Present Perfect and Simple Past

Introduction

This section will help you to understand the differences between the Present Perfect Tense and the Simple Past Tense.

Has the time period finished?

Rule	Example	Explanation
The present perfect is used when the time period has NOT finished.	I have seen three movies this week.	(This week has not finished yet.)
The simple past is used when the time period HAS finished.	I saw three movies last week.	(Last week has finished.)

Is it new information or old?

Rule	Example	Explanation
The present perfect is often used when giving recent news.	Martin has crashed his car again.	(This is new information.)
The simple past is used when giving older information.	Martin crashed his car last year.	(This is old information.)

Is it a specific time?

Rule	Example	Explanation
The present perfect is used when the time is not specific.	I have seen that movie already.	(We don't know when.)
The simple past is used when the time is clear.	I saw that movie on Thursday.	(We know exactly when.)

Has the action finished (sentences with “for” or “since”)?

Rule	Example	Explanation
The present perfect is used with for and since, when the actions have not finished yet.	I have lived in Victoria for five years.	(I still live in Victoria.)
The simple past is used with for and since, when the actions have already finished.	I lived in Victoria for five years.	(I don't live in Victoria now.)

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

Present Perfect and Simple Past 1

In each sentence, choose the correct form of the verb.

Click on the button beside the correct answer.

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1. Somebody ________ my bicycle! Now I'll have to walk home.
   1.   stole
   2.   has stolen
2. When Young Hee was a child, she ________ in Seoul.
   1.   lived
   2.   has lived
3. I ________ the movie Titanic three times. I'm going to see it again tonight.
   1.   saw
   2.   have seen
4. Gerry ________ off his bike three times this month.
   1.   fell
   2.   has fallen
5. Joji ________ in Tokyo for five years, but he left in 1993.
   1.   lived
   2.   have lived
6. I ________ my key yesterday, so I couldn't get into the house. Eventually, I found it in my jacket pocket.
   1.   lost
   2.   have lost
7. The Titanic ________ in 1912.
   1.   sank
   2.   has sunk
8. Ouch! ________ my finger!
   1.   I cut
   2.   I've cut
9. Chika ________ from university last July.
   1.   graduated
   2.   has graduated
10. I ________ to work every day for the last six weeks!
    1.   walked
    2.   have walked

    Present Perfect and Simple Past 2

    Enter the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

Type your answers and click on "Check". If you need help, you can click on "Hint" to get a free letter.

Malaria? In Canada?

Have you ever had malaria? If you have, the chances are that you (get) the disease in a hot country. Malaria is most common in tropical countries, especially those with wet and humid climates, where the mosquitos which carry the disease can flourish. However, recently, malaria (become) more common in Canada. According to a recent report, over 1000 people (contract) the disease in Canada in 1997, and the number (rise) every year since 1994. This is an alarming trend.

Why is the incidence of malaria rising here? The answer is travel. More and more Canadians travel abroad every year, and some of them catch malaria. However, when a Toronto woman (become) sick last year, her doctor (discover) that she (never travel) abroad in her life. She must have been bitten by a mosquito which (get) the disease from another sick Canadian.

Present Perfect and Simple Past 3

In this exercise, two friends are talking about Paris. You will create their conversation. For each question, type in a full, correct sentence, putting the verb in the correct form (present perfect or simple past) and adding any extra words that are necessary.

Type your answers in the box and then click on "Check". If you need help, you can click on "Show a letter" to see one letter in the answer.

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1. You / ever / live / Paris / ? (Note -- this is a question!)
   
   
   
2. I / live / Paris / when / I / be / child
   
   
   
3. You / go / Louvre / when / you / live / Paris / ?
   
   
   
4. Yes / I / go / many times
   
   
   
5. I / never / visit / Louvre
   
   
   

Present Perfect and Simple Past 4

This is a sentence-ordering puzzle. Put the words and punctuation in the correct order to make a question.

Click on words to add them to the sentence one by one. When you think your sentence is complete, click on "Check Answer". If you need help, you can click on the "Hint" button. The "Undo" button will undo your last action if you make a mistake.

   you      bacon      real      had      Canadian      ?      ever      have   

Present Perfect and Simple Past 5

In this exercise, you have to make a sentence by reordering the words and punctuation.

Click on words to add them to the sentence one by one. When you think your sentence is complete, click on "Check Answer". If you need help, you can click on the "Hint" button. The "Undo" button will undo your last action if you make a mistake.

   for      have      ?      you      morning      eggs      this      breakfast      did