we swatch to the Past Simple.

Exercise 2
1. saw 6. have ever had to
2. came 7. rose / fell
3. phoned 8. have signed
4. has travelled 9. have just finished
5. had 10. has had

Exercise 3
1. left - 2. has lost - 3. has sung - 4. has had - 5. moved - 6. have lived - 7. lost - 8. landed - 9.
went - 10. has permitted - 11. showed - 12. have complained - 13. fell - 14. have driven - 15. drove

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