THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE & THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
I, Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple tense.
1. I _______ (stay) at home all weekend.
2. Angela _______ (go) to the cinema last night.
3. My friends _______ (have) a great time in Nha Trang last year.
4. My vacation in Hue _______ (be) wonderful.
5. Last summer I _______ (visit) Ngoc Son Temple in Ha Noi.
6. My parents _______ (be) very tired after the trip.
7. I _______ (buy) a lot of gifts for my little sister.
8. Lan and Mai _______ (see) sharks, dolphins and turtles at Tri Nguyen aquarium.
9. Trung _______ (eat) chicken and rice for dinner.
10. They _______ (talk) about their holiday in Hoi An.
11. Phuong _______ (return) to Hanoi yesterday.
12. We _______ (think) the food was delicious.
II, Write the past simple of these verbs. Then put them into three groups according to the
pronunciaion of “ED”: saty; rain; help; carry; want; play; smoke; walk; study; cry; work; listen; love;
wash; stop; ask; look; open; strart; live; watch; like; ; fix; need; clean; decide; match; brush; polish;
hurry.
III, Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect tense.
1. I just _______ (finish) my homework.
2. They _______ (live) in the countryside for 15 years.
3. You ever _______ (be) to Hue Citadel ?
4. I _______ (not) see her for ages.
5. This the highest hotel that ever _______ (see).
6. A lot of people _______ (become) rich recently.
7. I _______ (not/understand) his lesson so far.
8. I _______ (play) the guitar since I _______ (be) a boy.
9. We _______ (not/see) him since we _______ (leave) school.
10. They already _______ (prepare) the meal.
11. My heath _______ (become) woesr lately.
12. He _______ (not/drive) since his last accident.
13. I never _______ (meet) anyone that is more intelligent than him.
14. I _______ (read) this book several times
15. He _______ (stop) drinking since his father’s death.
16. He _______ (not/be) there yet.
17. I _______ (learn) how to be have since I was born.
18. Up to now, we _______ (make) three sentences.
19. You _______ (eat) this kind of food ?
20. We _______ (be) here since the president _______ (appear) .
IV, Complete the sentences with since or for.
1. I’ve _______ this job a month.
2. He’s known her _______ April.
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3. She’s been ill _______ years.
4. I haven’t seen him _______ ages.
5. I’ve lived here _______ 1992.
6. He’s been away _______ a long time.
7. She’s been in love with Tom _______ his birthday.
8. I haven’t slept _______ two nights.
9. _______ my bother lost his job, he has written two books.
10. She has had six different jobs _______ three years.
V, Put yet or already in to blank spaces to complete the following sentences.
1. He hasn’t called us _______ .
2. They have _______ been to Dalat three times.
3. Have you bought the tickets for the game _______ ?
4. The plane has _______ left the airport.
5. Has the class begun _______ ? No, not _______ .
6. Have you finished your homework _______ ?
7. We have _______ signed the contract.
8. Have the police found the thief _______ ?
9. I have _______ mailed the check.
10. They haven’t even strated to look for him _______ .
VI, Put in gone or been.
1. He’s on holiday at the moment. He’s _______ to Spain.
2. “Where’s Jill?” – “She isn’t here. I think she’s _______ to the bank.”
3. “Hello, Pat. Where have you _______ ?” – “I’ve _______ to the bank.”
4. Have you ever _______ to Mexico? No, never.
5. My parents aren’t at home this evening. They’ve _______ out.
6. There’s a new restaurant n town. Have you ever _______ to it?
7. Paris is a wonderful city. I’ve _______ there may times.
8. Helen was here earlier but I think she’s _______ now.
9. Hello! I’ve just _______ to the shops. I’ve bought a lot of things.
10. Alice isn’t here at the moment. She’s _______ to the shop to get a newspaper.
11. Tom has _______ out. He’ll be back in about an hour.
12. Are you going to the bank? – No, I’ve already _______ to the bank.
VII, Rewrite the sentences.
1. We haven’t been to the concert for over a year. The last time____________________________
2. We last saw our grandparents 2 years ago. We haven’t_________________________________
3. I have never read such a romatic story.  This is_______________________________________
4. It’s nearly twenty years since my father saw my uncle.  My father________________________
5. The last time we went to a cinema was two years ago.  We haven’t________________________
6. The last time we saw him was on Monday.  We______________________________________
7. John hasn’t had his hair cut for over six months.
 John last_________________________________________________________________________
 It’s_____________________________________________________________________________
8. How long have you studied medicine?  When________________________________________
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9. We moved to this area 10 years ago.  We have_______________________________________
10. How long is it since you late saw Mary?  How long___________________________________
11. My father stopped smoking last year.  My father_____________________________________
12. How long have you been teaching at this school.  When________________________________
13. We have learnt English for 4 years.  We started______________________________________
14. My father started to give up smoking last year.  My father has___________________________
15. They have worked in that factory since 2001.  They started_____________________________
16. Lan hasn’t written to Maria for a month.  Lan didn’t__________________________________
17. I haven’t seen her for a long time.  I didn’t__________________________________________
18. How long has he worked in this company?  How long ago______________________________
19. When did you start to listen to classical music?  How long______________________________
20. How long have you had this car?  When did_________________________________________
21. It’s months since I saw Jane. (for)  ________________________________________________
22. When did she come black? (since)  ________________________________________________
23. I haven’t spoken to him for a week. (last)  __________________________________________
24. How long is it since he found a new job? (when) _____________________________________
25. It’s a month since I saw Christ. (seen)  _____________________________________________
VIII, Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, past simple or present perfect.
1. We _______ (not/ have) a holiday last year.
2. My friend is a writer. He _______ (write) many books.
3. I _______ (play) tennis yesterday afternoon.
4. What time _______ (you/ go) to bed last night?
5. Kathy travels a lot. She _______ (visit) many countries.
6. You ever _______ (meet) a famous person?
7. The weather _______ (not/ be) very good yesterday.
8. My hair is wet. I just _______ (wash it.
9. The town is very different now. It _______ (change) a lot.
10. I did German at school, but I _______ (forget) most of it now.
11. The police _______ (arrest) three people, but later they let them go.
12. What do think of my English? Do you think it _______ (improve)?
13. I _______ (apply) for a job as a tourist guide, but I wasn’t successful.
14. Where’s my bike? It _______ (be) outside the house, but it’s not there now.
15. “Is Sona here?” – “No, she _______ (not/ come) yet.
16. I _______ (see) her before.
17. I _______ (see) her last year.
18. Tom _______ (never be) in Hanoi.
19. I _______ (read) the novel written by Jack London several times before.
20. What you _______ (do) yesterday?
21. You _______ (watch) TV last night?
22. She _______ (be) born in 1980.
23. He _______ (write) a book since last year.
24. Mr.Green _______ (teach) English in this school since he _______ (graduate) from the university
in 1986.
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How long you _______ (learn) English?
I _______ (have) this shirt for nearly 4 years.
Joanna _______ (tidy) er desk, but now it’s in a mess again.
Mike _______ (lose) his key. He can’t find it anywhere.
The last time I (go) _______ to Brighton was in August.
I _______ (finish) my homework. I _______ (do) it before tea.
And the race is over! And amickey Simpson _______ (win) in a record time.
Martin _______ (be) to Greek five times. He loves the place.
Of course I can ride a bike. But I _______ (not/ride) one for years.
I don’t know Carol’s husband. I never _______ (meet) him.
Rupert _______ (leave) a message for you. He _______ (ring) last night.
Your car looks very clean. You _______ (wash) it?
We _______ (move) here in 1993. We _______ (be) here for a long time now.
Mr.Clark _______ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave up.
Is this the first time you _______ (cook) pasta?
I _______ (work) for a computer company since I _______ (graduat) from university.
We _______ (post) the parcel three weeks ago. If you still _______ (not receive) it, please inform
us immediately.
42. Albert Einstein _______ (be) the scientist who _______ (develop) the theory of relativity.
43. My grandfather _______ (die) 30 years ago. I _______ (never meet) him.
44. Is your father at home? - No, I’m afraid he _______ (go) out. – When exactly he _______ (go)
out? – About ten mintes ago.
45. A: Where do you live?
B: Boston.
A: How long you _______ (live) there.
B: 5 years.
A: Where you _______ (live) before that?
B: Chicago.
A: How long you _______ (live) in Chicago?
B: 2 years.
46. You ever _______ (be) to the Tretyakov Gallery? - Yes, I _______ (be) there sevelar times.
47. You _______ (see) your aunt lately? – No, she _______ (not be) out since she _______ (buy)
her telephone set.
48. I _______ (buy) this hat in Tran Phu street – How much you _______ (pay) for it?
49. Oh, is it you, John. You _______ (not be) in touch with me for a long time. I’m glad you
_______ (ring) me up. Where you _______ (be) all these weeks? I hope you _______ (not be)
ill?
50. I _______ (ring) you up two days ago but I _______ (get) no answer. Where you _______ (be)?
IX, Complete the converstion. Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple or present ferfect.
Tom : (1) _______ (you/ hear) the news about David?
Harriet : No. (2) _______ (what/happen)?
Tom : (3) _______ (he/ have) an accident. When he was walking down some steps, (4) ______
(he/fall) and (5) _______ (break) in leg/
Harriet : Oh, how awful! When (6) _______ (it/happen)?
Tom : Yesterday afternoon. Melanie (7) _______ (tell) me about it last night.
Harriet : Last night! (8) _______ (you/ know) about it last night, and (9) _______ (you/not/tell)
me!
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Tom
: Well, (10) _______ (I/not/see) you last night. And (11) _______ (I/not/see) you today,
until now.
Harriet : I hope he’s all right. (12) _______ (he/have) lots of accidents, you know. (13) _______
(he/do) the same thing about two years ago.
X, Supply the correct verb forms.
1. I _______ (see) a car accident while I _______ (wait) for you on this corner yesterday.
2. Mr.John _______ (be) priciple of our school since he _______ (graduate) in 1980.
3. My father _______ (not watch) TV every night.
4. I _______ (meet) Arthur three weeks ago.
5. Someone _______ (steal) my handbag on the bus.
6. My parents _______ (plant) trees tomorrow.
7. Last month I _______ (be) in hospital for ten years.
8. Don’t call me in the afternoon. I usually _______ (be) away in the afternoon.
9. John _______ (drive) that car ever since I _______ (know) him.
10. She _______ (work) as a secretary for five years before her marriage.
11. People _______ (speak) English in most Canada.
12. The dog _______ (wag) his tail whenever he sees me.
13. What you _______ (do) when I _______ (ring) you last night?
14. I think he _______ (leave) as soon as he _______ (know) the news.
15. I _______ (come) as soon as I have finished my work. You _______ (be) ready?
16. My mother _______ (come) to stay with us next weekend.
17. Where you _______ (spend) your holidays next summer?
18. Violets _______ (bloom) in spring.
19. We _______ (not live) in England for two years now.
20. I never _______ (forget) what you just _______ (tell) me.
21. They _______ (prepare) the Chrismas dinner at the moment.
22. George _______ (work) at te university so far.
23. When he lived in California, he _______ (work) in a bank.
24. Birds _______ (build) their nets in the summer and _______ (fly) to the south in winter.
25. They _______ (live) in London for 10 years when I met them.
26. I _______ (lose) my key. Can you help me look for it?
27. My father _______ (not smoke) for 5 years.
28. How long Bob and Mary _______ (be) married?
29. You _______ (receive) any letters from your parents yet?
30. You _______ (study) my name or you _______ (forget) it someday?
31. Tom _______ (study) Chemistry for three years aand then he gave it up.
32. Miss Lee always _______ (write) when she was on holiday.
33. The men _______ (play) cards for 3 hours before I came.
34. He _______ (leave) home two weeks ago and we _______ (not hear) from him since then.
35. You _______ (speak) to Mrs.Baker yesterday? – No, I _______ (not see) her for a long time. I
can’t remember when I late _______ (see) her.
36. Look! The boy _______. (cry)
37. When the teacher came in, the students _______ (play) games.
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I _______ (see) a car accident while I _______ (wait) for you on this corner yesterday.
Mr.Jone _______ (be) principal of our school since last year.
Mr.Smith _______ (teach) at this school since he _______ (graduate) in 1980.
My father _______ (not watch) TV every night.
I _______ (meet) Arthr three weeks ago.
Yesterday the police _______ (report) that they _______ (capture) the thief.
Someone _______ (steal) my handbag on the bus.
The Browns _______ (live) in Paris for 7 years when the second World War _______ (break) out.
Last month I _______ (be) in the hospital for 10 days.
Don’t call me in the afternoon. I usually _______ (be) away in the afternoon.
Columbus _______ (discover) America more than 400 years ago.
It _______ (rain) when we arrived.
He felt asleep while he _______ (do) his homework.
Kite and I _______ (wait) right here until you _______ (get) back.
When I _______ (arrive) at this house, he still _______ (sleep).
She _______ (play) the piano since she _______ (be) ten years old.
He _______ (leave) as soon as he _______ (hear) the news.
Where are you? – I’m upstairs. I _______ (have) a bath.
We _______ (need) the money on the 15th.
He _______ (study) English since he _______ (come) here.
I _______ (speak) to you about that matter after the meeting tonight.
Hurry up! The train _______ (come).
Why didn’t you listen while I _______ (speak) to you?
While my father _______ (read) a newspaper, I _______ (learn) my lesson and my sister
_______ (do) her homework.
Some animals _______ (not eat) during winter.
John _______ (watch) TV ast 8 last evening.
We _______ (go) as soon as you _______ (fiished) your work.
Tom Baker _______ (not come) here tomorrow.
He often _______ (say) O.K when he _______ (talk) with the guests.
Yesterday the thieves _______ (break) into the house and _______ (stral) a lot of ur coats
_______ while the guests _______ (dance).
She _______ (ask) me to tell about him several times.
At that time? Well, I _______ (work) in my office at that time.
Sometimes I _______ (get) up before the sun _______ (rise).
Up to now, the teacher _______ (give) our class five tests.
We _______ (be) from France. We _______ (be) there for 20 years.
Look! A man _______ (run) after the train. He _______ (want) to each it.
Daisy _______ (cook) some food in the kitchen a present. She always _______ (cook) in the
morning.
Where you _______ (spend) your holidays?
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