Past Simple or Present Perfect

Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple

Use
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. 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 certain time in the past e.g. I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. Present Perfect Simple just / already / not yet e.g. 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 certain event in the past e.g. He went to Canada last summer. Present Perfect Simple whether / how often till now e.g. 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
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Past Simple or Present Perfect

Emphasis on action

Emphasis on result

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

Signal Words Simple Past yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ... just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently Present Perfect Simple

Exercise 1 Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. 2. 3. 4.

Mother: I want to prepare dinner. (you / wash)

the dishes yet?

Daughter: I (wash) time yet to do it today.

the dishes yesterday, but I (have / not)

the

Mother: (you / do / already) Daughter: No, I (come / just)

your homework? home from school.

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Past Simple or Present Perfect

5. 6.

Mother: You (come)

home from school two hours ago!

Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy (call) the phone call.

when I (arrive)

and

I (finish / just)
7. 8.

Mother: (you / see / not)

Lucy at school in the morning?

Daughter: Yes, but we (have / not)

time to talk then.

Exercise 2 Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

A: (you / play / already)

the new computer game? it yesterday and I (have / not)

B: No, not yet. I only (buy) time yet. A: (you / go)

the

to the cinema last night? there with Sue and Louis. (you / be) to the cinema two weeks ago.

B: Yes. I (be) cinema recently? A: I last (go)

to the

B: So you (see / not)

the new action film yet.

A: No, unfortunately not. (you / enjoy)

it?

B: Oh, I really (love) action! that she (hate)

10.

it. But Sue (like / not) her with you? She (tell)

it - too much me last week

A: But why (you / take)

action films. to flirt with him all the time.

B: I think she has an eye on Louis. She (try)

So he (can / concentrate / not) Exercise 3

on the film.

Directions: Rewrite the following sentences with the present perfect. The present perfect used may be the one that has no time, OR the one that means a continuing activity. You must decide. The first one has been done for you. 1. The Brown Family goes to Switzerland every winter. They started to do this 4 years ago. The Brown Family has gone to Switzerland every winter for 4 years.

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Past Simple or Present Perfect

2. My brother ate frogs' legs. He ate frogs' legs three times. 3. Carol is in Morocco. She went there last month. 4. Timothy rides a bus to school. He started to do it when his car broke down. 5. Jorge and Carmen are married. They got married in 1980. 6. Scientists are concerned with the world's rain forests. This concern started many years ago. 7. James knows how to repair a computer. He learned how to do it a long time ago. 8. I wanted to go to Japan several years ago. I still want to go. 9. Maria was excited about space exploration when she was young. She is still excited about it. 10. I saw the answers to the test. When I saw the answers is a secret.

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