Simple Past – Present Perfect
1. Complete what James is saying using one of the verbs in the box in the Present Perfect. There are
more verbs than necessary.
do drive make travel be write meet win play see ride buy sell go
James: Do you see that man over there, Alice? I’m sure I 1 have seen him on TV. Oh yes, I remember, it’s
David Sen – the man I’m going to see at the Festival Hall tonight. He’s a wonderful piano player.
He and his family 2 have done a lot of different things in their lives. He 3 has travelled all over the
world playing the piano, and he 4 has met a lot of interesting people. He 5 has won a lot of money
in piano-playing competitions, so he’s rich now. His daughter’s only 20 and she 6
has already
written (already) a very successful cookery book and she’s writing another one now. That’s his
son, Kenny, with him. He loves motorbikes. He 7 has ridden his bike all the way from Canada to
Chile, and he 8 has sold the story of his journey to a travel magazine. So he’ll be rich soon! David
Sen’s wife is a musician too. She plays the flute. They 9
have played together many times in
different countries. But they 10 have never been (never) to this country before, so I’m going to their
concert at the Festival Hall tonight.
Alice: You certainly know a lot about him!
2. Put the verbs in parentheses in the Simple Past or the Present Perfect.
The electricity was (be) off for a couple of hours this morning, but it’s on again now.
Why did you argue (you / argue) with your sister when you were teenagers?
We haven’t seen (not / see) her for a long time.
They have lived (live) here since last year.
John haven’t smoked (not / smoke) a cigarette for ten years.
I stopped (stop) playing soccer when I started university.
Mary moved (move) to Quito after her graduation.
3. Your friend is taking a trip to Hawaii Complete the questions you ask him.
You ask: Your friend says:
1. What things have you bought for the trip? I’ve bought some things for the trip.
2. How much did the tickets cost? The tickets cost $500.
3. Have you told your parents about the trip yet? No, I haven’t told my parents about the trip yet.
4. How many countries have you been to? I’ve been to Mexico, Brazil and Chile.
5. When were you in Mexico? I was in Mexico two years ago.
4. Read about the comic Rowan Atkinson. Put the verbs in brackets in the Simple Past or Present
Perfect.
Rowan Atkinson 1 has appeared (appear) in comedy programs and films, but he is most
famous for Mr. Bean. Atkinson 2 was born (be born) in the north of England in 1956. He
studied electrical engineering at Oxford University and he 3
started (start) acting with
student friends there.
In his career so far he 4
has played (play) some great comedy characters on TV like Blackadder and Mr.
Bean. Richard Curtis, a writer and director, says about Mr. Bean that he 5 has never laughed (never / laugh)
so much in his life. The program 6 won (win) an international award at Montreux in 1990 and is popular all
over the world. Atkinson also 7 made (make) a film about Mr. Bean in 1997 and he 8 has acted (act) in some
other films too.
5. Complete the conversations with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Use the Simple Past
or the Present Perfect.
A: How long have you known (How long / you / know) Mr. James?
B: I have known (know) him for four months.
A: Have you ever been (you / ever / be) to his house?
B: No, he has never invited (never / invite) me.
A: He invited (invite) me last week.
6. Use the words in parentheses to write sentences in the Present Perfect. Include ALREADY or YET.
1. My child hasn’t made the bed yet. (My child / not / make / the bed)
2. Ten companies have already replied (reply) to our questionnaire.
3. Have you spoken to your math teacher yet? (you / speak / to your math teacher /?)
4. I haven’t gone swimming yet. (I / not / go swimming)
5. Susan has already washed (wash) her uniforms.
6. Has the postman arrived yet? (the postman / arrive /?)
