Present Perfect and
Simple Past (II)
By Dragana Filipovic
The difference between the Present
Perfect and the Past Simple
• The Present Perfect is used when the
present result is important.
• The Past Simple is used for something
that happened in the past and that has no
direct link to the present.
Circle the correct tense
1. I looked up at the sky and saw / have
seen a very bright light.
2. I lost / have lost the keys to my car. I
don’t know what to do.
3. I felt /have felt much better when I got to
the mountains.
4. It rained / has rained for two days before
we could leave the hotel for the first time.
Answers
1. I looked up at the sky and saw a very
bright light.
2. I have lost the keys to my car. I don’t
know what to do.
3. I felt much better when I got to the
mountains.
4. It rained for two days before we could
leave the hotel for the first time.
5. I told / have told you the same thing over
and over again. Why don’t you listen? I’ll
tell you again, but please pay attention
this time.
6. It became /has become very hot in here
suddenly. Is there something wrong with
the air-conditioning?
7. Haven’t you finished your homework yet?
I finished / have finished mine hours ago.
8. I waited /have waited for hours but
nobody came.
Answers
5. I have told you the same thing over and
over again. Why don’t you listen? I’ll tell
you again, but please pay attention this
time.
6. It has become very hot in here suddenly.
Is there something wrong with the airconditioning?
7. Haven’t you finished your homework yet?
I finished mine hours ago.
8. I waited for hours but nobody came.
9. I met / have met many interesting people
since I came here last May.
10. You smoked / have smoked ten
cigarettes so far today. Don’t you think
you should stop?
11. Last week I invited / have invited a few
friends over for dinner.
12. After less than 10 minutes they realised /
have realised that they were lost.
Answers
9. I have met many interesting people since
I came here last May.
10. You have smoked ten cigarettes so far
today. Don’t you think you should stop?
11. Last week I invited a few friends over for
dinner.
12. After less than 10 minutes they realised
that they were lost.
Extended or repeated events
• With verbs that describe states, the
Present Perfect Simple describes a state
which lasts up to the present.
I’ve lived in this house for five years.
• The Present Perfect Continuous can
also describe a state which lasts up to
the present moment.
I’ve been living in this house for five years.
• There is little difference in meaning
between simple and continuous in this
case, or with How long questions. The
verbs sit, lie, wait, stay prefer the Present
Perfect Continuous.
How long have you been waiting?
• The Present Perfect Simple can describe
a habitual action in a period of time up to
the present moment.
I’ve never worn a tie to work, and I refuse
to start now!
• We use the Present Perfect Continuous
for a continuous or repeated activity that
began in the past and continues into the
present. It emphasises the activity itself
and its duration.
Jack has been waiting for over an hour.
I’ve been studying since 5 o’clock.
Contrasts between simple and
continuous
• Not completed – Use of the Present
Perfect Continuous can suggest that an
action is not completed, or has recently
finished.
We’ve been walking for hours! Let’s have
a rest.
I’ve been digging the garden. That’s why
I’m so dirty.
• Completed – Use of the Present Perfect
Simple can show that an action is
complete. Given the number of actions
suggests completion.
I’ve written ten pages of my homework
assignment!
Circle the correct tense
1. We have been driving /drove / drive
around for an hour and we are still lost.
Let’s stop and ask somebody.
2. I am / have been /was here since
Tuesday and I still can’t find my way
around.
3. I have been reading / read /have read
that book. Do you have another one to
lend me?
Answers
1. We have been driving around for an hour
and we are still lost. Let’s stop and ask
somebody.
2. I have been here since Tuesday and I
still can’t find my way around.
3. I have read that book. Do you have
another one to lend me?
4. I just came / have just come / have just
been coming in. I’d like to rest for a
while.
5. How long have you been /were you /did
you in Rome last year?
6. I read / have read / have been reading
this book for over a month. I’ll finish it
soon.
7. Who ate / has eaten / has been eating
my chips? There are none left.
Answers
4. I have just come in. I’d like to rest for a
while.
5. How long were you in Rome last year?
6. I have been reading this book for over a
month. I’ll finish it soon.
7. Who has eaten my chips? There are
none left.
8. Who ate /has eaten /has been eating my
chips? Soon I’ll have none left.
9. It rained / has rained /has been raining
all day! Why can’t it stop!
10. Have you been / Have you gone / Did
you go to the concert in the park last
week?
11. I watched / have watched / have been
watching this video ten times so far.
Answers
8. Who has been eating my chips?
Soon I’ll have none left.
9. It has been raining all day! Why
can’t it stop!
10.Did you go to the concert in the park
last week?
11.I have watched this video ten times
so far.
Note the difference
• He has been to Italy.  Now he is here.
He can tell you wonderful stories about
Italy.
• He has been in Italy for two weeks.  He
is still in Italy.
• Where’s Peter? – He has gone to Italy. 
He is in Italy or on his way to Italy.