Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Explanation
We use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences, recent actions, or situations that are
still connected to the present.

We use the Past Simple to talk about finished actions in the past, usually with a specific
time.

Present Perfect Past Simple

Structure: have/has + past participle Structure: verb + -ed / irregular form
Example: I have visited London. Example: I visited London last year.
Use: life experiences, recent actions, Use: completed actions at a specific time in
unfinished time. the past.
Ex: She has just finished her homework. Ex: She finished her homework yesterday.
Activities – Present Perfect vs Past Simple (Extended)

1) Complete with Present Perfect or Past Simple

(Use the verbs in brackets)

1. I ____ (see) that movie last week.

2. She ____ (never/try) sushi.

3. They ____ (be) to London twice.

4. We ____ (visit) Spain last summer.

5. I ____ (just/finish) my homework.

6. He ____ (not/go) to school yesterday.

7. ____ you ever ____ (eat) Japanese food?

8. My parents ____ (buy) a new car in 2020.

9. I ____ (live) in this city since 2015.

[Link] ____ (call) me two hours ago.

[Link] ____ (already/watch) that film.

 [Link] ____ (lose) his wallet last night.

13.I ____ (never/see) such a beautiful sunset.

[Link] ____ (arrive) home late yesterday.

[Link] ____ (work) here for three years.

2) Choose the correct option

1. I (have eaten / ate) lunch at 1 pm yesterday.

2. They (have just arrived / arrived) 10 minutes ago.

3. I (have never been / was) to New York.

4. We (went / have gone) to the cinema last Saturday.

5. He (has just finished / finished) his homework.

6. She (has lived / lived) in Madrid in 2010.

7. My brother (has broken / broke) his leg last year.

8. I (have seen / saw) that movie many times.

9. We (have already started / started) the lesson 5 minutes ago.

 [Link] (did / has done) her homework yesterday.

[Link] (has worked / worked) here for five years.

[Link] (have never visited / never visited) London.

13.I (have bought / bought) these shoes last week.

[Link] (have just met / met) our new teacher.

[Link] (has played / played) football yesterday afternoon.

3) Make sentences with these words (use Present Perfect)

1. ever / you / be / to Paris?

2. she / never / read / that book

3. they / already / finish / dinner

4. I / just / call / my friend

5. we / visit / London / three times

6. he / not / see / that movie

7. ever / you / try / sushi?

 8. she / work / here / since 2020

9. they / never / eat / pizza

10.I / not / talk / to him / yet

[Link] / meet / before

[Link] / lose / her keys

[Link] / already / go / home

[Link] / ever / hear / this song?

15.I / study / English / for five years

4) Rewrite the sentences in the other tense

1. I have lost my keys. → Past Simple

2. They went to Spain last summer. → Present Perfect

3. We have finished the project. → Past Simple

4. She visited London in 2019. → Present Perfect

5. He has broken his leg. → Past Simple

 6. I saw that film yesterday. → Present Perfect

7. They have lived here for ten years. → Past Simple

8. She bought a new dress last week. → Present Perfect

9. He has never eaten sushi. → Past Simple

[Link] played football last Sunday. → Present Perfect

11.I have read that book twice. → Past Simple

[Link] met him last year. → Present Perfect

[Link] have already arrived. → Past Simple

[Link] went to the cinema on Friday. → Present Perfect

[Link] have studied English since 2010. → Past Simple

5) Ask questions for the answers

1. Yes, I have visited Rome.

2. No, I didn’t go to the party.

3. Yes, I have seen that movie.

 4. No, I didn’t call him yesterday.

5. Yes, I have studied French.

6. No, I didn’t buy a new phone.

7. Yes, I have met your brother.

8. No, I didn’t eat breakfast this morning.

9. Yes, I have lived here for five years.

[Link], I didn’t go out last night.

[Link], I have written a letter.

[Link], I didn’t play football yesterday.

[Link], I have tried sushi.

[Link], I didn’t see her at the party.

[Link], I have been to London.

6) Fill in with since or for

1. I have lived here ____ 2010.

2. She has worked here ____ three years.

3. We have been friends ____ childhood.

4. He has played football ____ two hours.

5. I have known her ____ many years.

6. They have studied English ____ last summer.

7. She has taught at this school ____ 2018.

8. I have had this bike ____ five years.

9. He has been sick ____ Monday.

[Link] have waited ____ half an hour.

[Link] have lived in Madrid ____ 2015.

[Link] has danced ____ she was a child.

13.I have used this phone ____ two months.

[Link] has studied Spanish ____ three years.

[Link] have stayed here ____ last week.

7) Correct the mistakes

1. I have saw that film yesterday.

2. Did you ever eaten sushi?

3. She has went to the party last night.

4. I didn’t saw him yesterday.

5. Have you ever did your homework?

6. He has buyed a new phone.

7. We lived here since 2010.

8. I have read that book yesterday.

9. They didn’t went to the cinema.

[Link] has never saw that movie.

[Link] has wrote a letter last week.

[Link] you ever was to Italy?

13.I have meet him yesterday.

[Link] didn’t done the exercise.

 [Link] has speaked English since she was 10.

8) Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense

1. He ____ (finish) his homework an hour ago.

2. We ____ (already/see) that movie.

3. I ____ (never/visit) London.

4. They ____ (go) to the park yesterday.

5. She ____ (just/call) her mother.

6. He ____ (be) at the party last night.

7. I ____ (write) two letters this week.

8. We ____ (not/play) football yesterday.

9. She ____ (already/do) her homework.

[Link] ____ (arrive) late last night.

11.I ____ (not/see) him since Monday.

[Link] ____ (break) his arm last year.

 [Link] ____ (meet) before.

[Link] ____ (finish) the book yesterday.

[Link] ____ (already/start) the project.

9) Write sentences

 Write 3 sentences about your life using Present Perfect.

 Write 3 sentences about your life using Past Simple.

 Example:

o Present Perfect: I have studied English for five years.

o Past Simple: I studied English yesterday.

10) Oral activity

 In pairs, ask your partner about:

o Life experiences (Present Perfect)

o Last weekend (Past Simple)

 Example questions:

o Have you ever been to another country?

o What did you do last weekend?