Bunat Alghad Academy

First Semester

2023 - 2024 Scholastic Year

Student’s Name:
Grade: 8 National
Subject: The Simple Past/Present Perfect
Teacher’s Name:
Date:

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular
verbs verbs

Example: Example:
I spoke. I / you / we / they have spoken.
he / she / it has spoken.

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: Example:
I worked. I / you / we / they have worked.
he / she / it has worked.

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed':

▪ when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:
love - loved
▪ after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example:
admit - admitted
▪ final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example:
travel - travelled
▪ after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a
time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal
words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence in the
present is important.

Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In
American English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot
accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those who
have to learn the differences.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was
just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet

Example: Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action
has happened till now?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past whether / how often till now

Example: Example:
He went to Canada last summer. Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to
Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the
result (a past action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action Emphasis on result

Example: Example:
I bought a new bike. (just telling I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually
what I did in the past.) want to express that I have a new bike now.)
Signal Words

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

▪ yesterday ▪ just
▪ ... ago ▪ already
▪ in 1990 ▪ up to now
▪ the other day ▪ until now / till now
▪ last ... ▪ ever
▪ (not) yet
▪ so far
▪ lately / recently

Positive Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. Caroline (miss) -------------------------- the school bus yesterday.

2. I (finish / just) --------------------------------------------- my homework.
3. I cannot go out tonight. My grandparents (come) ------------------------------------ to see us.
4. In 2004, the Olympic Summer Games (take) ---------------------------------------- place in Athens.

Negative Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. We (watch / not) ------------------------------------------ TV last night.

2. Joanna (read / not) -------------------------------------- the book yet.
3. Collin (not / go) --------------------------------- on holiday last year.
4. I (have / not) ------------------------------------- any problems so far.
5. They (learn / not) ------------------------------------------ the new words yet.

questions

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. (they / be / ever) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- to New York?

2. (you / see) -------------------------------------------------------------- Catherine a minute ago?
3. What time (you / get) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- up today?
4. (he / hear) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ the news yet?

5. How often (you / play) -------------------------------------------------------- that game up to now?

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. Last week I (be) ----------------------- very busy and I (have not) ---------------------------------- the
time to do a lot in the household.
2. On Monday I (work) ---------------------------------------------------- three hours overtime and (come)
-------------------------------------- home very late in the evening.
3. From Tuesday to Thursday I (be) ---------------------------------------------- on a business trip.
4. On Friday I (go)----------------------------------------- to a friend's birthday party and at the
weekend I (visit) ---------------------------------------- my grandparents.
5. Tomorrow some friends are coming over. I (see / not) --------------------------------- them for ages
and they (be / never) --------------------------------------- at my place before.
6. I (clean / just) -------------------------------------------------- my house so I can show them around.
Now everything is perfect.