THE DIFFERENCE OF SIMPLE PAST TENSE AND PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses

---

We use the Past Simple tense to talk about a definite finished time in the past. For example: when, yesterday, last week, when I was at school, then, after etc. Examples    I finished university three years ago.    Where did we first meet?    I didn't study French at school. We use the Present Perfect tense with time references that refer to the time up to now. For example: today, this week, this month, ever, never, already, recently, yet etc. Examples    I haven't seen her today.    Have you ever smoked a cigarette?    I have never been abroad before.

Present Perfect and Past Simple - time references

---

Exercise. Do we usually use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple
tenses with the following time references?

	a long time ago
	since we last met
	yet
	after I got married
	lately
	this month
	the day before yesterday
	last night
	since last weekend
	at the weekend

Present Perfect and Past Simple - Practice

---

Exercise. Chose the most suitable tense - the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

Script for this exercise is provided by JavaScriptKit.com
You need to have cookies enabled in your browser to do this quiz.

The Present Perfect Tense - When to use

---

We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experiences. It is important if we have done it in our lives or not. It is not important when we did it. Examples    I have been abroad two times.    Anna has never broken a leg.    Have you ever eaten sushi? Tip! We often use never and ever with the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experience. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous up to now. Examples    I have been a teacher for more than ten years.    We haven't seen Janine since Friday.    How long have you been at this school? Tip! We often use since and for to say how long the action has lasted. We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the present. Examples    I have lost my wallet. = I don't have it now.    Jimmy has gone to South America. = He isn't here now.    Have you finished your homework? = Is your homework ready? Tip! We often use just, already and yet with the Present Perfect Tense for an action in the past with the result in the present.

Uses of the Present Perfect - Practice

---

Exercise: chose for or since.

1. You have broken my watch!
2. I have never been to Paris.
3. How long have you been here?
4. Angela has bought a new flat.
5. How many times have you been married?
6. We haven't worked on a farm.
7. This building has been an office since 1998. 

The Present Perfect Tense - How to form

---

We make the Present Perfect tense with the correct form of the auxiliary verb have (have/has) and the third form (past participle) of the mail verb. To form the past participle of the regular verbs, we add ed to the infinitive. Examples:    I have worked as a secretary for two years.    Have you ever visited the Disneyland?    The film hasn't started yet. Tip! You may want to visit The English Irregular Verbs pages to learn how we form the past simple (second form) and past participles (third form) of some English verbs.. Present Perfect - Positive Sentences I 've been to Moscow. You 've finished the exercise. He 's just gone home. She 's already had a holiday this year. It 's broken! We 've seen this film before. They 've bought a new car. Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Example: I (see) my new teacher. The train to Newcastle already (leave). Alan (be) married twice. The Browns (have) a baby! I (break) my leg once. We (live) here for a year. Answers The train to Newcastle already (leave). Alan (be) married twice. The Browns (have) a baby! I (break) my leg once. We (live) here for a year.

Present Perfect - Negative Sentences

I	haven't	been abroad yet.
You	haven't	answered my question.
He	hasn't	been home for five years.
She	hasn't	found a new job.
It	hasn't	finished yet.
We	haven't	worked on a farm.
They	haven't	seen each other for ages.

Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example: The kids (go) to bed yet.

• I think I (see) her before.
• She (have) a holiday this year.
• The shop (open) yet.
• John never (ride) a bicycle.
• We (do) our homework yet.

Answers

• I think I (see) her before.
• She (have) a holiday this year.
• The shop (open) yet.
• John never a bicycle.
• We (do) our homework yet.

Present Perfect - Yes/No Questions

Have	I	ever done it before?
Have	you	been to the cinema recently?
Has	he	worked here long?
Has	she	already sent the fax?
Has	it	ever been in a crash?
Have	we	done it right?
Have	they	gone home yet?

Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example: you (meet) our new teacher?

• your son ever (sleep) in a tent?
• Ms Bixby (work) here longer than you?
• you (see) my glasses?
• the post (arrive)?
• they (fix) the car?

Answers

• your son ever (sleep) in a tent?
• Ms Bixby (work) here longer than you?
• you (see) my glasses?
• the post (arrive)?
• they (fix) the car?

Present Perfect - Information Questions

What	have	I	done?
How long	have	you	been here?
How many times	has	he	been married?
What countries	has	she	visited?
Where	has	it	been?
How long	have	we	been together?
Where	have	they	worked?

Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example: What exams you already (pass)?

• Where you (be)?
• How long they (have) their car?
• How many letters he (write)?
• What companies she (work) for?
• How many copies we (sell)?

Answers

• Where you (be)?
• How long they (have) their car?
• How many letters he (write)?
• What companies she (work) for?
• How many copies we (sell)?

Present Perfect - Practice

---

Exercise: Put the verb in brackets in the correct form to make the Present Perfect Tense.

• you ever (break) a leg?
• I (not be) to the theatre for ages.
• The Browns (move) a flat.
• Anita already (speak) to you?
• Our parcel (not arrive) yet.
• What countries you (be) to?
• My parents (live) in the same city all their lives.

Present Perfect Tense - Already and Yet

---

Already means that something happened earlier than we expected. With Present Perfect already usually goes after have or has and before the main verb. Examples    - We've already had our breakfast.    - When are you going to do your homework?    - But I've already done it!    - Do you want a cup of coffee?    - No, thanks. I've already had one." Yet means that something that we expected has happened or hasn't happened. We usually put it at the end of a sentence. Examples    - Has the post arrived yet?    - Have you done your homework?    - Not yet.    - Haven't you got ready yet? Look at the time!

Already and Yet with Present Perfect Tense - Practice

---

Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?

• I haven't phoned home Christmas.
• We've been here nine o'clock.
• I have worked for International House more than eight years.
• I haven't visited my home town I left school.
• I haven't been to the cinema ages.
• I have studied non-stop 9.15.
• I have had a driving licence I was eighteen.
• She hasn't had a day off 1999.
• Johan has been in England more than two weeks now.
• Peter has been my best friend we were nine.

Already and Yet with Present Perfect Tense - More Practice

---

Exercise. Decide if you need for or since with these time expressions.

			last weekend
			ten seconds
			Christmas Eve
			a decade
			I finished school
			a couple of days
			my birthday
			a long time
			ten centuries
			the 70s
			I was a boy
			August
			the last month
			fifteen years
			the accident
			then
			we bought this house
			last month
			a millennium
			I met you
Present Perfect Tense - For and Since We use Present Perfect tense to talk about action which started in the past and continues up to the present. Examples    I have had this computer for about a year.    How long have you been at this school?    I haven't seen Julia since September. Tip! For other uses of the Present Perfect tense, see the Present Perfect Tense - When To Use. We use for with a period of time, for example: a few days, half an hour, two years. We use since with the time when the action started, for example: last year, June 8, I met you. For or Since with Present Perfect Tense - Practice Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references? I haven't phoned home Christmas. We've been here nine o'clock. I have worked for International House more than eight years. I haven't visited my home town I left school. I haven't been to the cinema ages. I have studied non-stop 9.15. I have had a driving licence I was eighteen. She hasn't had a day off 1999. Johan has been in England more than two weeks now. Peter has been my best friend we were nine. For or Since with Present Perfect Tense - More Practice Exercise. Decide if you need for or since with these time expressions.       last weekend       ten seconds       Christmas Eve       a decade       I finished school       a couple of days       my birthday       a long time       ten centuries       the 70s       I was a boy       August       the last month       fifteen years       the accident       then       we bought this house       last month       a millennium       I met you     Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses We use the Past Simple tense to talk about a definite finished time in the past. For example: when, yesterday, last week, when I was at school, then, after etc. Examples    I finished university three years ago.    Where did we first meet?    I didn't study French at school. We use the Present Perfect tense with time references that refer to the time up to now. For example: today, this week, this month, ever, never, already, recently, yet etc. Examples    I haven't seen her today.    Have you ever smoked a cigarette?    I have never been abroad before. Present Perfect and Past Simple - time references Exercise. Do we usually use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple tenses with the following time references?     a long time ago       since we last met       yet       after I got married       lately       this month       the day before yesterday       last night       since last weekend       at the weekend       Present Perfect and Past Simple - Practice Exercise. Chose the most suitable tense - the Present Perfect or the Past Simple. Script for this exercise is provided by JavaScriptKit.com You need to have cookies enabled in your browser to do this quiz.         She has studied very well at school.       She studied very well at school.         Have you ever visited Italy?       Did you ever visit Italy?         Thomas Edison has invented the light bulb.       Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.         How long have you had this job?       How long did you have this job?         I have never smoked a cigarette ever since.       I didn't smoke a cigarette ever since.         Charlie Chaplin has made a lot of films.       Charlie Chaplin made a lot of films.         When have you last been to the cinema?       When did you last go to the cinema?         It's the best car I've ever had.       It's the best car I ever had.         How many times have you been married?       How many times were you married?         We haven't had lunch yet.       We didn't have lunch yet.