Present Perfect vs Past Simple

A. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the present perfect.

1. How long _____________________ (you / stay) in the USA?
2. Why _____________________ (you / not apply) for a residence permit?
3. I _____________________ (never / be) abroad.
4. Mark _______________ _____________________ (always / believe) in
fairy tales.
5. The Smiths _____________________ (already / meet) my grandson.
6. You _____________________ (not pay) us a visit for a long time.
7. I _____________________ (just / see) Margaret. She _______________ (be)
sick for some time.
Rick has had an iPad for over a year.

C. Cross out (X) the form of each verb that doesn’t fit the context.

1. Did you read / Have you read this book yet?

2. Yesterday he celebrated / has celebrated his 18th birthday.
3. How many text messages did you send / have you sent so far?
4. We went / have gone to the zoo last weekend.
5. They didn’t arrive / haven’t arrived yet.
6. We bought / have bought our car four years ago.
7. How long did you know / have you known about your problem?
8. My students didn’t study / haven’t studied a lot recently.
9. Did you ever taste / Have you ever tasted sushi?
10. Have you ever eaten / Did you ever eat at an Indian restaurant?
Past Perfect
A. Complete the sentences with the past perfect of the verbs in brackets.
1. He _______________ (study) a little Portuguese
before he
came to Portugal.
2. When I rang Marco’s doorbell at 8 o’clock yesterday, he
_____________________ (already / leave) home.
3. They didn’t have anything to eat because they _______________ (not go)
to the supermarket.
4. My mother _______________ (cook) breakfast when we got up at 8.30.
5. _______________ (you / have) lunch by the time your brother arrived home?
6. He was a famous astronaut because he _______________ (walk) on the
Moon.
7. I got a postcard from Henry last month. We _______________ (be) at school
together, but we _______________ (lose) touch with each other.
8. When I saw Henry, I didn’t recognise him. I _______________ (not see) him
for a long time.

B. Circle the best option to complete each sentence.

1. The girl sitting next to me on the plane was very nervous.

She ________________________________ before.
a) had never flown
b) never flew

2. We were good friends. We _____________ each other for years.

a) had known
b) knew

3. My results last term were better than I _____________________.

a) expected
b) had expected

4. When Susana arrived at the party, Nick wasn’t there.

He __________________________________ home.
a) had gone
b) went

5. I only ________________________ the film because I ________________________ the

book.
a) had understood… read
b) understood… had read.