Present Perfect V Past Simple

What can you remember about how to use these tenses? Here are some top tips for using the present perfect and the past simple and then a test to check your understanding.

The present perfect:

• Is often used with the words just, yet and already.
• Talks about life experiences
• Talks about something that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

The Past Simple:

• Talks about a specific time in the past.
• Is often used with words such as yesterday, last year, ago.
• Is always a complete and finished action.

Lesson by Caroline

• 1. I ___ to the shops at 8.30 this morning.
  
  have been
  went
  
  
• 2. Where ___ last weekend?
  
  have you been
  did you go
  
  
• 3. I still ___ my essay.
  
  haven't finished
  didn't finish
  
  
• 4 .___ to South America?
  
  Did you ever go
  Have you ever been
  
  
• 5. I ___ my Grandad last week, he seemed very well.
  
  have seen
  saw
  
  
• 6. I ___ my entire life.
  
  danced
  have danced
  
  
• 7. ___ The Killers when they were on tour last year?
  
  Have you seen
  Did you see
  
  
• 8. ___ lunch yet? I’m starving.
  
  Have you eaten
  Did you eat
  
  
• 9. My brother made me watch the worst film yesterday. I ___ so terrified in my life!
  
  have never been
  was never
  
  
• 10. Do you remember when we were little and you cried because I ___ your toy?
  
  broke
  have broken