[Update] English Grammar: Present Perfect vs. Past Simple (Review & Exercises) | past simple vs present perfect exercises – NATAVIGUIDES

English Level: Intermediate

Language Focus: A review of the Past Simple, the Present Perfect (Simple), and the Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)

Worksheet Download: present-perfect-past-simple-worksheet.docx (scroll down to study the exercises online)

Jump to: Present Simple (below), Present Progressive, Exercises

Verb Tense Review: The Past Simple

We use the past simple verb tense to talk about events that happened at a specific time in the past. Usually, in these sentences, there is a word like ‘yesterday’ or ‘last year’ which shows the action happened at a time in the past that is finished.

Past Simple Keywords: yesterday, last week, last month, last year, in 1994

• I washed my clothes 

  yesterday

  . (yesterday is finished)

• I met her in

  2009

  . (2009 is finished)

• I woke up at 7 a.m.

  this morning

  . (this morning is finished)

This actions happened in the past, they are finished, and there is no connection with now.

Verb Tense Review: The Present Perfect

Subject + [ Auxiliary verb ‘have’ ] + [ Verb in Past Participle ]

• I

  have

  met her.

• She

  has

  visited Seoul.

• John

  has

   exercised twice this week.

Present Perfect Keywords: today, this week, this month, this year, in my life, recently, lately, since, ever, never, yet, still, so far

With the present perfect, we cannot use a specific time in the past such as ‘yesterday’ or ‘in 2008.’ We use the present perfect when we talk about 1) actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past, 2) actions in a period that has not finished yet, and 3) actions that began in the past and continue to the present.

Let’s review each case.

1) Using Present Perfect with An Unspecified Time in the Past – Talking about Experience

• I have seen the movie Titanic.
• She hasn’t met him.

These two sentences don’t say anything about time. They don’t have words like ‘yesterday’ or ‘in 2008’. When we speak like this, we are talking about the experience we have had in life. These sentences are the same as saying:

• I have seen the movie Titanic

  in my life

  . (I have this experience)

• She hasn’t met him

  in her life.

  (She doesn’t have this experience.)

We’re talking about your life. Is your life finished? No, you are still alive. Your life is a period that has not finished yet. This is usually how we use the present perfect (see the next case).

2) Using Present Perfect with a Period That Has Not Finished Yet

• I have paid my rent

  this month

  . (this month = a period that is not finished yet)

• I have gone to the doctor twice

  this year

  . (this year = unfinished)

• I have been to Japan twice

  in my life

  . (your life = unfinished)

• I have flown in an airplane.*

*Again, in the last example, we use the present perfect because there is no mention of time. We are talking our life experience. And because your life is not finished yet, we use the present perfect. We cannot use the present perfect for dead people. For example, ‘Michael Jackson has sang in many concerts‘. We cannot say ‘has sang’ because the period in which he sang (his career, his life) is finished. There is no connection with the present, so we use the Past Simple.

 

3) Using Present Perfect Progressive for Actions that Continue from the Past until Now

Subject + [ Auxiliary verb ‘Have’ ] + [ been ] [ Verb in ~ing form (Present Participle)]

This is similar to the rule above.

• She has been working here since 2010.
• We have been waiting for 30 minutes.

In these examples, it’s the action that is unfinished. You began working, or waiting, in the past, and you are still doing it now. There is a clear connection with the present. We want to focus on the fact that the action is still happening (now), we use the progressive tense — in this case, it is the present perfect Progressive.

Note: With the verbs live, work, teach, and study, there is no difference in whether you use the present perfect Simple or present perfect Progressive. For example, “I have lived here for two years.” is the same as “I have been living here for two years.”

There is one more situation in which we often use the present perfect.

4) Present Perfect for Actions in the Very Recent Past

• I’ve just had breakfast, so I’m not hungry.
• Jane has lost her job, so she’s sad.

We could use either the present perfect or the past simple (Jane lost her job) for these sentences. True, both actions have finished, but because they have happened very recently, there is still some connection with the present.

Prepositions with the Present Perfect: Since & For

We use since with the Present Perfect to indicate when an action (that continues to the present) began.

• I’ve been studying English

  since

  2004. (I am still studying it)

• She has been married

  since

  she was 20 years old.  (She is still married)

• People have been fighting in wars

  since

  the beginning of time. (They are still fighting)

Again, these actions continued in the past until now. (Note: We use from for actions that started in the past and have finished, for example: I lived in that house from 2002 to 2004.)

We use for to show the amount of time that has passed since an action began.

• I have been studying English

  for

  12 years.

• She has been married

  for

  8 years.

• People have been fighting in wars

  for

   thousands of years.

Practice: Exercises for Contrasting the Past Simple and Present Perfect

Remember to look for the keywords, e.g. yesterday. These will help you decide if there is a connection with the present or not.

1. Alan (graduate) from university last month.
2. There (be) a large earthquake in Japan in 1995.
3. I like to exercise, but I (not/exercise) yet this week.
4. My brother (never/go) to university.
5. John and Lisa (be) married since 2010.
6. Recently, it  (not/be) very hot.
7. My brother (not/be) to the dentist for a long time.
8. My wife and I (be) married for 1 year. So far we (not/have) any big problems.
9. I started writing my essay two hours ago, and I still (not/finish) yet.

 

 

1. A: Where’s John? — B: I don’t know. I (not/see) him today.
2. A: (you/ever/be) to Hawaii? — B: Yes. Twice.
3. A: When (you/get) your dog? — B: Last summer.
4. A: How long (you/study) English? — B: Five years.
5. A: Do you know anyone who (be) to Thailand? — B: Yes, my sister.
6. A: (you/see) my keys today? — B: Yes. I (see) them this morning on the kitchen table.
7. A: Would you like half my sandwich? — B: I (just/eat) lunch, so I’m not hungry. Thanks for asking though.

 

Exercises for For and Since (and From)

• Peter lived in Japan  2001 until 2005. Now, he lives in Chicago. He has been living in Chicago  he left Japan. He works as a chef at a nice French restaurant. He has been working there  almost two years.
• Laura is an excellent golfer. She has been playing golf  she was 8 years old. Now, she’s a professional. She has also been coaching  several years. She started coaching me last year.  then, I have become a much better player.

 

Exercises: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)

Hint: Do not use the progressive tenses for state verbs.

1. My sister (watch) TV for four hours. She should take a break.
2. I’m hungry. I (not/have) anything to eat yet today.
3. It (rain) since noon. I wish it would stop.
4. A: When is the bus coming? — B: I don’t know. I hope it comes soon. I (wait) for half an hour.
5. George is my best friend. I (know) him since I was five years old.
6. The Johnsons are trying to find a house to buy. They (look) for four months. They (not/find) anything yet.
7. The weather (be) so nice recently. I love summer.
8. You (do) these exercises for several minutes. (you/make) any mistakes?

 

Insert the Correct Verb: Present Perfect Simple, Present Perfect Progressive, or Past Simple

• A: Hi John. I (not/see) you in a long time! How (you/be) lately?
• B: Great! It’s nice to see you. How are you?
• A: I’m doing great too. Hey, Sarah (tell) me that you have a new job.
• B: Yes, at Campbell’s Auto Insurance. I’m doing accounting, of course. I (only/be) there for a month but it seems pretty good. And what’s new with you?
• A: Well, I (move) into a new apartment last month with Jacob.
• B: Jacob?
  A: My boyfriend. You (not/meet) him. We (be) together for half a year now.
• B: Good for you. And what does Jacob do?
• A: He’s an accountant too. Actually, he’s searching for a job now. He (look) for a few months now, but he (not/find) anything good yet.
• B: I know how he feels. I (have) about five interviews at different companies before I (find) my job. I’m sure he’ll find something.
• A: I hope so. Okay, I’ve got to get going. It was nice talking to you, John. Have a nice day.

 

I hope you’ve found these practice exercises useful. I could write a lot more about the present perfect, but these are the main ideas. If you have a question, leave a comment below.

– Matthew Barton  / Creator of Englishcurrent.com (copyright)

Related Lessons:

Instructions: Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentences

Q1 – He ….. there when he was a child

has lived

lived

Q2 – I …….. her since last year

haven’t seen

didn’t see

Q3 – They ……… a few minutes ago

left

have left

Q4 – She ………. unemployed since she left school

has not been

was not

Q5 – They ……. the contract last week

finalised

have finalised

Q6 – The film ………. yet

hasn’t started

didn’t start

Q7 – She …….. ill since Thursday

was

has been

Q8 – I …….. the project last night

have finished

finished

Q9 – Look- someone ……. their handbag in the room

left

has left

Q10 – ………… to Rome?

Did you ever go

Have you ever been

Q11 – I can’t get into my house because I …….. my keys

lost

have lost

Q12 – Nobody ……. the phone when it rang

answered

has answered

Q13 – I ……… up smoking last year

gave

have given

Q14 – You can’t see her because she ……… home

has gone

went

Q15 – …………… to the United States?

Did you ever go

Have you ever been

Q16 – I never ……… my grandmother as she died before I was born

knew

have known

Q17 – It’s the first time I …….. caviar

ate

have eaten

Q18 – The first time we ……… was just the other day

spoke

have spoken

Q19 – It stinks in here; someone ……….. smoking

was

has been

Q20 – He’s in hospital because he …………. leg

has broken

broke

Q21 – I’ve known her since we ……… at school together

were

have been

Q22 – It’s ages since we ……..

spoke

have spoken

Q23 – It’s been ages since we …….. from Dave

have heard

heard

Q24 – The last time I saw Fran …….. ages ago

was

has been

Q25 – I …….. from her lately

haven’t heard

didn’t hear

Q26 – I just …….. the time to go to the cinema recently

didn’t have

haven’t had

Q27 – I …….. just Meg and Brian at the party

have seen

saw

Q28 – I …….. busy for the past fortnight

was

have been

Q29 – She ……… away for the last two weeks

has been

was

Q30 – ……… to the concert on Friday?

Did you go

Have you been

Q31 – This is the first time I …….. here

have been

was

Q32 – I ……. them since my schooldays

have known

knew

Q33 – He ……… yet

hasn’t arrived

didn’t arrive

Q34 – They ……….. the contract yet

didn’t sign

haven’t signed

Q35 – The newspaper ……… very successful lately

hasn’t been

wasn’t

Q36 – He …… during the war

died

has died

Q37 – I ……… breakfast before leaving home this morning

haven’t had

didn’t have

Q38 – I ……. a taxi so I came on the bus

haven’t found

didn’t find

Q39 – John’s nervous because he ………. such a difficult test before

has never taken

never took

Q40 – My stereo ……. working last night

stopped

has stopped

Q41 – Two people ……. at the game on Saturday

were arrested

have been arrested

Q42 – I ………. a holiday for ages

didn’t have

haven’t had

Q43 – We ……. out on Saturday night

haven’t gone

didn’t go

Q44 – I ……. it last week

bought

have bought

Q45 – She hasn’t …….. here for ages

been

gone

Q46 – I ………. to water-ski in 1993

learnt

have learnt

Q47 – She ……. an absolute fortune last year

has earned

earned

Q48 – The weather ……. dreadful for the whole two weeks we were there

was

has been

Q49 – No one …… to do it yet

has managed

managed

Q50 – I …… the dog for a walk because it was raining

haven’t taken

didn’t take

Q51 – I ……….. finished the exam in time yesterday

only just finished

have only just finished

Q52 – The weather ….. dreadful at the weekend

has been

was