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

Is it new information or old?

Rule Example Explanation

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

Is it a specific time?

Rule Example Explanation

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

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

Rule Example Explanation

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

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

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Present Perfect and Simple Past 1
In each sentence, choose the correct form of the verb.

Click on the button beside the correct answer.

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

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