Simple Past or Present Perfect (test)

1) Underline the correct verb. 2) Choose the correct words in italics.

1. James Smith is a runner. He’s won / He won a lot of
medals.
2. I’ve seen / I saw my first Disney film when I was
three years old.
3. Our school basketball team hasn’t won / didn’t win
a match since the start of the year.
4. The Browns have lived/lived in Brazil for years, but
they’re back in the UK now.
5. Sam went to his grandmother for dinner last night.
She has cooked / cooked him a great meal.
6. We haven’t heard / didn’t hear from Pam since her
family moved to Germany.
7. A: How long has she been / was she ill? B: I think
she has gone / went into hospital last week. 88
1. Sarah’s been to the theatre twice this
month/ last month.
2. Tom’s driven this car many times / in 2015.
3. John has finished / finished the course
three weeks ago.
4. Dave loves his job. He did /’s done it since
he was twenty-four.
5. ‘Mary has arrived’. ‘Really? When has she
got / did she get here?’
6. My father bought a new car this year / two
years ago.
7. They’ve been on the boat four hours ago /
for four hours.
7

4) Complete the sentences with the right

3) Complete the sentences. Use the past simple in one
sentence and the present perfect in the other sentence.
1. buy
a I _________you a present. Do you want to see it?
b The dress was half price, so Ann ___________ it.
2. go
a He _______ to Paris two times. He loves it!
b The Greens _______ to Italy before they were
married.
3. not hear
a I’m sorry I missed your call. I __________the phone.
b Who’s this song by? I ____________ it before.
4. not drive
a I ______________________ an automatic car before.
b Sam __________________ a racing car last summer. 8
form of the verbs in brackets.
1. When Mark was little, he ________ (want)
to be a driver.
2. ____________ (you/ ever / find) money in
an old coat pocket?
3. Jane ____________ (not buy) a T-shirt in
the sale last weekend.
4. Ted ____________ (take) his driving test
five times, but he keeps failing!
5. ______you________ (take) any good
photos at the party last night?
6. Jill _________ (be) in hospital for a week.
I’m going to visit her today.
6

5) Complete the conversations using the present perfect or the past simple of the verbs in
brackets.

1.’I know Mary Morris.’ ‘Really? How long ____________________________ (you/know) her?’
‘Oh, for quite a long time now.’ ‘When ______________________________ (you/first/meet)
her?’
2. (It’s 11 o’clock in the morning) ‘_______________ (you / see) Paul this morning?’ ‘Yes, I
_________
(see) him when I _____________ (arrive) in the office, but he ___________ (go) out soon
afterwards.’
3.’That’s a really nice skirt, Sally. When____________ (you/get) it?’ ‘My mum ___________ (give) it
to
me for Christmas, so I ______________(have) it for two months.’ ‘Really? I ___________ (never1/
see) 4 6
you in it. ‘I _____________ (not wear) it very often. It doesn’t really go with
5 anything. 6
4.’I __________ (be) in Madrid last week.’ ‘Oh! _________________ (you / have) a good time?’
‘Yes, I ______________ (love) it! _______________________ (you / ever /go) there?’
No, I haven’t. I ______________ (visit) some friends in Barcelona a few years ago.
 Total_____/

Answer Key

Ex. 1)
2. I saw 3. hasn’t won 4. lived 5. cooked 6. haven’t heard 7. has she been; went

Ex. 2)
1. this month 2. many times 3. finished 4. ‘s done 5. did she get 6. two years ago
7. for four hours

Ex.3)
1.
a) I’ve bought b) bought
2.
a) He’s been b) went
3.
a) didn’t hear b) haven’t heard
4.
a) haven’t driven b) didn’t drive

Ex.4)
1 wanted
2 Have you ever found
3 didn’t buy
4 has taken
5 Did you take
6 has been

Ex.5)
1. have you known / did you first meet
2. Have you seen / saw / arrived / went
3. did you get / gave / I’ve had / I’ve never seen / I haven’t worn
4. was / Did you have / loved / Have you been / visited