SIMPLE PAST vs

PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE PAST PRESENT PERFECT
 Finished time (specific  Unspecified time (no
mention of time) specific mention of time)
 E.g. … ago; last … ;  E.g. … so far; ever; never;
yesterday; in 2009, etc since; for; just; already; etc
 Doesn’t have connection  Has connection with the
with the present present
 Focuses on the time when  Focuses on the action/ state
we had the action or the
result.

SIMPLE PAST vs
PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE PAST PRESENT PERFECT
 Affirmative  Affirmative

S + V2 + O/C S + have/has + V3 + O/C

S + was/were + C S + have/has + been + C

 Negative  Negative

S + did not + V1 + O/C S + have/has not + V3 + O/C

S + was/were not + C S + have/has not + been + C

 Interrogative  Interrogative

Did + S + V1 + O/C ? Have/has + S + V3 + O/C ?

was/were + S + C ? Have/has + S + been + C ?
 Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. ‘This is my house.’ ‘How long have you lived here?’ ‘I _____________ (live)
here since 1997.’
2. He lived in London for two years and then he _____________ (go) to Edinburgh.
3. When I left school, I cut my hair and ________________ (wear) it short ever
since.
4. Shakespeare _______________ (write) a lot of plays.
5. My brother _________________ (write) several plays. He has just finished his
latest.
6. I ___________________ (not see) him for three years. I wonder where he is.
7. He ___________________ (not smoke) for two weeks. He is trying to give it up.
8. Chopin ____________________ (compose) some of his music in Majorca.
9. ‘When ________________________ (he/arrive)?' 'He arrived at 2 o'clock.'
10.I read his books when I was at school. I _________________ (enjoy) them very
much.
 Exercise (continued…)
11. I can't go out because I ______________ (not finish) my work yet.
12.‘I _________________ (never/drink) whiskey.' 'Well, have some now!'
13.Here are your shoes. I _____________________ (just/clean) them.
14.I left home at 8.00a.m. and I _________________ (get) here at
12.00p.m.
15.I __________________ (meet) him last June.
16.__________________ (you/see) the moon last night?
17. Cervantes _________________ (write) Don Quixote.
18. He __________________ (break) his leg in a skiing accident last year.
19.My best friend and I _________________ (know) each other for over
fifteen years. We still get together once a week.
20. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. ______________ (you / wash) the
dishes yet?
 Exercise (continued…)
21. Daughter: I ________________ (wash) the dishes yesterday, but
I _________________ (have / not) the time yet to do it today.
22. Mother: __________________ (you / do / already) your
homework?
23. Daughter: No, I ___________________ (come / just) home
from school.
24. Mother: You ____________________ (come) home from
school two hours ago!
25. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy ________________
(call) when I _________________ (arrive) and
I ____________________ (finish / just) the phone call.
26. Mother: ____________________ (you / see / not) Lucy at
school in the morning?
27. Daughter: Yes, but we __________________ (have / not) time
to talk then.