PAST PERFECT SIMPLE VS.

PAST SIMPLE

In British English, the use of Past Simple and Present Perfect Simple is quite strict. As
soon as a time expression in the past is given, you have to use Past Simple. If there are no
signal words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence in
the present is important.
FORM
Past Simple Present Perfect Simple
V2 have + V3
Example: Example:
I spoke. They have worked.
They worked. He has worked.
I have spoken.
He has spoken.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it
was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet

Example: Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.

I. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple).

1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. (you / wash)_________________________the dishes

yet?
2. Daughter: I (wash)_________________________________the dishes yesterday, but I (have
/ not)__________________________the time yet to do it today.
3. Mother: (you / do / already)_____________________________________ your homework?
4. Daughter: No, I (come / just)____________________________________ home from school.
5. Mother: You (come)_______________________________home from school two hours ago!
6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy (call)______________ when I
(arrive)________________and I (finish / just)__________________________the phone call.
 7. Mother: (you / see / not) _____________________________Lucy at school in the morning?
8. Daughter: Yes, but we (have / not)________________________________ time to talk then.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or if / how often an action has
happened till now?

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

if it ever happened/ how often till now
certain event in the past
Example:
Example:
Have you ever been to Canada? / I
He went to Canada last summer.
have been to Canada twice.

I. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple).

1. A: (you / be / ever)___________________ to London?

2. B: Yes, I (be) ____________________there three times.
3. A: When (be)________________________the last time you (be)________________there?
4. B: Last summer. I (spend) ________________ two weeks in Brighton with my parents and
we (go)_____________________________ to London one weekend.
5. (you / like)_______________________ it?
6. Oh, yes! We really (have) _________________________ a great time in London.
7. Lucky you! I (be / never)_______________________________to London.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasize the result
(a past action's consequence in the present)?

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action Emphasis on result

Example: Example:
I bought a new bike. (just I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I
telling what I did in the past.) actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

I. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple).

1. A: (you / buy)_____________________ the tickets for our journey yet?

 2. B: Yes, I (go) _________________to the station yesterday and (buy) _____________the
tickets.
3. A: What time (you / go)__________________________ there?
4. B: I (take)_____________a friend to the station in the morning. His train (leave)
____________at 9:45.
5. A: (you / pack) __________________________your bags yet?
6. B: Of course. And I (ask / already) ___________________________________my neighbour
to empty my letter box. What about you?
7. B: I (pack) ____________________ my bags two days ago.

Signal Words
Past Simple Present Perfect Simple
just
already
yesterday
up to now
... ago
until now / till now
in 1990
ever/never
the other day
(not) yet
last ...
so far
lately / recently

I. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple).

1. A: (you / play / already)_____________________________ the new computer game?

2. B: No, not yet. I only (buy) _____________it yesterday and I (have /
not)______________________the time yet.
3. A: (you / go)_____________________________ to the cinema last night?
4. B: Yes. I (be) ________________________there with Sue and Louis. (you /
be)_______________________ to the cinema recently?
5. A: I last (go) __________________________ to the cinema two weeks ago.
6. B: So you (see / not)_____________________________ the new action film yet.
7. A: No, unfortunately not. (you / enjoy) _________________________________ it?
8. B: Oh, I really (love)_________________ it. But Sue (like / not) _________________it - too
much action!
9. A: But why (you / take)_________________________her with you? She
(tell)_________________me last week that she (hate)____________________ action films.
10. B: I think she has an eye on Louis. She (try)___________ to flirt with him all the time. So
he (can / concentrate / not) _________________________ on the film.
11. I (just / finish)__________________________ my homework.
12. Mary (already / write) five letters.
13. Tom (move) ____________________________to this town in 1994.
14. My friend (be) ___________________________________________in Canada two years ago.
15. I (not / be) ____________________________________________________ to Canada so far.
16. But I (already / travel) __________________________to London a couple of times.
17. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) __________________________ to the cinema.
18. I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy) _________________________a new film yet.
19. (They / spend) __________________________ their holiday in New Zealand last summer?
20. (You / ever / see) _________________________________ a whale?
21. My friends (visit) _________________________ the Grand Canyon National Park last year.
22. I (be / never) __________________________ to the Grand Canyon National Park.
23. But I (see) ___________________________________________ lots of wonderful pictures.
24. And yesterday I (buy) ______________________________ a book about the Grand Canyon.
25. I (read) ____________________________________30 pages already. It's really interesting.
26. My friend (be) ________________________________________to Edinburgh three times.
27. Some years ago he (study) ________________________________________ English there.
28. Last month he (visit) ___________________________________ some friends in Edinburgh.
29. Unfortunately, I (can / not go) ______________________________ to Edinburgh with him.
30. This is a pity. They are my friends, too, and I (see / not) ________________ them for ages.
31. Mary (win) __________________________________________________the lottery last year.
32. We (prepare / already) __________________________________________________ dinner.
33. James (find) _____________________________________ your ring in the garden yesterday.
34. He (come / just) _________________________________________________________ home.
35. They (buy) _______________________________________________ their car two years ago.
36. I (see / not)_________________________________________________________ anyone yet.
37. Phil (go / not) ___________________________________________ to the cinema last night.
38. We (be / not) __________________________________________________ to the zoo so far.
39. She (arrive / not) ___________________________________________________________yet.
40. Emily (visit / not) __________________________________________________me last week.
41. A: (you / taste / ever) _____________________________________________________sushi?
42. B: Yes, I (eat) ________________________________________sushi at least five times so far.
43. A: When (you / eat)______________________________________ sushi for the first time?
44. B: I (eat)__________________________________ sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th
birthday. He (invite)_______________________ the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
45. A: (you / like)__________________________________________ it?
46. B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be)__________________________ so good that we
(be)___________________________ to that restaurant three more times. And on my
mum's birthday, we (order) ____________________some sushi and
(have)______________________ it at home.
47. William (tidy up/ already)__________________________________________ his room.
48. Caroline (miss)________________________________________ the school bus yesterday.
49. I (finish / just) ___________________________________________________my homework.
50. I cannot go out tonight. My grandparents (come)__________________________ to see us.