PRESENT PERFECT

AND PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
Present Perfect
We use the present perfect to talk about:

 Unfinished actions or states that started

in the past and continue up to the present:
I’ve lived in Braga for twenty years.

 Life experiences with unspecified dates:

My teacher has been to the United States twice.

 Finished past actions or events with a result in the present:

I’ve forgotten my email password! (The result is that I can’t
sign into my account now.)
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
Present Perfect – Time expressions

Just Never Ever

For Since Yet Already

My sister has lived in France for five years.

I haven’t eaten any cake since I started my diet on 1st May.
Have you ever been to Sydney before? No, I’ve never been to
Australia. I haven’t been abroad yet.
Peter has just arrived. He is in his bedroom reading a comic book.
I’ve already packed my things. Let’s go, shall we?
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
Past Simple
We use the past simple to talk about finished past actions at a specified
time in the past.
Look at the following examples:

 Yesterday, I met my friends at the bookstore and

we bought a very good book.
 Last week, I went to the beach and I tried yoga for
the first time. It was amazing!
 I finished that book last week. I loved the story
about the girl who moved to another city and
made a big lifestyle change.
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
Past Simple – Time expressions

In the
Last week/month/year Yesterday In 2010 A week/month/year ago
20th century

Last year I visited my best friend, who lives in Rome.

Mary went to the shopping centre yesterday and
bought a dress.
I went to university in September 2000.
A week ago, my father had a car accident.
Fortunately nothing bad happened; he wasn’t hurt
and neither was the other driver.
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

PRACTICE
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
 A. Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets in the past simple or
present perfect.

has been (be) there many times.

1. His girlfriend loves Japan. She _________
has worked (work) in that big building for four years.
2. Anthony __________
(He still works there.)
went (go) to Australia on holiday last summer.
3. They _____
have watched (watch) that film. It´s really good.
4. I _____________
were (be) here last Christmas.
5. His grandparents _____
6. They went was (be) only four.
____ (go) to Greece when she _____
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
 A. Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets in the past simple or
present perfect. (cont.)

Did you ____

7. ____ see (see) any good TV programmes last weekend?
had (have) a salad and a soup for lunch today.
8. I _____
has lived (live) in Madrid since he went to college
9. My brother ________
there.
Have you _______
10. The car looks different._____ painted (paint) it?
didn’t see (not see) him at the café last Saturday night.
11. She _________
won (win) the lottery three years ago.
12. A friend of mine ____
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
 B. Say if the following sentences are right or wrong.
Correct them if necessary.

1. ‘Have you ever been to India’? ‘No, I haven’t’.

Right
________________________________________________
2. I’ve had cereals for breakfast, but I’ve had nothing since then.
Wrong – I had cereals for breakfast, but I’ve had nothing since then.
__________________________________________________
3. She’s enjoyed herself at the funfair last Saturday.
Wrong – She enjoyed herself at the funfair last Saturday.
________________________________________________
4. I’ve listened to their new album, but I didn’t like it (much).
Right
________________________________________________
5. Tom has left university ten years ago.
Wrong – Tom left university ten years ago.
________________________________________________
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
 B. Say if the following sentences are right or wrong.
Correct them if necessary. (cont.)

6. Their cousins have lived in Barcelona since they’ve been

teenagers.
Wrong – Their cousins have lived in Barcelona since they were teenagers.
___________________________________________________
7. We have lived here for three years and a half.
Right
___________________________________________________
8. My parents worked in that company for ten years.
Right
___________________________________________________
9. Rose has made a cheese cake for her mother’s last birthday.
Wrong – Rose made a cheese cake for her mother’s birthday.
___________________________________________________
10. I´ve washed your car. It looks really clean now!
Right
__________________________________________________
PRESENT PERFECT
AND PAST SIMPLE