Present perfect and past simple

(I have done and I did)

The present perfect is a present tense. It
always tells us something about now.

The past simple tells us only about the

past.

Examples:
Jack grew a beard but now he has
shaved it off.
They went out after lunch and they have
just come back.

Do not use the present perfect if there is no

connection with the present (for example,
things that happened a long time ago):
The Chinese invented printing.
How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Compare:
Shakespeare wrote many plays.
My sister is a writer. She has written
many books.

We use the present perfect to give new

information or to announce a recent
happening:
Ow! I have cut my finger!
The police have arrested two men in
connection with the robbery.

You can use the present perfect with

just, already and yet.
Just = a short time ago
Hello. Have you just arrived?
We use already to say that something happened
sooner than expected.
Hes already gone.
Yet = until now and shows that the speaker is
expecting something to happen. Use yet only in
questions and negative sentences.
Ive written the letter but I havent posted it
yet.

Do not use the present perfect when you

talk about a finished time (for example,
yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago).
Use a past tense:
I went to bed early last night.
They arrived an hour ago.

Use a past tense to ask When...? What

time...?
When did they arrive?
What time did you finish work?

Compare present perfect and past

simple:
Present perfect
We use the present perfect for a
period of time that continues
from the past until now.
For example, today, this week,
since 1985.
It hasnt rained this week.
Have you seen Ann recently?
Tom lives in London.
He has lived there for seven
years.
I have never played golf.

Past simple
We use the past simple for a
finished time in the past.
For example, yesterday, last
week, from 1985 to 1991.
It didnt rain last week.
Did you see Ann on
Sunday?
Tom lived in Scotland for ten
years. Now he lives in
London.
I didnt play golf when I was
on holiday last summer.

EXERCISES

Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

Mary ______________ to Australia for a while but shes back again now.
(go)
Wheres Ken? He ______________ out. Hell be back in about an
hour. (go)
I did German at school but I ______________ most of it. (forget)
I meant to phone Diane last night but I ______________ . (forget)
I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have)
Look! Theres an ambulance over there. There ______________ an
accident. (be)
Theyre still building a new road. They ______________ it. (not/finish)
Is Helen still here? No, she ______________ out. (just/go)
The police ______________ three people but later they let them go.
(arrest)
Ann ______________ me her address but Im afraid I ______________
it. (give, lose)
Wheres my bike? It ______________ outside the house. It
______________ ! (be, disappear)
What do you think of my English? Do you think I ______________ ?
(improve)

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right

or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
How many plays has Shakespeare written?
Have you read any of Shakespeares plays
Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher.
Ow! Ive cut my finger. Its bleeding.
My grandparents have got married in
London.
Where have you been born?
Mary isnt at home. Shes gone shopping

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right

or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
Ive bought a new car. Do you want to see it?
______________
Ive bought a new car last week.
______________
Where have you been yesterday evening?
______________
Jenny has left school in 1991.
______________
Im looking for Mike. Have you seen him?
______________
Im very hungry. I havent eaten anything today.
______________
Diane hasnt been at work yesterday.
______________
When has this book been published?

Put the verb into the correct form,

present perfect or past simple.
When I _____________ (get) home last night, I
______________ (be) very tired and I ______________ (go)
straight to bed.
Your car looks very clean. ______________ (you/wash) it?
George ______________ (not/be) very well last week.
Mr Clark ______________ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then
he gave it up.
Molly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all her
life.
______________ (you/go) to the cinema last night?
Yes,
but it ______________ (be) a mistake. The film
______________ (be) awful.
My grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago. I
______________ (never/meet) him.
I dont know Carols husband. I ______________
(never/meet/him).

A: Is your father at home?

B: No, Im afraid he ______________ (go) out.
A: When exactly ______________ (he/go) out?
B: About ten minutes ago.
A: Where do you live?
B: In Boston.
A: How long ______________ (you/live) there?
B: Five years.
A: Where ______________ (you/live) before that?
B: In Chicago.
A: And how long ______________ (you/live) in Chicago?
B: Two years.