The past simple tense | The present perfect tense |
The past simple tense may describe completed activities and past situations | The present perfect tense may describe activities or situations which began in the past and are still continuing |
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The past simple may describe activities without linking them to the present | The present perfect may describe completed activities whose impact is felt in the present |
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With past simple verbs, the time may be specified | With present perfect verbs, indefinite time expressions may be used |
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Put verbs into Past Simple or Present Perfect.
a. Last night I _____ (lose) my keys I had to call my flatmate to let me in.
b. I ________ (lose) my keys - can you help me look for them?
c. I ________ (visit) Paris three times.
d. Last year I _________ (visit) Paris.
e. I _________ (know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died when I was eight.
f. I _________ (know) Julie for three years - we still meet once a month..
g. I _________ (play) Hockey since I was a child - I'm pretty good!.
h. She _________ (play) hockey at school but she didn't like it.
i. Sorry, I __________ (miss) the bus - I'm going to be late.
j. I _________ (miss) the bus and then I _______(miss) the aeroplane as well!.
k. Last month I ________(go) to Scotland.
l. I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He _________ (go) to the shops.
m. We __________ (finish) this room last week.
n. I __________ (finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy!.
o. Yesterday, I _________(go) to the library, the post office and the supermarket..
p. I __________ (go) to the supermarket three times this week.
q. She _________ (live) in London since 1994.
r. She ___________ (live) in London when she was a child.
s. I ___________(drink) three cups of coffee today.
t. I __________ (drink) three cups of coffee yesterday.
Read the text and make questions with verbs with Present Perfect or Past Simple.
I think I have had a very interesting life. I'm 73 now and I don't work anymore. I was in the army for 51 years. I retired when I was 69. I have been to so many countries that I can't remember all of them. I've been to Australia six or seven times and to South Africa three times. I have also been once to Russia but I didn't like it at all: much too cold for me!
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They say that love is the greatest thing and I agree. I've been married four times but never for more than five years. I don't think women really understand me!
I've never been on television, but I've been on the radio once. It was a programme about life in the military about twenty years ago. I met the Prime Minister on the same day. Actually, I've met a lot of famous people: members of the royal family, famous politicians and also famous cinema and television personalities. I've never met the American President though which is a pity.
Because I've travelled a lot, I've seen a lot of wonderful things and have also eaten and drunk some strange foods and drinks. I ate cat and rat in India and drank something called Mirto on a little island in Italy many years ago.
1. What job ______ before retiring?
He worked in the army.
2. ________ he in the army?
For 51 years.
3. How many ________ been to Australia?
Six or seven times.
4. ________ like Russia?
No, it was too cold.
5. _________ married so many times?
Because women don't understand him.
6. Has he ever _________?
Yes, he has. But never on TV.
7. When_________ the prime minister?
When he was on the radio.
8. Has __________ American president?
No, he hasn't but he wants to.
9. Where ________ cat and rat?
In India.
10. _______ drunk Mirto?
Yes, he has. In Italy.
Choose the proper option.
1. I ________ to work every day for the last six weeks!
a) walked
b) have walked
2. Gerry ________ off his bike three times this month.
a) fell
b) has fallen
3. Joji ________ in Tokyo for five years, but he left in 1993.
a) lived
b) have lived
4. The Titanic ________ in 1912.
a) sank
b) has sunk
5. Ouch! ________ my finger!
a) I cut
b) I've cut
6. I ________ the movie Titanic three times. I'm going to see it again tonight.
a) saw
b) have seen
7. Chika ________ from university last July.
a) graduated
b) has graduated
8. Somebody ________ my bicycle! Now I'll have to walk home.
a) stole
b) has stolen
9. When Young Hee was a child, she ________ in Seoul.
a) lived
b) has lived
10. I ________ my key yesterday, so I couldn't get into the house. Eventually, I found it in my jacket pocket.
a) lost
b) have lost
4 Translate the following sentences using Present Perfect or Past Simple.
1. , . . ? - . . . . . .
2. , : . . .
3. ? . .
4. , - .
5. , ? , .
6. ? - , .
7. , .
8. . .
9. , , .
10. ? - , .
11. , .
12. ? - .
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13. ? - , .
14. .
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Past Perfect
Past Perfect , . - by.
She had translated the text by 7 o'clock yesterday. 7 .
When I came she had already translated the text. , .
, , , Past Perfect, Past Simple.
Past Perfect .
The manager had left the office before I came. -, .
before after Past Perfect , . , , before after .
I turned off the light before I left the room. , .
After the host (had) introduced the guests to each other, they all went to the dining room and sat down to table. , .
Past Perfect , .
We found out that they (had) started a joint venture in 1989. , 1989 .
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Past Perfect Tense
ü A completed action before something else in the past.
When we arrived, the film had started. (= first the film started, then later we arrived)
ü To explain or give a reason for something in the past.
I'd eaten dinner so I wasn't hungry.
It had snowed in the night, so the bus didn't arrive.
ü Stative verbs only: something that started in the past and continued up to another action in the past.
When he graduated, he had been in London for six years.
(= he arrived in London six years before he graduated and lived there continuously until he graduated, or even longer)
ü As part of the third conditional.
If I had known you were ill, I would have visited you.
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Exercises