English Grammar Exercise

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
19
20
Eng
Probl
which
keep
If you
able t
→ Le
Lege
mom
8. The childre
9. (he / phone)
0. She (not / ri
glish Ten
lems with the E
h tense. As the
in mind.
u know how to
to use the past
egend
end

ment in time
en collected the
)
ide)

nses – Gra
English tenses?
ere is a similari
o use the presen
progressive co


action th

actions

actions
e chestnuts that
Angie bef
a horse
aphic Co
? Have a look a
ity between pas
nt progressive
orrectly to expr
hat takes plac
that happen o
that suddenly
t (fall)
fore he went to
e before that da
ompariso
at the time line
st, present and
correctly to ex

ress past action
ce once, never
one after anot
y take place
from
o see her in Lon
ay.
on
e, it might help
future tenses,
xpress present a
ns.
r or several ti
ther
m the tree.
ndon?
you understan
there are just a
actions, you wi
imes
nd when to use
a few rules to
ill as well be

per
Cour
Eng

a
o
ti
a
a
st


a
m
a
th


a
b
m
e


a
b
m
b
th

riod of time

Result

se / Duratio
n
glish Ten
Explanat
action that take
once, never or s
imes
actions that hap
after another
tate
action going on
moment
actions taking p
he same time
action taking pl
before a certain
moment in time
emphasises the
action taking pl
before a certain
moment in time
beyond), empha
he duration

action th
moment

actions

action ta


puts em
n

action ta

puts em
nses – Exa
ion
s place
several
He
eve
ppen one He
the
n
He
n at that He
foo
place at He
an
d
Pa
lace
n
e;
result
He
ma
t

lace
n
e (and
asises
He
foo
hat started be
t
taking place
a
aking place b
mphasis on the
aking place b
mphasis on the
amples
Past
Simple Past
played footbal
ery Tuesday.
played footbal
n he went hom
loved football
Past Progress
was playing
tball.
was playing fo
d she was watch
ast Perfect Sim
had won five
tches until that

Past Perfec
Progressive
had been playi
tball for ten ye
efore a certain
at the same ti
before a certai
e result
before a certai
e course or du
t Si
ll He pla
Tuesd
ll and
me.
He pl
a
then h
. He lov
sive Pres
He is
ootball
hing.
He is
and sh
mple
P
r
t day.
He h

a
match
t
e
P
r
ing
ears.
He h
a
footba
n moment and
ime
in moment in
in moment in
uration of the
Present
imple Present
ays football ev
day.
ays football an
he goes home.
ves football.
sent Progressi
playing footba
playing footba
he is watching.
resent Perfect
Simple
as won five

hes so far.
resent Perfect
Progressive
as been playing
all for ten year
d lasts beyond
time
time
action
t Futu
very He will
play foo
Tuesday
nd He will
and the
n
home.
He will
ive Future
all. He will
football
.
all
.
He will
football
watchin
g
t
Futu

He will
matche
s
t
Future
g
s.
He will
playing
years.
d that
Future
ure I Simple
/ is going to
otball every
y.
play football
n he will go
love football.
e I Progressive
be playing
.
be playing
and she will b
g.
ure II Simple
have won five
s by then.
II Progressiv
have been

football for te
n
e
e
ve
n

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.