Form
Simple Past
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs
Present Perfect Si
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3
Example: irregular verbs
I spoke
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed
regular verbs: form of 'have' + in
Example:
I worked
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed':
•
•
•
•
when the final letter is e, only add d Example:
love - loved
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example:
admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example:
travel after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example:
worry - worried
See also explanations on Simple Past and Present Perfect Simple
Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is
quite strict. As soon as a time expression in the past is given, you
have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must
decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence
in the present is important.
Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British
English only. In American English, you can normally use Simple
Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in our
exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those
who have to learn the differences.
Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?
Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in
the past (even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has
just / already / not yet happened?
Simple Past
certain time in the past
Present Perfect Si
just / already / not yet
Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.
I have just phoned Mary.
Certain event in the past or how often so far?
Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether
/ how often an action has happened till now?
Simple Past
certain event in the past
Present Perfect Si
whether / how often till now
Example:
He went to Canada last summer.
Have you ever been to Canada? / I ha
twice.
Emphasis on action or result?
Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you
want to emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the
present)?
Simple Past
Emphasis on action
Present Perfect Simple
Emphasis on result
Example:
I bought a new bike. (just telling what I did
I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actua
in the past.)
that I have a new bike now.)
Signal Words
Simple Past
•
•
•
•
•
yesterday
... ago
in 1990
the other day
last ...
Present Perfect Simple
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
just
already
up to now
until now / till now
ever
(not) yet
so far
• lately / recently
English Test Simple Past – Present
Perfect Simple
I / open
he / write
they / do
you / swim
she / give
Use
When do we use which tense?
•
•
•
•
•
'Already' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
'Just' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
'2 years ago' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
'Yet' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
'Yesterday' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
Positive Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
•
•
•
•
•
Mary (win) the lottery last year.
We (prepare / already) dinner.
James (find) your ring in the garden yesterday.
He (come / just) home.
They (buy) their car two years ago.
Negative Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
•
•
•
•
•
I (see / not) anyone yet.
Phil (go / not) to the cinema last night.
We (be / not) to the zoo so far.
She (arrive / not) yet.
Emily (visit / not) me last week.
Questions
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(you / read) the book yet?
How many letters (they / write) so far?
When (he / tell) you that?
(you / be) at home last night?
How often (you / travel) abroad till now?
Text
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A: (you / taste / ever) sushi?
B: Yes, I (eat) sushi at least five times so far.
A: When (you / eat) sushi for the first time?
B: I (eat) sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He
(invite) the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
A: (you / like) it?
B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be) so good that we (be) to that
restaurant three times yet. And on my mum's birthday, we
(order) some sushi and (have) it at home.
Form
Write down the correct form (pronoun + verb).
Simple Past
she /
live
I / look
you /
buy
he / see
they /
take
Use
Present Perfect
Simple
When do we use which tense?
• 'How often so far' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect
Simple
• '... ago' is a signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
• 'Until now' is an signal word for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect Simple
• 'Yesterday', 'last week' und 'in 2006' are signal words for ... Simple
PastPresent Perfect Simple
• 'Just', 'already', 'yet' are signal words for ... Simple PastPresent Perfect
Simple
Positive Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
•
•
•
•
•
William (tidy / already) up his room.
Caroline (miss) the schoolbus yesterday.
I (finish / just) my homework.
I cannot go out tonight. My grandparents (come) to see us.
In 2004, the Olympic Summer Games (take) place in Athens.
Negative Sentences
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
•
•
•
•
•
We (watch / not) TV last night.
Joanna (read / not) the book yet.
Collin (not / go) on holiday last year.
I (have / not) any problems so far.
They (learn / not) the new words yet.
Questions
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
6.
7.
8.
(they / be / ever) to New York?
(you / see) Catherine a minute ago?
What time (you / get) up today?
9.
10.
(he / hear) the news yet?
How often (you / play) that game up to now?
Text
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect
simple).
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
A: I (see / not) you for a long time. Where (you / be) ?
B: I (come / just) back from Canada.
A: Oh really? What (you / do) in Canada?
B: I (take) a nature tour.
A: Wow! (you / see) many wild animals there?
B: Of course. I (watch) bears, wolves and whales in the wild.
That (be) so interesting. (you / spend / ever) a holiday in
Canada?
A: Yes, I (travel) around Canada twice so far.
B: When (you / go) there?
A: The first time I (go) there (be) in 1997 and the second time in
2004.
B: (you / enjoy) it?
A: I absolutely (love) it, especially the west coast.