TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Activity Type Introduction

Reading and writing In this present perfect or past simple worksheet, students learn
exercises and practice how to use past simple and present perfect time
expressions.

Focus Procedure
Present perfect vs. past
Give each student a copy of the two-page worksheet.
simple
Students begin by putting time expressions into the correct
category, according to whether they are past simple time
Aim
expressions or present perfect time expressions.
To learn and practice
how to use past simple Exercise A - Answer key
and present perfect time
expressions.
Past Simple Present Perfect

a week (month, year) ago already

Preparation in (2005) for
Make one copy of the last week (month, year) in the last year
two-page worksheet for last weekend (Monday, night) many times
each student. the day before yesterday recently
two days (weeks, months) ago several times
when I was a child since
Level yesterday so far
Intermediate (B1) yet

Next, students read a story and underline either the present

Time perfect or past simple form of the verbs using the time expressions
30 minutes in the text to help them.

Exercise B - Answer key

1. was 9. thought
2. dreamed 10. have seen
3. was 11. went
4. have become 12. was
5. has been 13. went
6. have visited 14. saw
7. have visited 15. have been
8. have been 16. haven't seen

(continued on the next page)

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 TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Activity Type Procedure continued

Reading and writing Students then complete present perfect and past simple sentences
exercises with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Exercise C - Answer key

Focus
Present perfect vs. past 1. worked
simple 2. hasn't travelled
3. moved, was
4. have taken
Aim 5. haven't gone, went
6. hasn't left
To learn and practice 7. have seen
how to use past simple 8. has liked, was
and present perfect time 9. arrived
expressions. 10. has attacked

In the last exercise, students complete sentences with true

Preparation information about themselves in the present perfect or past
Make one copy of the simple, according to the time expression in each sentence.
two-page worksheet for
each student. Exercise D - Answer key

Past simple: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12
Level Present perfect: 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11
Intermediate (B1) When the students have finished, review their sentences and
provide feedback as needed.
Time
30 minutes

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 PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Present Perfect or Past Simple?

A. Put the time expressions in the correct category.

the day before yesterday already recently yesterday when I was a child

several times a week (month, year) ago in the last year for

so far two days (weeks, months) ago since many times in (2005)

last week (month, year) yet last weekend (Monday, night)

Past Simple Time Expressions Present Perfect Time Expressions

B. Read the story and underline the correct present perfect or past simple form of the
verbs.

I was born to be a world explorer. When I was a child, (1) I

was / have been fascinated by the world's mysteries. I used
to pack a small bag and pretend to travel to different areas of
my neighbourhood. Then, 20 years ago, (2) I dreamed / have
dreamed that I was flying freely in the sky, looking down at
the world's beauty. That dream (3) was / has been the start
of something new. Since then, (4) I became / have become obsessed with finding unique
and mysterious places. For the last 20 years, travelling the world (5) was / has been my
mission in life. So far, (6) I visited / have visited 70 countries. In the last year, I (7) visited
/ have visited places like Niagara Falls, the Colosseum in Rome and the Great Barrier Reef in
Australia. (8) I went / have been to most countries in Europe, except France and Portugal.
Last month, I (9) thought / have thought about visiting Portugal when I was in Spain, but I
ran out of time. I (10) saw / have seen the seven wonders of the modern world many times.
About five years ago, (11) I went / have been to the Grand Canyon. It's the biggest canyon in
the world. This experience (12) was / has been particularly special to me because (13) I went
/ have been alone and camped out in the canyon. (14) I saw / have seen the various colours
of the canyon as well as some unique wildlife. Recently, (15) I was / have been curious to see
the Aurora Borealis, but unfortunately (16) I didn't see / haven't seen it yet.

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 PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Present Perfect or Past Simple?

C. Complete the present perfect and past simple sentences with the correct form of
the verbs in brackets.

1. I ......................... (work) at that company five years ago.

2. He ......................... (not travel) at all in the last year.

3. We ......................... (move) out of our childhood house when I ......................... (be)

in high school.

4. Recently, I ......................... (take) up photography. It's a great hobby.

5. We ......................... (not go) to the cinema for two months. The last time we

......................... (go) was in January.

6. She ......................... (not leave) for work yet. She's going to be late.

7. I ......................... (see) that movie six times in the last month.

8. Emma ......................... (like) that band since she .......................... (be) a teenager.

9. Simon ......................... (arrive) in Bangkok a week ago.

10. The army ......................... (attack) the city several times.

D. Complete the sentences with true information about yourself in the past simple or
present perfect, according to the time expression in each sentence.

1. Yesterday, ...............................................................................................................

2. In the last year, ........................................................................................................

3. When I was a child, ..................................................................................................

4. ........................................................................................................................ yet.

5. Recently, .................................................................................................................

6. Last month, .............................................................................................................

7. The day before yesterday ..........................................................................................

8. ............................................................................................................ many times.

9. In 2018, ..................................................................................................................

10. ........................................................................................................ several times.

11. So far ...................................................................................................................

12. ...................................................................................................... two weeks ago.

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