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Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
-worksheet-

1. Choose either the present perfect or the past simple to go into each sentence.
Use contractions where possible but only for negatives: haven't, didn't, etc.


1. 'This is my house.' 'How long have you lived here?' 'I (live) here
since 1997.'
2. He lived in London for two years and then he (go) to Edinburgh.
3. When I left school, I cut my hair and (wear) it short ever since.
4. Shakespeare (write) a lot of plays.
5. My brother (write) several plays. He has just finished his latest.
6. I (not see) him for three years. I wonder where he is.
7. He (not smoke) for two weeks. He is trying to give it up.
8. Chopin (compose) some of his music in Majorca.
9. 'When (he/arrive)?' 'He arrived at 2 o'clock.'
10. I read his books when I was at school. I (enjoy) them very much.
11. I can't go out because I (not finish) my work yet.
12. 'I (never/drink) whiskey.' 'Well, have some now!'
13. Here are your shoes. I (just/clean) them.
14. I left home at 8.00a.m. and I (get) here at 12.00p.m.
15. I (meet) him last June.
16. (you/see) the moon last night?
17. Cervantes (write) Don Quixote.
18. He (break) his leg in a skiing accident last year.


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2. Correct the following sentences:

1. Have you ever been to Moscow? - Yes, I have. I there last
year.
2. She that film.
3. When such a beautiful dress?
4. that game yet? - No, I haven't. I'm going to do it tonight.
5. Jane to me this week.
6. Would you like some more coffee? - No, thanks. three
cups.
7. The room looks so clean! - Thanks, in here.
8. How many times him today?
9. He's as clever as a fox. He honest with me.
10. His joke yesterday. Nobody laughed.
11. I this car last week. It cost an arm and a leg!
12. I since my childhood.
13. She a soft touch. I'm sure she'll help you.
14. We had a lot of fun last summer. We went to Croatia by car
and a lot of photos.
15. I guess it's time to face the music now. How much
money last night? It wasn't yours!
16. Are you going to have a rest tonight? You look tired. You so
much.
17. What's that smell? - I guess the fish off.
18. I in a car accident. Heaven forbid!
19. I in no mood to go to the cinema yesterday. I was
absolutely exhausted.
20. They kept me in the dark. I anything about that robbery.

3. Complete this text with either the present perfect continuous or the present perfect
form of the verbs in brackets.
Use the contractions in negatives
1. a) Maria Harris (stay) in a rented flat since returning to
Liverpool.
2. We (stay) at this hotel a couple of times before.
3. a) With their win yesterday, Italy (move) into second place in the
table.
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4. b) As house prices in the cities have risen, people (move) into
the countryside.
5. a) All day, the police (stop) motorists to question them about the
accident.
6. b) Good, the noise (stop) I can start concentrating on my work
again.
7. a) I (not/read) any of Dickens' novels.
8. b) I (read) this book on astrophysics for hours and I'm still only
on page 6.
9. a) Dr Fletcher (give) the same lecture to students for the last ten
years.
10. b) Mr Goldman (give) nearly a million pounds to the charity this
year.
11. a) I did 20 lengths of the pool today. I (not/swim) that far since I
was at school.
12. b) I (swim) and I feel exhausted.
13. a) In recent years, Brazilian companies (put) a lot of money
into developing advanced technology,
14. b) The South African coal company (put) the Calverton Mine
up for sale.
15. a) An important file (disappear) from my office.
16. b) Plants and vegetables (disappear) from my garden since we
had new neighbours





















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English Test Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
Form
Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
he / listen

they / speak

I / watch

she / grow

you / fall

Use
When do we use which tense?
1. To talk about an action in the past (without any consequences in the present), we use
...
2. To emphasise a past action's consequence in the present, we use ...
3. 'so far' is a signal word for ...
4. '5 minutes ago' is a signal word for ...
5. 'recently' is a signal word for ...
Positive Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. He (leave / just) his house.
2. We (build) a tree house last week.
3. Two years ago, Fiona (break) her leg.
4. I (wash / already) the dishes.
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5. The other day, our cat (bring) home a mouse.

Negative Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. We (empty / not) the bin last week.
2. She (be / not) there an hour ago.
3. He (lose / not) any game so far.
4. My brother (pick / not) me up at 8 o'clock.
5. I (make / not) up my mind yet.
Questions
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. (you / see) Bob recently?
2. Who (switch) off the lights a minute ago?
3. When (she / become) a teacher?
4. (you / ride / ever) an elephant?
5. (you / hurt) your knee when you were playing football?
Text
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. Last week I (be) very busy and I (have not) the time to do a lot in the
household.
2. On Monday I (work) three hours overtime and (come) home very late in
the evening.
3. From Tuesday to Thursday I (be) on a business trip.
4. On Friday I (go) to a friend's birthday party and at the weekend I (visit)
my grandparents.
5. Tomorrow some friends are coming over. I (see / not) them for ages and they (be /
never) at my place before.
6. I (clean / just) my house so I can show them around. Now everything is perfect.