Simple Past or Present Perfect (test)

1) Underline the correct verb.

2) Choose the correct words in italics.
1. James Smith is a runner. He’s won / He won a lot
1. Sarah’s been to the theatre twice this
of medals.
month/ last month.
2. I’ve seen / I saw my first Disney film when I was
2. Tom’s driven this car many times / in
three years old.
2015.
3. Our school basketball team hasn’t won / didn’t win
3. John has finished / finished the course
a match since the start of the year.
three weeks ago.
4. The Browns have lived/lived in Brazil for years, but
4. Dave loves his job. He did /’s done it since
they’re back in the UK now.
he was twenty-four.
5. Sam went to his grandmother for dinner last night.
5. ‘Mary has arrived’. ‘Really? When has
She has cooked / cooked him a great meal.
she got / did she get here?’
6. We haven’t heard / didn’t hear from Pam since
6. My father bought a new car this year / two
her family moved to Germany.
years ago.
7. A: How long has she been / was she ill? B: I think
7. They’ve been on the boat four hours ago /
she has gone / went into hospital last week.
for four hours.

4) Complete the sentences with the right

3) Complete the sentences. Use the past simple in one
sentence and the present perfect in the other sentence.
1. buy
a I _________you a present. Do you want to see it?
b The dress was half price, so Ann ___________ it.
2. go
a He _______ to Paris two times. He loves it!
b The Greens _______ to Italy before they were
married.
3. not hear
a I’m sorry I missed your call. I __________the phone.
b Who’s this song by? I ____________ it before.
4. not drive
a I ______________________ an automatic car before.
b Sam __________________ a racing car last summer.
form of the verbs in brackets.
1. When Mark was little, he ________
(want)
to be a driver.
2. ____________ (you/ ever / find) money in
an old coat pocket?
3. Jane ____________ (not buy) a T-shirt in
the sale last weekend.
4. Ted ____________ (take) his driving test
five times, but he keeps failing!
5. ______you________ (take) any good
photos at the party last night?
6. Jill _________ (be) in hospital for a week.
I’m going to visit her today.

5) Complete the conversations using the present perfect or the past simple of the verbs in brackets.1
Answer Key
1.’I know Mary Morris.’ ‘Really? How long ____________________________ (you/know) her?’
‘Oh, for quite a long time now.’ ‘When ______________________________ (you/first/meet) her?’
Ex. 1)
2.
2. (It’s
I saw11 o’clock in the
3. hasn’t morning)
won ‘_______________
4. lived 5. cooked (you6./ haven’t
see) Paulheard
this morning?’ ‘Yes,
7. has she I went
been;
_________
(see) him when I _____________ (arrive) in the office, but he ___________ (go) out soon afterwards.’
3.’That’s a really nice skirt, Sally. When____________ (you/get) it?’ ‘My mum ___________ (give) it to
me for Christmas, so I ______________(have) it for two months.’ ‘Really? I ___________ (never / see)
you in it. ‘I _____________ (not wear) it very often. It doesn’t really go with anything.
4.’I __________ (be) in Madrid last week.’ ‘Oh! _________________ (you / have) a good time?’
‘Yes, I ______________ (love) it! _______________________ (you / ever /go) there?’
No, I haven’t. I ______________ (visit) some friends in Barcelona a few years ago.
Total_____/