PRESENT PERFECT vs. SIMPLE PAST
NAME
………………………………………CLASS……………………….DATE………………………..
Has the time period finished?
|
Rule
|
Example
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Explanation
|
|
The present perfect is used when the time period has NOT finished.
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I have seen three movies this week.
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(This week has not
finished yet.)
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The simple past is used when the time period HAS finished.
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I saw three movies last week.
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(Last week has
finished.)
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Is it new information or old?
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Rule
|
Example
|
Explanation
|
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The present perfect is often used when giving recent news.
|
Martin has crashed his car again.
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(This is new
information.)
|
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The simple past is used when giving older information.
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Martin crashed his car last year.
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(This is old
information.)
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Is it a specific time?
|
Rule
|
Example
|
Explanation
|
|
The present perfect is used when the time is not specific.
|
I have seen that movie already.
|
(We don't know
when.)
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The simple past is used when the time is clear.
|
I saw that movie on Thursday.
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(We know exactly
when.)
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We use time
expressions like 'ever', 'never', 'since' with the present perfect.
- I've never seen so many people here
before.
- Have you ever been more surprised?
- I've done a lot since we last talked
about it.
We use time
expressions like 'yesterday', 'ago',
'last year', 'in 1999' with the past simple.
·
We spoke
to him yesterday.
·
He came
in a few moments ago.
·
We made
our last purchase from them over a year ago.
·
She
joined the company in 1999.
We can use the time phrase 'for'
with both forms, but with different meanings.
·
I lived
in Paris
·
I've
lived in Paris
Signal Words
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Simple Past
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Present Perfect Simple
|
|
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Α. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present
perfect simple).
- A: (you
/ taste / ever) ……………………..sushi?
- B:
Yes, I (eat) ………………..sushi at least five times so far.
- A:
When (you / eat) ……………….sushi for the first time?
- B:
I (eat) ………….sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He (invite) ……………the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
- A: (you / like) …………….it?
- B:
Absolutely. In fact, it (be) …………. so good that we (be) ………….to that
restaurant three times .And on my mum's birthday,
we (order) ………….some sushi and (have) ……………it
at home.
Β. Put the verbs into the correct tense Simple Past or Present Perfect.
a) Whose
car ___________(he/ drive) yesterday?
b) What
___________ (just / happen)?
c) He ___________(hear) a strange noise for a time.
d) ___________
/ ( the film / not begin) only ten minutes ago?
e) My
mother ___________(do) some gardening
last summer.
f) They ___________(not eat) anything since breakfast
time.
g) The
concert ___________(be) an enormous
success for more than 15 years.
h) They ___________(destroy) some animal species
recently.
i) Last week I (be) …….very
busy and I (have
not) .………….…the time to do a lot in the
household..
j) I (clean / just) ……….my
house so I can show them around. Now everything is perfect.
k) Look! There is so much food left. Nobody (eat) …………………..anything.
l) Where (you / be) …………..yesterday?
- I (go) …………….to the shopping centre and (buy) ……………..a new computer game.
m) Why don't you want to play football with us
this weekend? - I (break) ………………………my
leg.
n) The road is closed. There (be) ………………….an accident.
o) He……………….(live) in London for two years and then he went to Edinburgh
p) When I left school, I cut my hair and ……………… (wear) it short ever since.
q) My
brother ………………… (write) several plays. He has just finished his latest.
r) I ………………….. (not see) him for three years. I wonder where
he is.
