Present perfect and past simple

(I have done and I did)

The present perfect is a present tense. It
always tells us something about now.

The past simple tells us only about the

past.

Examples:
Jack grew a beard but now he has
shaved it off.

They went out after lunch and they have

just come back.

PAST SIMPLE
Do not use the present perfect if there is no
connection with the present (for example,
things that happened a long time ago):

The Chinese invented printing.

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Compare:
Shakespeare wrote many plays.
My sister is a writer. She has
written many books.

PRESENT PERFECT
We use the present perfect to give new
information or to announce a recent
happening:

Ow! I have cut my finger!

The police have arrested two men in
connection with the robbery.

You can use the present perfect with

just, already and yet.
Just = a short time ago
Hello. Have you just arrived?
We use already to say that something happened
sooner than expected.
Hes already gone.
Yet = until now and shows that the speaker is
expecting something to happen. Use yet only in
questions and negative sentences.
Ive written the letter but I havent posted it
yet.

PAST SIMPLE
Do not use the present perfect when you
talk about a finished time (for example,
yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago).
Use a past tense:
I went to bed early last night.
They arrived an hour ago.

PAST SIMPLE
Use a past tense to ask When...? What
time...?
When did they arrive?
What time did you finish work?

Compare present perfect and past

simple:
Present perfect
Past simple
We use the present perfect for a We use the past simple for a
period of time that continues
finished time in the past.
from the past until now.
For example, yesterday, last
For example, today, this week,
week, from 1985 to 1991.
since 1985.
It didnt rain last week.
It hasnt rained this week.
Did you see Ann on
Have you seen Ann recently?
Sunday?
Tom lives in London.
Tom lived in Scotland for ten
years. Now he lives in
He has lived there for seven
London.
years.
I didnt play golf when I was
I have never played golf.
on holiday last summer.

EXERCISE: Put the verbs in brackets in the present perfect or past simple.

Mary ______________ to Australia for a while but shes back again

now. (go)
Wheres Ken? He ______________ out. Hell be back in about an
hour. (go)
I did German at school but I ______________ most of it. (forget)
I meant to phone Diane last night but I ______________ . (forget)
I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have)
Look! Theres an ambulance over there. There ______________ an
accident. (be)
Theyre still building a new road. They ______________ it.
(not/finish)
Is Helen still here?
No, she ______________ out. (just/go)
The police ______________ three people but later they let them go.
(arrest)
Ann ______________ me her address but Im afraid I
______________ it. (give, lose)
Wheres my bike? It ______________ outside the house. It
______________ ! (be, disappear)
What do you think of my English? Do you think I ______________ ?
(improve)

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right

or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
How many plays has Shakespeare written?
Have you read any of Shakespeares plays
Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher.
Ow! Ive cut my finger. Its bleeding.
My grandparents have got married in
London.
Where have you been born?
Mary isnt at home. Shes gone shopping

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong?

Correct the ones that are wrong.

Ive bought a new car. Do you want to see it?

Ive bought a new car last week.
Where have you been yesterday evening?
Jenny has left school in 1991.
Im looking for Mike. Have you seen him?
Im very hungry. I havent eaten anything
today.
Diane hasnt been at work yesterday.
When has this book been published?

Put the verb into present perfect or past simple.

When I _____________ (get) home last night, I
______________ (be) very tired and I ______________
(go) straight to bed.
Your car looks very clean. ______________ (you/wash) it?
George ______________ (not/be) very well last week.
Mr Clark ______________ (work) in a bank for 15 years.
Then he gave it up.
Molly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all
her life.
______________ (you/go) to the cinema last night?
Yes, but it ______________ (be) a mistake. The film
______________ (be) awful.
My grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago. I
______________ (never/meet) him.
I dont know Carols husband. I ______________
(never/meet/him).

Exercise
A: Is your father at home?
B: No, Im afraid he ______________ (go) out.
A: When exactly ______________ (he/go) out?
B: About ten minutes ago.
A: Where do you live?
B: In Boston.
A: How long ______________ (you/live) there?
B: Five years.
A: Where ______________ (you/live) before that?
B: In Chicago.
A: And how long ______________ (you/live) in
Chicago?
B: Two years.