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Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses :: Grammar File & Practice exercise

Created by: Nikita Kovalyov
Updated: April 2004

[ Present Perfect Tense - When to use ] [ Present Perfect Tense - How to form ] [ Present Perfect Tense - Already or Yet ] [ Present Perfect Tense - For and Since ] [ Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses ]

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?

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
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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.

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Learn More

Present Continuous Tense when to use; how to form; ing forms of the verbs; English action and state verbs; the difference between the Present Continuous and the Present Simple tenses; test.
The verb to be - the Present Simple Tense. Grammar reference and online exercises for Elementary level.

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