2915 present perfect vs simple past tense

Present perfect simple
- completed past actions connected to the
present with a stated or unstated time
reference:
They have gone to New York. (unstated time,
we don’t know when they left, they are still there now)
I have met Jane at the pizzeria this
morning. (stated time, it’s still morning – action
connected to the present)

Cher has given me an autograph. (she’s still

alive, action connected to the present)

- to announce news or give new information:
Ann and John have divorced.
Somalia’s Prime Minister has decided to
resign.
- for unfinished actions/events, often with
still or yet:
She still hasn’t finished her homework.
I haven’t had breakfast yet.
- for events repeated over a period of time
until present (they may continue):
I’ve been to the greengrocer’s every day.
- for recent events in the past (often with
just):
Jane has just cut her finger.
Uncle Jim has returned.
- when the time period is not finished:
Rachel has started writing a short-story

this morning. (it’s still morning)

for ages
for 2/3/4, … years
since ….
lately
recently
never
ever
so far, up to now
already
yet
just

Present
Perfect

Simple past
tense

yesterday
the day before yesterday
… ago
in 1988
the other day
last …
once upon a time
at the turn of the
century
in July

during the summer

Simple past tense
- completed past actions not connected to
the present with a stated or implied time
reference:
They went to New York 2 months ago.
(stated time 2 months ago)
I met Jane at the pizzeria this morning.
(implied time – it’s afternoon now)

Richard Burton gave me an autograph.

(he’s dead, action not connected to the present)
- to give details of the news:
Ann started to drink heavily and ignored
all John’s pleas.
The Prime Minister stated that it was his
personal decision and was not forced by
anyone.
- for completed actions/events in the past,
often with ago:
I finished it 3 hours ago.
- for events repeated over a period of time
in the past (they are now finished):
I went to the greengrocer’s every day.
- for events which happened at a particular
time/period in the past:
I met Sue at noon.
- when the time period is finished:

Rachel wrote a short-story this morning.
(it’s now evening, so ‘this morning’ is in the
past)


Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense form of the verb:
Model:
………………………………………….
Speak
I spoke to Jane a few minutes ago.
I’ve spoken to the manager about it.
Be
They ………………….. to the circus 3 days ago.
They ………………….. to the circus once so far.
Have
we …………………… a good time at the theatre last Tuesday.
We ………… just ………….. breakfast.
Make
We …………………. a disastrous experiment.
We ………………… a lot of blunders when we were little.
Take
He …………………… an umbrella with him.
It ………………….. Jim 2 hours to get home last night.
Do
The storm ………………. a lot of damage to our gardens.
The trip to the capital last summer………………… the children
a lot of good.
Come
The Whites …………………. to Cluj in the late 1990’s.
Everyone who was invited ……………. to my party.

What punishment did you get?

5) Have you ever taken a photo?
………………………………………
What did you photograph?
………………………………………
6) Have you ever been to the zoo?
………………………………………
What animals did you like?
7) Have you been to the cinema lately?
………………………………………..
What film did you see?
8) Have you ever ironed your shirt?
………………………………………..
Did it look better after it was ironed?
……………………………………….
Fill in the correct tense form of the verb:
The accident ………………………………… (happen)

Complete these conversations, use the present perfect to open the conversation and
in 2003.
the past tense to ask for specific information:
My father
……………………………………. (be away) for three weeks.
1) Have you ever ridden a bike?
The kids …………………………………. (go to bed) ten
minutes ago.
……………………………………..
The telephone ……………………. (be) invented by

Alexander Graham
When did you first ride one?
Bell in 1876.
……………………………………..
I won the first prize when ………………………… (be) 22.
2) Have you ever written a poem?
I ……………………….. (break) my leg last winter in
Austria.