PRESENT

z
z

PERFECT
PRACTICE
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Present perfect
Simple Vs.
Simple past
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Remember you can use the present
perfect simple to talk about
▪ Experiences: ▪ I have seen the Eiffel tower.

▪ Changes over time ▪ My French has gotten worst.

▪ Scientists have discovered a
▪ Accomplishments
treatment for Parkinson.
▪ An action that hasn’t
▪ I haven’t finished my
been finished but that homework yet.
you expect to finish
soon
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When should I use each?
Present perfect
▪ Actions that happened in a
period of time that hasn’t
finished.
▪ Today, this month, this year,
in my life, since … (particular
date), for … (particular
number), in my life (often
implicit).
Simple past
▪ Actions that happened in a
period of time that has
finished.
▪ Yesterday, last
week/month/year, in…
(particular year, month), on …
(particular date, day).
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Examples

Present perfect Simple past

▪ I haven’t gone to the gym this ▪ I didn’t go to they gym last
week. (I may go since this week. (last week is over).
week’s not over).
▪ They went to Popayan in
▪ They have been 3 times to 2010, in 2013 and in 2017.
Popayan since 2010.
▪ She has been married for 20
▪ She got married in 1999.
years.
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1. Complete each part of the
following text, use simple past
OR present perfect.

▪ Text taken and adapted from The English page:

https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs6.htm
1

Since computers were first introduced to

the public in the early 1980's,
technology ___ (change) a great deal.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers
often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
2

The first computers ___ (be) simple

machines designed for basic tasks.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers
often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
3

They ___ (have, not) much memory

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers
often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
4

and they ___ (be, not) very powerful

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers
often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
5

Early computers were often quite

expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines
which actually did very little.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
6

Times ___ (change). Computers are

now powerful machines with very practical
applications.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
7

In the 1980’s, people ___ (play)

videogames in their computers,

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
8

nowadays we are still playing video

games, but today's games ___
(become) faster,

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
9

We ___(start) to create wonderful tools

that we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
10

In short, the simple, individual machine of

the past ___ (evolve) into an international
World Wide Web of knowledge.

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology ___ (change) a great deal.
The first computers ___ (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They ___ (have, not) much memory
and they ___ (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often ___
(pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very little.

Times ___ (change). Computers are now powerful machines with very practical applications. In the 1980’s,
people ___ (play) videogames in their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but today's
games ___ (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. We ___(start) to create wonderful tools that
we couldn’t imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the past ___ (evolve) into an
international World Wide Web of knowledge.
Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's,
technology has changed a great deal. The first
computers were simple machines designed for basic tasks.
They didn't have much memory and they weren't very powerful. Early
computers were often quite expensive and customers
often paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually did very
little.

Times have changed. Computers are now powerful machines with

very practical applications. In the 1980’s, people played videogames in
their computers, nowadays we are still playing video games, but
today's games have become faster, more exciting interactive
adventures. We have started to create wonderful tools that we couldn’t
imagine 40 years ago. In short, the simple, individual machine of the
past has evolved into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.
z
Present perfect
simple Vs.
Present perfect
continuous
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When should I use each?

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

▪ To talk about an action in the ▪ To talk about an action that
past that finished but in a started in the past and
period of time that hasn’t finish. continues happening.

▪ With verbs like: know, start, ▪ To mention how long

finish, like, remember, realize, something has been
be (active voice). happening.

▪ With ALREADY or YET,

NEVER or EVER.
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Present perfect simple
▪ He has called her twice
today.
▪ I have started to learn how to
cook.
▪ She has never finished a
book.
▪ We haven’t visited her yet.
Examples
Present perfect continuous
▪ He has been calling her all
morning.
▪ They have been studying for
12 years.
▪ It’s been raining since 8:00
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Use of FOR and SINCE
FOR is used to mention the period of time: For two years.
SINCE is used to mention the moment when the activity began: since 2017.

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

▪ FOR and SINCE are used for ▪ FOR and SINCE are often
states: married, single, used to talk about when
hungry, thirsty, tired. something started or the
period of time it has lasted.
▪ SINCE is used if we are
going to mention a number of
times.
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Examples
FOR is used to mention the period of time: For two years.
SINCE is used to mention the moment when the activity began: since 2017.

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

▪ She’s been hungry for a ▪ She’s been dancing for 30
while. minutes.
▪ He has been single since ▪ They have been working
2016. since 5:00 a.m.
▪ They have cooked lasagna 4
times since they learned how
to make it.
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2. Complete each part of the
following conversation, use
present perfect simple OR
continuous.

▪ Text taken and adapted from The English page:

https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs7.htm
Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ___ us. We (wait) ___ here for over
half an hour and nobody (take) ___ our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ___ by us at least twenty times.

He probably thinks we (order, already) ___.

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ___ here for five
or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, not) ___ yet! We (sit) ___ here for
over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) ___ us. He (run) ___ from table
to table taking orders and serving food.
Robin: I think the waiter has forgotten us. We have been waiting here
for over half an hour and nobody has taken our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He has walked by us at least twenty times.

He probably thinks we have already ordered.

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they have only been here for
five or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we have not ordered yet! We have been

sitting here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he has even noticed us. He has been

running from table to table taking orders and serving food.