Simple Past

 Finished actions

I drove back from London last night.

 With words for a finished time. (Yesterday, in 1990, ago, then, when…)

I saw Mark yesterday.

 Stories

A man walked into a cafe and sat down at a table. The waiter asked….

 Details (time, place, etc) of news.

The cat has eaten your supper. She took it off the table.

Present Perfect

 Thinking about the past and present together.

Jane has found my glasses, so I can see again.

 News.

The Prime Minister has left for Paris.

 Up to now: how much/ many: how often.

I’ve drunk six cups of coffee today.

 Up to now: Things that haven’t happened; questions; ever and never.

John hasn’t phoned.

 Already, yet and just.

Has the postman come yet?

 To say how long (often with since and before)

How long have you been in this country?

 Put the verbs into the correct tense- Simple past or Present perfect.

You ________________ (not/come) to see us last week.

You ________________ (not/come) to see us since you left the office.

I ________________ (sell) a lot of my old pictures lately.

I ________________ (sell) a lot of my old pictures a few months ago.

She ________________ (keep) us waiting a long time last night.

She ________________ (keep) us waiting for a long time this evening.

It ________________ (not/rain) yesterday and it ________________ (not/ rain) today.

I ________________ (not/see) the exhibition yet but Michael ________________ (see) it last night.

I ________________ don’t want to go to the cinema. I ________________ (see) this film some

weeks ago.

I ________________ (just/do) my homework but Peter ________________ (do) a long time ago.

He ________________ (visit) twelve different countries now.

You’ll have to wait. I ________________ (not/finish) yet.

I _______________ (see) you in town two or three days ago but you _____________ (not/see) me.

I ________________ (go) to the circus at the weekend.

I’m going to do it again. I ________________ (already/do) it once.

He ________________ (not/pay) his taxes yet. He must pay them soon.

He ________________ (write) some articles for the school magazine last year but this year he

________________ (not/write) any.

Have you seen my glasses? They ________________ (disappear).

I _______________ (see) Jane twice this week but last week I _______________ (not/set) eyes on

her.