Simple Past / Present Perfect

EX1: Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate
tenses,
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) that movie.

2. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I (know) each other for over fifteen years. We still get
together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ten very creative short stories in the last
year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I (have, not) this much fun since I (be) a kid.

6. Things (change) a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start)

working here three years ago, the company (have, only) six employees. Since
then, we (expand) to include more than 2000 full-time workers.

7. I (tell) him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander)
off into the forest and (be) bitten by a snake.

8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be)
late to work too many times. You are fired!

9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never)
the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

10. How sad! George (dream) of going to California before he died, but he didn't
make it. He (see, never) the ocean.

11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very
comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North
America by covered wagon. The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things
(change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from
New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.

12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) since the last time I (see)
you. You (grow) at least a foot!

13. This tree (be) planted by the settlers who (found) our city over
four hundred years ago.

14. This mountain (be, never) climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try)
to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) . The climb is
extremely difficult and many people (die) trying to reach the summit.

15. I (visit, never) Africa, but I (travel) to South America several

times. The last time I (go) to South America, I (visit) Brazil and Peru. I
(spend) two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) for a week near Machu
Picchu, and (fly) over the Nazca Lines.
EX 2: Simple Past or Present Perfect - Exercise

1) Peter football yesterday.

2) They the car. It looks new again.

3) Last year we to Italy.

4) John and Peggy the book. Now they can watch the film.

5) I my friend two days ago.

6) We another country before.

7) She a new car in 2005.

8) I'm sorry, but I my homework.

9) the game of chess?

 10)The girls their lunch yet.

The Present Perfect worksheet - Exercises

EX 3: Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense.
1. He_______________ (live) in London for two years and then _______________ (go) to
Edinburgh.
2. When I left school I_______________ (cut) my hair and_______________ (wear) it short
ever since.
3. My brother_______________ (write) several plays. He_______________ (just/finish) his
second tragedy.
4. I_______________ (not see) him for three years, I wonder where he is.
5. He_______________ (not smoke) for two weeks. He is trying to give up.
6. I_______________ (do) this sort of work when I_______________ (be) an apprentice.
7. I_______________ (write) the letter but I can't find a stamp.
8. _______________ you_______________ (see) the moon last night?
9. The clock isn't slow, it_______________ (stop).
10. A: Who_______________ (you/vote) for in the last election?
B: I_______________ (vote) for Mr. Pitt.
A: He_______________ (not/be) elected, _______________ (be) he?
B: No, he_______________ (lose) his deposit.
11. A: _______________ (you/like) your last job?
B: I_______________ (like) it at first but then I_______________ (quarrel) with my employer
and he_______________ (dismiss) me.
A: How long_______________ you there?
B: I_______________ there for two weeks.
12. A: _______________ (Mary/feed) the cat?
B: Yes, she_______________ (feed) him before lunch.
A: What_______________ (she/give) him?
B: She_______________ (give) him some fish.
13. A: I_______________ (not see) your aunt recently.
B: No, she_______________ (not be) out of the house since she_______________ (buy)
her colour TV.
14. A: How_______________ (you/get) that scar?
B: I_______________ (got) it in a car accident a year ago.
15. She_______________ (say) she'd ring me this morning, but it's now 12.30 and
she_______________ (not/ring) yet.
16. It_______________ (rain) for two hours and the ground is too wet to play on, so the
match _______________ (be) postponed.
17. A: Why_______________ (you/make) such a horrible noise?
B: I_______________ (lose) my key and I_______________ (try) to wake up my wife by
throwing stones at her window.
A: You_______________ (throw) stones at the wrong window. You live next door.
18. He_______________ (not/stop) since he arrived.
19. He_______________ (ride), that's why he's wearing a riding hat.
20. A: How long_______________ (you/drive)?
B: I_______________ (drive) for ten years.
21. _______________ (you/lock) the house before you left?
22. I can't go out because I_______________ (not/finish) my homework yet.
23. A: Where_______________ (you/be or go)
B: I_______________ (be or go) to the dentist.
A: _______________ (he/take) out your bad tooth?
B: Yes, he_______________ .
A: _______________ (it/hurt)?
24. I_______________ (ride) all the horses in this stable.
25. A: What_______________ (you/do)?
B: We_______________ (pick) apples.
A: How many_______________ (you/pick)?
B: We_______________ (pick) ten basketfuls.
26. The car_______________ (make) a very funny noise ever since it _______________
(run out) of petrol.
27. Originally, horses used in bull fights_______________ (not/wear) any protection, but for
some time now they_______________ (wear) special padding.
28. That pipe_______________ (leak) for ages. We must get it fixed.
29. A: _______________ (you/ever/try) to give up smoking?
B: Yes, I_______________ (try) last year, but then I_______________ (find) that I was
getting fat so I_______________ (start) again.
30. A: _______________ (be) the plumber here yet?
B: Yes, but he_______________ (only/stay) for an hour.
A: What_______________ (he/do) in that time.
B: He_______________ (turn off) the water and_______________ (empty) the tank.

Ex 4: Sentences of questions in the Present Perfect - Exercise

Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use the Present Perfect. Watch the punctuation
and form sentences or questions.
Example: ____ you ______ the car yet? (to clean)
Answer: Have you cleaned the car yet?
Exercise
1) Emma __________ this film on TV. (not/to see)
2) When __________ she __________ the office? (to phone)
3) __________ the Millers __________ yet? (to arrive)
4) John __________ on a trip through Alaska. (not/to go)
5) __________ they ever __________ to New York? (to be)
6) Andy __________ his sister's bike. (not/to repair)
7) What __________ you __________ in the kitchen? (to drop)
8) I __________ a new laptop. (to buy)
9) __________ Toby __________ his blue pen? (to find)
10) The students __________ their homework. (not/to forget)
EX 5: Simple Past or Present Perfect

1 Joji ________ in Tokyo for five years, but he left in 1993. lived has lived

2 The Titanic ________ in 1912. sank has sunk

3 Somebody ________ my bicycle! Now I'll have to walk home. stole has stolen

4 Gerry ________ off his bike three times this month. fell has fallen

5 Chika ________ from university last July. graduated has graduated

6 I ________ the movie Titanic three times. I'm going to see it again tonight. saw
have seen

7 I ________ to work every day for the last six weeks! walked have walked

8 When Young Hee was a child, she ________ in Seoul. lived has lived

9 Ouch! ________ my finger! I cut I've cut

10 I ________ my key yesterday, so I couldn't get into the house. Eventually, I found it in my
jacket pocket. lost have lost

EX 6: Simple Past or Present Perfect

1. I a great film yesterday. (see)

2. a new car? (you ever buy)

3. Sue the flu last winter. (have)

4. A few days ago we to his uncle. (drive)

5. They bingo Wednesday afternoon. (play)

6. He the bus to get there. (already take)

7. Last week my rabbit away. (run)

8. We a lot last Sunday. (do)

9. to India? (she ever be)

10. I him last Monday. (meet)

11. She yet. (not wake up)

12. I her since last Thursday. (not meet)

13. Bob well last night. (sleep)

14. I a letter from her two days ago. (get)

15. They in Germany. (already arrive)