Present Perfect vs.

Simple Past
Exercises
In these exercises you can practice the present perfect and simple past.
When you are finished, you will understand the difference between
these two important verb tenses.

Let’s start with some conversation questions.

Opening Conversation

Discuss these questions with a group or

partner.
1. What countries have you visited?

2. Have you visited cold places? Warm

places?

3. What are some cities you have visited?

4. Have you visited many capital cities?

5. Have you ever visited other cities in

Canada?

6. What buildings, tourist attraction, and monuments have you

seen? What were your favourites?

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Read the following conversation and fill in the chart below.

Tom Have you ever gone to China?

Susan Yes I have.
I went in 2006. It was very fun.
Tom Who did you go with?
Susan I went with my husband. What about you? Have you ever
visited China?
Tom No, I have not. But I have visited Japan.
Susan Really? When did you go?
Tom I went last year. It was amazing. I stayed in Tokyo.
Susan Wow! I would love to go to Japan again.
Tom Again? Have you travelled to Japan before?
Susan Yes I have. I went in 2001. It was a long time ago, so I would like
to go again. I would love to go to Australia too because I have
never been there. What other places have you visited?
Tom Well, I have never gone to Australia either, but I have been to
South America.
Susan Really? Have you been to Brazil? I have, and it is a great place.
Tom No, I haven’t. I have been to Chile, Peru, and Colombia.
Susan Wow! How were those places?
Tom They were beautiful. I went in 2006, and I had a wonderful
time.

Where have Tom and Susan visited?

Place Tom Susan

China
Japan
Brazil
Chile
Peru
Columbia

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Go back to the conversation. Circle the past tense verbs and underline
the past participles. How many did you find of each?

Past Tense Verbs:

Past Participles:

Answer these questions to show the rules of simple past and present
perfect.

1. For completed actions at a specific time in the past we

use
a) Simple Past (e.g. I went to school.)
b) Present Perfect (e.g. I have gone to school.)

2. For experiences in our whole life we use

a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

3. For events that start in the past and continue in the

present we use
a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

4. With phrases like "10 years ago", "yesterday", or "last night" we use
a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

5. With words like "yet", "already", and "since" we use

a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

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 Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb for the present
perfect and simple past.

1. I ______________________________ (arrive) in Toronto last week.

2. I ______________________________ (know) my English teacher

for 3 months.

3. She __________________________ (no, eat) Japanese food since

she was a child.

4. We ______________________________ (go) to the cinema last

night.

5. Dan ______________________________ (see) Titanic 4 times.

6. Fred ______________________________ (be) late for school today.

7. Jen ______________________________ (live) in New York for 3

years. She still lives there.

8. The dogs ______________________________ (sleep) in the house

last night.

9. My brother ______________________________ (take) guitar

lessons when he was young.

10. She ______________________________ (no, dance) the Tango in

her life.

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Fill in the spaces with the correct words.

A: Have you ever been to France?

B: No, I haven’t. Have you?
A: Yes, I’ve been to France. I __________ to Paris three years ago.
B: Wow, how exciting. __________ you been to other parts of Europe?
A: Yes, I have. I’ve been to Italy, Germany, and Spain.
B: That’s cool. And where else have you been?
A: Well, not too many other places. But I‘ve gone to Mexico before.
B: Wow, when _____________________?
A: I went last year.
B: And where have you visited in Mexico?
A: I’ve been to Acapulco and Cancun.
B: That sounds fun.
A: But what about you? Where have you travelled before?
B: Well, I haven’t really gone to too many places. But ________________ been
to Asia. I went two years ago for a business trip. I was in Tokyo Japan. But
I’ve never _____________ to China and I really want to go.
A: Yes, me too. Have you ever visited Europe?
B: No, I’ve never gone. I want to go.
A: It’s great there, everything is so old.
B: Well it looks like _________________________ been to a lot more places
than I have.

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Correct the mistakes in the sentences

1. I have been to Montreal yesterday.

2. Did you ever go to Mexico?
3. Three years ago she has eaten sushi.
4. I have never ate hamburgers.
5. How many times did you taken English class in
your life?
6. They has never danced together.
7. Last night I have been to the cinema.
8. We haven’t went to work in three days.
9. Tom and I hasn’t talked in 4 years.
10. When I was a child I have tried pasta.

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 Answers

Where have Tom and Susan visited?

Place Tom Susan

China Yes
Japan Yes Yes
Brazil Yes
Chile Yes
Peru Yes
Columbia Yes

Go back to the conversation. Circle the past tense verbs and underline the past
participles. How many did you find of each?

Past Tense Verbs: went, was, stayed, were, had

Past Participles: gone, visited, travelled, been,

Answer these questions to show the rules of simple past and present perfect.

1. For completed actions at a specific time in the past we use

a) Simple Past (e.g. I went to school.)
b) Present Perfect (e.g. I have gone to school.)

2. For experiences in our whole life we use

a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

3. For events that start in the past and continue in the

present we use
a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

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4. With phrases like "10 years ago", "yesterday", or "last night" we use
a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

5. With words like "yet", "already", and "since" we use

a) Simple Past
b) Present Perfect

Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb for the present perfect and
simple past.

1. I arrived in Toronto last week.

2. I have known my English teacher for 3 months.

3. She has not eaten Japanese food since she was a child.

4. We went to the cinema last night.

5. Dan has seen Titanic 4 times.

6. Fred was late late for school today.

7. Jen has lived in New York for 3 years. She still lives there.

8. The dogs slept in the house last night.

9. My brother took guitar lessons when he was young.

10. She has not danced the Tango in her life.

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Fill in the spaces with the correct words.

A: Have you ever been to France?

B: No, I haven’t. Have you?
A: Yes, I’ve been to France. I went to Paris three years ago.
B: Wow, how exciting. Have you been to other parts of Europe?
A: Yes, I have. I’ve been to Italy, Germany, and Spain.
B: That’s cool. And where else have you been?
A: Well, not too many other places. But I‘ve gone to Mexico before.
B: Wow, when did you go?
A: I went last year.
B: And where have you visited in Mexico?
A: I’ve been to Acapulco and Cancun.
B: That sounds fun.
A: But what about you? Where have you travelled before?
B: Well, I haven’t really gone to too many places. But I have been to Asia. I went
two years ago for a business trip. I was in Tokyo Japan. But I’ve never gone to
China and I really want to go.
A: Yes, me too. Have you ever visited Europe?
B: No, I’ve never gone. I want to go.
A: It’s great there, everything is so old.
B: Well it looks like you have been to a lot more places than I have.

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Correct the mistakes in the sentences

1. I went to Montreal yesterday.

2. Have you ever gone to Mexico?
3. Three years ago she ate sushi.
4. I have never eaten hamburgers.
5. How many times have you taken English class in your
life?
6. They have never danced together.
7. Last night I went to the cinema.
8. We haven’t gone to work in three days.
9. Tom and I haven’t talked in 4 years.
10. When I was a child I tried pasta.

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