Simple Past Past Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or
several times
action taking place before a certain time in the past
actions in the past taking place one after the
other
sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
action in the past taking place in the middle of
another action
puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course
of the action)
Questions in Past Perfect Simple
Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
1. (what / Bob / do) that he was kept in after school?
2. (you / eat) anything before you went to the theatre?
3. (he / live) in London before he moved to Glasgow?
4. (she / find) a new job by that time?
5. (they / book) a room before they went to Dublin?
6. (how often / you / ring) the bell before he answered the door?
7. (why / they / have) dinner before they came to the party?
8. (Carly / wash) the dishes when her mum came home?
9. (you / read) the contract before you signed it?
10. (who / live) in the house before we moved in?
11. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
had built
.
12. He (not / be) to Cape Town before 1997.
13. When she went out to play, she (do / already) her homework.
14. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make) .
15. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on) six weeks before.
16. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order) .
17. I could not remember the poem we (learn) the week before.
18. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall) from the tree.
19. (he / phone) Angie before he went to see her in London?
20. She (not / ride) a horse before that day.
English Tenses – Graphic Comparison
Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you
understand when to use which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and
future tenses, there are just a few rules to keep in mind.
If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be
able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.
→ Legend
Legend
moment in time
action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
actions that suddenly take place
period of time
action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that
moment
actions taking place at the same time
Result
action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the result
Course /
Duration
action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action
English Tenses – Examples
Explanation Past Present Future
Simple Past Simple Present Future I Simple
action that takes place
once, never or several
times
He played football every
Tuesday.
He plays football every
Tuesday.
He will / is going to play
football every Tuesday.
actions that happen one
after another
He played football and
then he went home.
He plays football and
then he goes home.
He will play football and
then he will go home.
state He loved football. He loves football. He will love football.
Past Progressive Present Progressive Future I Progressive
action going on at that
moment
He was playing football. He is playing football. He will be playing
football.
actions taking place at
the same time
He was playing football
and she was watching.
He is playing football and
she is watching.
He will be playing
football and she will be
watching.
Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Future II Simple
action taking place before
a certain moment in time;
emphasises the result
He had won five matches
until that day.
He has won five matches
so far.
He will have won five
matches by then.
Past Perfect
Progressive
Present Perfect
Progressive
Future II Progressive
action taking place before
a certain moment in time
(and beyond), emphasises
the duration
He had been playing
football for ten years.
He has been playing
football for ten years.
He will have been playing
football for ten years.
Use
Simple Past Present Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or several
times
action that stopped recently or is still going on
actions in the past taking place one after the other finished action that has an influence on the present
action in the past taking place in the middle of
another action
action that has taken place once, never or several times
before the moment of speaking
Use of Present Perfect
puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.
action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.
action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.
finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.
action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Exercise on Present Perfect Simple
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).
1. I (not / work)
have not w orked
today.
2. We (buy) a new lamp.
3. We (not / plan) our holiday yet.
4. Where (be / you) ?
5. He (write) five letters.
6. She (not / see) him for a long time.
7. (be / you) at school?
8. School (not / start) yet.
9. (speak / he) to his boss?
10. No, he (have / not) the time yet.
Write questions in present perfect simple.
1. you / correct / my mistakes -
2. you / practise / your English -
3. she / tidy up / her room -
4. the boss / sign / the letter -
5. Mary / shut / the door -
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.
1. Tony has built a house. -
2. Avril has crossed the street at the traffic lights. -
3. They have never been to Australia. -
4. Rupert has dialled the number. -
5. Betty has spent 200 euros at the shopping mall. -
Test
Write the participle forms of the following verbs.
1. shut →
2. spend →
3. give →
4. teach →
5. sell →
Complete the table in present perfect simple.
positive negative question
We have chatted.
The lesson has not started.
Have we won?
She has turned around.
They have not arrived.
Write sentences in present perfect simple.
1. we / reach / our goal -
2. our team / lose / the match -
3. she / underline / the word -
4. they / not / discover / the treasure -
5. Ron / not / talk / about the problem -
Write questions in present perfect simple.
1. you / knock / at the door -
2. the teacher / mark / the tests -
3. she / buy / a new computer -
4. they / rescue / the girl -
5. Brad / wear / a blue shirt -
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.
1. They have seen him at the library. -
2. Robby Robber has robbed another bank. -
3. Bill has ordered three desserts. -
4. Clara has repeated the sentence five times. -
5. Jane has asked a question. -
Simple Past (Past Simple)
Exercises on Simple Past
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used
for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Use of Simple Past
action in the past taking place once, never or several times
Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
if sentences type II (If I talked, …)