Past Simple and Present Perfect

Simple Past Tense

Form:
Subject + regular verb-ed or irregular verb (V2 form, Past Simple)
Use:
 Finished time
We lived in algiers from 1995-1998. (a time period that started and ended in the
past)
 Definite time
I visited the experimental park of HAMA in 2007.
 Series of finished actions
First, he distinguished the waste and then recycled it.
 Repeated actions
He cleaned his environment every weekend last year.
Time phrases:
 yesterday
 ago
 last
 in 1994, etc.
 in the 20th century,etc.
 in July, etc.
 on Monday, etc.
 …

Present Perfect Tense

Form:
Subject + regular verb-ed or irregular verb (V3 form, Past Participle)
Use:
 Unfinished time
I’ve worked as a waste collector since 2011. (a time period that started in the past,
and continues until now)
 Indefinite time
I have seen the waste water treatment plant
 Experience
Have you ever seen a septic system?
 Result
She has already recycled this product 3 times.
Signal words:
 already
 just
 yet
 ever
 never
 for
 since
 …
EXERCISE 01: complete the following table

The simple past The present perfect

I/ clean ....................................... .......................................

It /pollute ......................................... ........................................
He / make ........................................ .......................................
They /try ....................................... ........................................
We /protect ........................................ .........................................

EXERCISE 02: put the verbs between brackets into the right form

 The Chinese (invent) ............................. printing

 Last April an oil tanker boat (sink) ...................................... in the Mediterranean sea
 He (start) .................................his job as a recycling agent in 2010
 The acid rain (badly/effected ).................................the vegetarian cover.
 She (already /test) ................................... the degree of water purification
 (you/ever/ see) ...................................how does waste water plant work?
 Yesterday we (have) .......................a problem with some waste management
paperwork
THE ANSWERS

EXERCISE 01:

The simple past The present perfect

I/ clean I cleaned I have cleaned

It /pollute It polluted It has polluted
He / make He made He has made
They /try They tried They have tried
We /protect We protected We have protected

EXERCISE 02:

 The Chinese invented printing

 Last April an oil tanker boat sank in the Mediterranean sea
 He started his job as a recycling agent in 2010
 The acid rain has badly the vegetarian cover.
 She has already tested the degree of water purification
 Have you ever seen how does waste water plant work?
 Yesterday we had a problem with some waste management paperwork