Practice

EXERCISE O Past simple or present perfect?

Read these reports by a financial adviser
and put the verbs into the past simple or
TRL Engineering
TRL Engineering 6.......................
present perfect. See the example.
(perform) steadily over recent years, but
in the last few months, the share price
Matrix Media 7 (be) very volatile. In May
Matrix Media is a small film company that the company 8.......................
1 1r\tk4 produced (produce) a number of (announce) that it had lost a major
profitable films in the last few years. Their motorway maintenance contract and in
last success 2........................ (be) in 2002 with July it 9.......................(issue) a profits
Blue Moon over the Water, which warning. Recently the shares
3........................ (make) over $40m in its first
10.......................(recover) from a two-
six months. The latest news is that Oscar-
year low, but prospects do not look good.
winning director Ben Loach 4........................
Recommendation: SELL
(join) the company as a director and
5........................ (agree) to make three films.
At $1.88 the shares look undervalued.
Recommendation: BUY

EXERCISE © Past simple or present perfect?

Complete the dialogue by putting the verbs into the past simple or the present
perfect. See the example.
A: Can I have a word about your trip to Dubai?
B: Yes, of course. Is everything OK?
A: Yes. Your tickets 1 have arrived (arrive) and they're in my office now. And I
2........................................ (just/had) an email from the hotel confirming your
reservation.
B: Which hotel 3........................................(you/book) me into?
A: The Burj A1 Arab.
B: Thank you. What about money?
A: I 4........................................(already/order) some Dirhams for you. I
5........................................ (ring) the bank yesterday, and they'll have them
tomorrow. And I can get some traveller's cheques as well if you like.
B: No don't worry, I 6....................................... (never/need) traveller's cheques
before. I normally use a credit card and cash machines.
A: Really? Are you sure you can use your card in Dubai as well?
B: Yes, I think so. 1 7........................................(be/to) quite a lot of countries in the
Middle East and I 8....................................... (never/have) a problem.
A: OK, but have a word with Alison Morgan in Production. I know she
9........................................(go) to Dubai a couple of months ago, so I expect she
would know.

40 Past simple, present perfect and present perfect continuous