The present perfect is a present tense so it only tells us about now. The past simple is a past tense so it only tells us about the past.

• Exercises
• Video Lesson

• Exercise 1

  Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Use either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets to complete each sentence.

  Time limit: 0

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  Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Use either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets to complete each sentence.

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  1. Question 1 of 8

     1. Question

     She ___ a new car in 2011. (buy)

     • She (bought) a new car in 2011.(buy)
     Correct
     

     She bought a new car in 2011.
     Past simple because 2011 is in the past and has finished. Also, buying the car was a short action and has finished.

     Incorrect
     

     She bought a new car in 2011.
     Past simple because 2011 is in the past and has finished. Also, buying the car was a short action and has finished.
  2. Question 2 of 8

     2. Question

     She ___ a new car every year since 2005. (buy)

     • She (has bought) a new car every year since 2005.(buy)
     Correct
     

     She has bought a new car every year since 2005.
     Present perfect because the time of buying the cars started in the past is still active. Also, buying the cars started in the past and has continued to now. Now she is buying cars.

     Incorrect
     

     She has bought a new car every year since 2005.
     Present perfect because the time of buying the cars started in the past is still active. Also, buying the cars started in the past and has continued to now. Now she is buying cars.
  3. Question 3 of 8

     3. Question

     She ___ four times this week. (late)

     • She (has been late) four times this week.(late)
     Correct
     

     She has been late four times this week.
     Present perfect because the week started in the past and hasn’t finished. Now she has been late four times.

     Incorrect
     

     She has been late four times this week.
     Present perfect because the week started in the past and hasn’t finished. Now she has been late four times.
  4. Question 4 of 8

     4. Question

     I ___ three glasses of wine last night. (drink)

     • I (drank) three glasses of wine last night.(drink)
     Correct
     

     I drank three glasses of wine last night.
     Past simple because last night is in the past and has finished.

     Incorrect
     

     I drank three glasses of wine last night.
     Past simple because last night is in the past and has finished.
  5. Question 5 of 8

     5. Question

     I ___ my girlfriend with another man on Saturday. (see)

     • I (saw) my girlfriend with another man on Saturday.(see)
     Correct
     

     I saw my girlfriend with another man on Saturday.

     Incorrect
     

     I saw my girlfriend with another man on Saturday.
  6. Question 6 of 8

     6. Question

     We ___ chicken tandoori before. (not/try)

     • We (have never tried) chicken tandoori before.(not/try)
     Correct
     

     We have never tried chicken tandoori before.

     Incorrect
     

     We have never tried chicken tandoori before.
  7. Question 7 of 8

     7. Question

     In April 1912 the Titanic ___ an iceberg and ___ within three hours. (hit/sink)

     • In April 1912 the Titanic (hit) an iceberg and (sank) within three hours.(hit/sink)
     Correct
     

     In April 1912 the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank within three hours.

     Incorrect
     

     In April 1912 the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank within three hours.
  8. Question 8 of 8

     8. Question

     Elena ___ with her left hand. (always/write)

     • Elena (has always written) with her left hand.(always/write)
     Correct
     

     Elena has always written with her left hand.
     Present perfect because writing with her left started in the past and hasn’t finished. Now she writes with her left hand.

     Incorrect
     

     Elena has always written with her left hand.
     Present perfect because writing with her left started in the past and hasn’t finished. Now she writes with her left hand.

  Exercise 2

  Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Use either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets to complete each sentence.

  Time limit: 0

  Quiz-summary

  0 of 8 questions completed

  Questions:

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  Information

  Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Use either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets to complete each sentence.

  You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.

  Quiz is loading...

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  1. Question 1 of 8

     1. Question

     We ___ this radio since 1954. (own)

     • We (have owned) this radio since 1954.(own)
     Correct
     

     We have owned this radio since 1954.

     Incorrect
     

     We have owned this radio since 1954.
  2. Question 2 of 8

     2. Question

     My daughter ___ in her own flat for three years. (live)

     • My daughter (has lived) in her own flat for nearly three years.(live)
     Correct
     

     My daughter has lived in her own flat for nearly three years.

     Incorrect
     

     My daughter has lived in her own flat for nearly three years.
  3. Question 3 of 8

     3. Question

     After he ___ home he ___, had a bath and went to bed. (arrive/unpack)

     • After he (arrived) home he (unpacked), had a bath and went to bed.(arrive/unpack)
     Correct
     

     After he arrived home he unpacked, had a bath and went to bed.
     Past simple because he arrived and unpacked in the past – before he went to bed.

     Incorrect
     

     After he arrived home he unpacked, had a bath and went to bed.
     Past simple because he arrived and unpacked in the past – before he went to bed.
  4. Question 4 of 8

     4. Question

     The weather was so nice so I ___ to ride to work. (decide)

     • The weather was so nice so I (decided) to ride to work.(decide)
     Correct
     

     The weather was so nice so I decided to ride to work.
     Past simple because we are talking about the weather in the past shown by the use of was.

     Incorrect
     

     The weather was so nice so I decided to ride to work.
     Past simple because we are talking about the weather in the past shown by the use of was.
  5. Question 5 of 8

     5. Question

     I ___ Peter since I arrived. (not/see)

     • I (have not seen) Peter since I arrived.(not/see)
     Correct
     

     I have not seen Peter since I arrived.
     Present perfect because being here started in the past and I am still here. I have not seen Peter during my time here.

     Incorrect
     

     I have not seen Peter since I arrived.
     Present perfect because being here started in the past and I am still here. I have not seen Peter during my time here.
  6. Question 6 of 8

     6. Question

     No one ___ to complete the crossword yet. (manage)

     • No one (has managed) to complete the crossword yet.(manage)
     Correct
     

     No one has managed to complete the crossword yet.

     Incorrect
     

     No one has managed to complete the crossword yet.
  7. Question 7 of 8

     7. Question

     She ___ to Costa Rica, but now she ___ back. (go/come)

     • She (went) to Costa Rica, but now she (has come) back.(go/come)
     Correct
     

     She went to Costa Rica, but now she has come back.

     Incorrect
     

     She went to Costa Rica, but now she has come back.
  8. Question 8 of 8

     8. Question

     I ___ the dog for a walk because it was raining. (not/take)

     • I (didn’t take, didn't take) the dog for a walk because it was raining.(not/take)
     Correct
     

     I didn’t take the dog for a walk because it was raining.

     Incorrect
     

     I didn’t take the dog for a walk because it was raining.

  Exercise 3

  Re-write each sentence CAREFULLY using  either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  Time limit: 0

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  Information

  Re-write each sentence CAREFULLY using either the past simple or present perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.

  Quiz is loading...

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  1. Answered
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  1. Question 1 of 10

     1. Question

     I ___ the shoes I ___ because they didn’t fit.   (return/buy)
     Correct
     

     I returned the shoes I had bought because they didn’t fit.

     Incorrect
     

     I returned the shoes I had bought because they didn’t fit.
  2. Question 2 of 10

     2. Question

     My nephew ___ in Thailand nearly all his life.   (live)
     Correct
     

     My nephew has lived in Thailand nearly all his life.

     Incorrect
     

     My nephew has lived in Thailand nearly all his life.
  3. Question 3 of 10

     3. Question

     I ___ from my friend for more than a year. I wonder what he is doing these days.   (not hear)
     Correct
     

     I haven’t heard from my friend for more than a year. I wonder what he is doing these days.

     Incorrect
     

     I haven’t heard from my friend for more than a year. I wonder what he is doing these days.
  4. Question 4 of 10

     4. Question

     The police ___ two people early this morning.   (arrest)
     Correct
     

     The police arrested two people early this morning.
     Past simple because the early morning has finished. It is also possible to say The police have arrested two people this morning without early. This would suggest that now it is still morning.

     Incorrect
     

     The police arrested two people early this morning.
     Past simple because the early morning has finished. It is also possible to say The police have arrested two people this morning without early. This would suggest that now it is still morning.
  5. Question 5 of 10

     5. Question

     It ___ me two weeks, but I now know who is the nastiest person in the office.   (take)
     Correct
     

     It has taken me two weeks, but I now know who is the nastiest person in the office.
     Present perfect because the two weeks finished at this moment, and I now know who is the nastiest person in the office.

     Incorrect
     

     It has taken me two weeks, but I now know who is the nastiest person in the office.
     Present perfect because the two weeks finished at this moment, and I now know who is the nastiest person in the office.
  6. Question 6 of 10

     6. Question

     How many games ___ so far this season?   (your team/win)
     Correct
     

     How many games has your team won so far this season?

     Incorrect
     

     How many games has your team won so far this season?
  7. Question 7 of 10

     7. Question

     Since he ___ the announcement, he ___ drinking coffee.   (hear/not stop)
     Correct
     

     Since he heard the announcement, he hasn’t stopped drinking coffee.
     Past simple, Heard, because the announcement was a single action in the past which has finished. Present perfect, hasn’t stopped, because he started drinking coffee in the past and is still drinking it.

     Incorrect
     

     Since he heard the announcement, he hasn’t stopped drinking coffee.
     Past simple, Heard, because the announcement was a single action in the past which has finished. Present perfect, hasn’t stopped, because he started drinking coffee in the past and is still drinking it.
  8. Question 8 of 10

     8. Question

     I just ___ to go to the gym recently.   (no time)
     Correct
     

     I just haven’t had the time to go to the gym recently.

     Incorrect
     

     I just haven’t had the time to go to the gym recently.
  9. Question 9 of 10

     9. Question

     She ___ an absolute fortune last year.   (win)
     Correct
     

     She won an absolute fortune last year.

     Incorrect
     

     She won an absolute fortune last year.
  10. Question 10 of 10

      10. Question

      The weather ___ for the whole two weeks we were there.   (to be dreadful).
      Correct
      

      The weather was dreadful for the whole two weeks we were there.

      Incorrect
      

      The weather was dreadful for the whole two weeks we were there.

• Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Yesterday I walked on the ice. Today I have been in a boat and a plane.

  This morning the sea was calm, but this afternoon there have been many waves.

  Earlier there was no sun so the ice looked white. Since lunch time it has been sunny and the ice has looked blue.

  Remember: Present perfect is about the present. Past simple is about the past.

  Yesterday the sun was shining and the ducks enjoyed a lovely walk. Today it has been very windy all day and their walk hasn’t been nice.