Past Simple and Present Perfect

Unit 3 Grammar Training

A. Time expressions that refer to the present, such as this
morning/week/month/ and today, can be used with either
past simple or present perfect verbs. If we think of this
morning (etc.) as a past, completed time period, then we use
the past simple; if we think of this morning (etc.) as a time
period which includes the present moment, then we use the
present perfect. Compare:
I didn’t shave this morning. (= the morning is over
and I didn’t shave) and
I haven’t shaved this morning. (= it is still the
morning and I might shave later)
B. In news reports, you will often read about or hear recent
events introduced with the present perfect, and then past
simple or other past tenses are used to give details:
‘The film star Jim Cooper has died of cancer. He was
68 and lived in Texas…’
The US space shuttle Atlantis has returned safely to
earth. It landed in Florida this morning…’
A teacher from Oslo has become the first woman to
cross the Antarctic alone. It took her 42 days to make
the crossing with her dog team…’
C. In a sentence which includes a time clause with since, we
generally prefer a past simple verb in time clause and a
present perfect verb in the main clause. The time clause refers
to a particular point in the past:
Since Mr. Hassan became president, both taxes and
unemployment have increased. (rather than… has
become…)
She hasn’t been able to play tennis since she broke
her arm. (rather than… has broken…)
Notice, however, that we use the present perfect in the time
clause if the two situations described in the main clause and
time clause extend until the present:
 Have you met any of your neighbors since you’ve
lived here? (not …you lived…)
D. After the pattern It/This/That is/will be the first time…
we generally use the present perfect in the next clause:
That’s the first time I’ve seen Jan look embarrassed.
(reporting a past event)
It won’t be the first time she has voted against the
government in her long career. (talking about a
future event)
Notice, however, that after It/This/That was the first time… we
generally use the past perfect:
 It was the first time I’d talked to Ella outside the
office.
E. With time clauses introduced by after, when, until, as soon
as, once, by the time, and the time expressions the
minute/second/moment the past simple refers to past,
completed events and the present perfect refers to future
events. Compare these examples:
After she left the hospital (past), she had a long
holiday. and
After Dominic has left school (future), he will be
spending six months in India.
The minute I got the news about Sue (past), I
telephoned my parents. and
I’ll contact you the minute I’ve got my exam results.
(future)
In the time clause in sentences like this it is possible to use the
past perfect instead of the past simple (e.g. After she had
left… ) and the present simple instead of the present perfect
(e.g. After Dominic leaves…) with the same meaning.
Exercises
3.1 Choose a verb to complete the sentence. Use the present
perfect or past simple.

have go oversleep read spend wear

1 I ………………………. a lot this week, but I have to get

the book completely finished by this weekend.
 have go oversleep read spend wear

2 A: Shall I make us some dinner? It’s already 8

o’clock.
B: No thanks. I …………………... to the dentist this
afternoon and my mouth hurts too much to eat
anything.
 have go oversleep read spend wear

3 I …………………..……three lectures today and I still have

two more later this afternoon.
 have go oversleep read spend wear

4 It was so hot today that I ………………………….shorts

and a T-shirt at work.
 have go oversleep read spend wear

5 We ……………………………… 200 dollars on food this

month and there’s another week to go before I get
paid.
 have go oversleep read spend wear

6 A: Do you want a lift home?

B: No, I …………………………… this morning because my
alarm clock didn’t go off, so I need to work late.
3.2 Complete the sentences with these pairs of verbs.
(Note that the verb pairs are not always in sentence
order.) Choose the most appropriate tense ---
present perfect or past simple.

be able – feel happen —speak improve—be

not want—fall rescue—be work—not have
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

1 Maria …………………………… to go swimming since she

………………………… in the river.
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

2 Since she ………………………….. at the company she

……………………… a day through illness.
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

3 Since he ………………………. the girl from the frozen

pond, he ………………… on TV almost every day.
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

4 A lot ……………………………. since I last ……………………..

to you.
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

5 Since I…………………………. to drive I…………………. much

more independent.
be able – feel happen —speak improve—be
not want—fall rescue—be work—not have

6 Robert’s reading …………………………. enormously since

he……………………….. at school.
3. 3 Choose a verb that can complete both sentences in
each pair. Use the present perfect tense in one and
the past simple in the other.

finish get hear sign

finish get hear sign

1 a Remember that after you ………………….. the

contract you won’t be able to change your mind.
b Carlo’s injury only became apparent after he
……………………… to play for Real Madrid.
finish get hear sign

2 a As soon as I …………………. college I want to travel

around Australia.
b I didn’t have time to check the composition. I
handed it as soon as I ………………………… it.
finish get hear sign

3 a By the time Sarah …………………… to work the

meeting had finished.
b I’ll probably have finished breakfast by the time
the children………………….. up.
finish get hear sign

4 a I recognized her the moment I ………………….. her

laugh.
b I’ll tell you what time we’re coming the moment
I ……………………. from Frank.
3.4 Here are some extracts from a television news
report. Choose the more appropriate tense – present
perfect or past simple – for the verbs given.

1 In tonight’s World Cup match, France are currently

beating Germany 2—1 with five minutes of the
match to go. If the score remains the same it will be
the first time Germany………………………. (lose) to
France since 1998.
2 The Victoria Hospital in Milltown ……………….……
(close) to new patients after more cases of food
poisoning. Three elderly patients
…………………………(die) last week in the outbreak.
3 In last night’s final Mark Peters ………………………….
(defeat) Ed Myers in three sets. It was the first time
in six attempts that Peters …………………………. (beat)
the world champion.
4 Nearly 600 laptops …………………………. (steal) from
Ministry of Defense staff over the past five years.
However, a spokesperson ………………………. (insist)
that there had been no security problems as none of
the computers ……………………………. (hold) secret
information.
 Prepared by:
ATRM ALEX
Reference: CAMBRIDGE
Advanced Grammar in Use 2nd Edition Martin Hewings

THE END