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level 3 king Simple Past vs. Present Perfect Simple

Form

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke	irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I worked	regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed': when the final letter is e, only add d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played

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. We cannot accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those who have to learn the differences.

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	Present Perfect Simple
certain time in the past Example: I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.	**just / already / not yet** Example: 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	Present Perfect Simple
certain event in the past Example: He went to Canada last summer.	whether / how often till now Example: 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
Emphasis on action Example: I bought a new bike. (just telling what I did in the past.)	Emphasis on result Example: I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words

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

Form

Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).

	Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
I / open
he / write
they / do
you / swim
she / give

Use

When do we use which tense?

'Already' is a signal word for ...
'Just' is a signal word for ...
'2 years ago' is a signal word for ...
'Yet' is a signal word for ...
'Yesterday' is a signal word for ...

Positive Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

Mary (win) the lottery last year.
We (prepare / already) dinner.
James (find) your ring in the garden yesterday.
He (come / just) home.
They (buy) their car two years ago.

Negative Sentences

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

I (see / not) anyone yet.
Phil (go / not) to the cinema last night.
We (be / not) to the zoo so far.
She (arrive / not) yet.
Emily (visit / not) me last week.

Questions

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

(you / read) the book yet?
How many letters (they / write) so far?
When (he / tell) you that?
(you / be) at home last night?
How often (you / travel) abroad till now?

Text

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 yet. And on my mum's birthday, we (order) some sushi and (have) it at home.
Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
I / open I opened I have opened
he / write he wrote he has written
they / do they did they have done
you / swim you swam you have swum
she / give she gave she has given
Use
When do we use which tense?
1. 'Already' is a signal word for ... Present Perfect Simple
2. 'Just' is a signal word for ... Present Perfect Simple
3. '2 years ago' is a signal word for ... Simple Past
4. 'Yet' is a signal word for ... Present Perfect Simple
5. 'Yesterday' is a signal word for ... Simple Past
Positive Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. Mary won the lottery last year.
2. We have already prepared dinner.
3. James found your ring in the garden yesterday.
4. He has just come home.
5. They bought their car two years ago.
Negative Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. I have not seen anyone yet.
2. Phil did not go to the cinema last night.
3. We have not been to the zoo so far.
4. She has not arrived yet.
5. Emily did not visit me last week.
Questions
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. Have you read the book yet?
2. How many letters have they written so far?
3. When did he tell you that?
4. Were you at home last night?
5. How often have you travelled abroad till now?
Text
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
1. A: Have you ever tasted sushi?
2. B: Yes, I have eaten sushi at least five times so far.
3. A: When did you eat sushi for the first time?
4. B: I ate sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He invited the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
5. A: Did you like it?
6. B: Absolutely. In fact, it was so good that we have been to that restaurant three times yet. And on my mum's birthday, we ordered some sushi and had it at home.

	Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
I / open	I opened	I have opened
he / write	he wrote	he has written
they / do	they did	they have done
you / swim	you swam	you have swum
she / give	she gave	she has given

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