WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue

Finished actions: I knew Julie for ten years (but then she
to the present: I've known Julie for ten years (and I still
moved away and we lost touch).
know her).

A finished action in someone's life (when the person is A finished action in someone's life (when the person is
still alive: life experience): My brother has been to dead): My great-grandmother went to Mexico three
Mexico three times. times.

A finished action with a result in the present: I've A finished action with no result in the present: I lost my
lost my keys! (The result is that I can't get into my house keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no result. I
now). got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, With a finished time word (last week, last month,
today): I've seen John this week. yesterday): I saw John last week.

Remember:

1. We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present.
2. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a
connection to the present.
3. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
 NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.
 Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect

1) Last night I ____________________________ (lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. [ lost ]

2) I ____________________________ (lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? [ have lost ]

3) I ____________________________ (visit) Paris three times. [ have visited ]

4) Last year I ____________________________ (visit) Paris. [ visited ]

5) I ____________________________ (know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died when I was eight. [ knew ]

6) I ____________________________ (know) Julie for three years - we still meet once a month. [ have known ]

7) I ____________________________ (play) Hockey since I was a child - I'm pretty good! [ have played ]

8) She ____________________________ (play) hockey at school but she didn't like it. [ played ]

9) Sorry, I ____________________________ (miss) the bus - I'm going to be late. [ have missed ]

10) I ____________________________ (miss) the bus and then I ____________________________ (miss) the aeroplane as well!
[ missed ][ missed ]

11) Last month I ____________________________ (go) to Scotland. [ went ]

12) I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He ____________________________ (go) to the shops. [ has gone ]

13) We ____________________________ (finish) this room last week. [ finished ]

14) I ____________________________ (finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy! [ have finished ]

15) Yesterday, I ____________________________ (see) all of my friends. It was great. [ saw ]

16) I ____________________________ (see) Julie three times this week. [ have seen ]

17) She ____________________________ (live) in London since 1994. [ has lived ]

18) She ____________________________ (live) in London when she was a child. [ lived ]

19) I ____________________________ (drink) three cups of coffee today. [ have drunk ]

20) I ____________________________ (drink) three cups of coffee yesterday. [ drank ]