Simple past or present perfect tense

worksheet
This grammar exercise tests your ability to use the simple present and present perfect tenses
correctly.

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate simple past or present perfect tense.

1. I ……………………… his letter yesterday.

a) received
b) have received
c) Either could be used here

2. Babar ………………….. Rana Sanga at Kanwaha.

a) has defeated
b) defeated
c) had defeated

3. She always …………………… an umbrella.

a) carried
b) has carried
c) had carried

4. I ………………….. the work.

a) finished
b) have finished
c) had finished

5. I …………………… him since December.

a) didn’t see
b) haven’t seen

6. I ……………………. my leg, so I can’t walk now.

a) broke
b) have broken

7. We ………………………. in this town for ten years.

a) have lived
b) lived
c) Either could be used here

8. She ……………………. from work yet.

a) didn’t return
b) hasn’t returned

9. Israel ………………….. war on Palestine.

a) declared
b) has declared

10. There ……………………. an explosion near the temple.

a) was
b) has been
c) Either could be used here

Answers
1. I received his letter yesterday.

2. Babar defeated Rana Sanga at Kanwaha.

3. She always carried an umbrella.

4. I have finished the work.

5. I haven’t seen him since December.

6. I have broken my leg, so I can’t walk now.

7. We have lived/lived in this town for ten years. (Use the present perfect tense if you still live in
that town. Use the past simple tense if you no longer live in that town.)

8. She has not returned from work yet.

9. Israel has declared war on Palestine.

10. There has been an explosion near the temple. (The simple past tense is also possible in this
sentence, but we prefer the present perfect tense because no time expressions are used.)