Present Perfect Simple & Past Simple

Present Perfect

A Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect form of the verbs below.
1 Tom looks different. I ...................................... him for years.
2 ...................................... you ...................................... this book before?
3 We’re not late for the lesson. It ...................................... yet.
4 I can’t find Kim. ...................................... she already ...................................... the party?
5 My essay is nearly finished. I ...................................... four pages so far.
6 The grass is very dry. It ...................................... for a long time.

B Choose the correct answer.
1 We have owned our holiday home for / since three years.
2 I have never / ever been to Sweden.
3 Tom has worked in this office for / since three years.
4 Barbie hasn’t bought Jill’s birthday present yet / recently.
5 I haven’t been to the beach since / for last summer.
6 Have you been here since / for a long time?
7 Have you ever / never seen a giraffe?
8 I have ever / always had long hair.

C Choose the correct verb.
1 We arrived / have arrived an hour ago.
2 He has been / was here since 5 am.
3 We have heard / heard a wonderful concert last night.
4 Did you visit / Have you visited the Rock Museum yet?
5 Jane has read / read many books lately.
6 Tom has gone / went to Rio last year.
7 When have you left / did you leave the party?
8 We have seen / saw this programme many times before.

D Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Present Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.
1 The dog ...................... already ...................... (bury) the bone in the garden.
2 Look at that! The children ...................................... (make) a big snowman.
3 I was tired, so I ...................................... (sleep) late last Saturday morning.
4 How long ...................... you ...................... (have) this puppy?
5 I ...................................... (speak) to my friends on the phone last night.
6 ...................... you ...................... (see) my pen? I can’t find it.
7 He spoke so fast. I ...................................... (not understand) him.
8 Colin ...................................... (never break) any windows with his soccer ball.
read not rain leave not see write not start
haven’t seen
has buried

Present Perfect – Answers
A 1 haven’t seen 4 Has … left
2 Have … read 5 have written
3 hasn’t started 6 hasn’t rained
B 1 for 5 since
2 never 6 for
3 for 7 ever
4 yet 8 always
C 1 arrived 5 has read
2 has been 6 went
3 heard 7 did you leave
4 Have you visited 8 have seen
D 1 has … buried 5 spoke
2 have made 6 Have … seen
3 slept 7 didn’t understand
4 have … had 8 has never broken

Present perfect simple and past simple

Present perfect simple

We use the present perfect simple: ·       to talk about an experience in somebody’s life. (We don’t say when it happened.)      He’s had a mobile phone for a long time. ·       with for and since to talk about an action that started in the past and continues to the present.      Tim’s known Kate since he was ten. ·       with just, yet and already for a past action with a result in the present.      I’ve just bought a new mountain bike.

Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about a finished action that happened at a definite time in the past. We saw John at the weekend.

1   Choose the correct words.

1   They’ve already / yet visited Venice.

2   Have you ever / never seen a ghost?

3   Has she finished work just / yet?

4   They’ve been married for / since October.

5   Lucy has worked in the circus since / for she was a child.

6      David has just / yet got back from holiday.

2   Complete the newspaper extracts. Use the correct form of the present perfect simple or past simple.

Last night a massive tidal wave 1……………… (hit) the coast of Mexico. Over 5,000 people 2……………… (already / lose) their homes.

Yesterday a girl 3……………… (hand in) a briefcase containing £100,000 to the police. The girl found the briefcase at Euston railway station.

The cost of living in Britain 4……………… (rise) again. Last year prices in British supermarkets 5……………… (increase) by more than five per cent.

3   Complete the text. Use the correct form of the present perfect simple or past simple.

¹…………… you …………… (ever / dream) of being a film star? Leonardo DiCaprio was only five years old when he ²………….…(star) in his first TV show, and just thirteen when he ³……………… (appear) in his first film. Since then he ⁴……………… (not stop) working. He ⁵……………… (be) in over fifteen films and he ⁶……………… (work) with stars such as Robert De Niro and Johnny Depp.

  Leonardo ⁷……………… (be) born in Los

Angeles in 1974. After appearing in TV shows,

he ⁸……………… (get) his first film role in

Critters 3, then he starred in Romeo and Juliet.

But it ⁹……………… (not be) until Titanic that

he ¹⁰……………… (become) a world-famous

teen idol. It was then that Leonardo

¹¹……………… (begin) to appear on magazine

covers around the world.

  Since Titanic, Leonardo ¹²……………… (be)

very busy. He ¹³……………… (already / make)

three more films and ¹⁴…………… (just / start) work on another.

4      Write questions about Leonardo. Use the present perfect simple or past simple.

1   How old / when / first appear / on TV?

     ………………………………………………

2   ever / meet / Robert De Niro?

     ………………………………………………

3   How long / be / an actor?

     ………………………………………………

4   famous / before Titanic?

     ………………………………………………

5   How many / films / make / since Titanic?

     ………………………………………………

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

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.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.

 

 

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

1. Judy: How long (be) in Canada?
Claude: I (study) here for more than three years.

2. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

3. I (love) chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah (have) some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they (go) to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John (work) for the government since he graduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he (enjoy) his work, but now he is talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) about changing my career because I (become) dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

7. I (see) Judy for more than five years and during that time I have (see) many changes in her personality. 

Simple Past / Past Perfect

I can't believe I __________(get)that apartment. I _______________(submit) my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I ________(show)up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who _________(arrive) before me. Most of them _________(fill, already) out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I _________(try)to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They _________(want) me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I ___________(have)some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I __________(end) up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he __________(decide) to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father ____________ (go) to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he ___________ (look)at my credit report. I really lucked out! 



Complete with past simple or past continuous
1. I _______(drive) my new car when I _______(have) the accident.
2. She _________(walk) down the street when she ________(trip) on the pavement.
3. They ___________me (not see) me because they ________(talk) to each other.
4. I _________(have) a shower so I _________(not hear) the phone.
5. We _______(walk) in the mountains when we _______(hear) a piercing
scream.
6. They _______(have) so much fun at the party, they ________(decide) to stay.
7. When the teacher _______(arrive), they _______(play) in the back of the classroom.
8. While I ________(have) a drink in the cafe, I ______(see) an accident outside.
9. What _________(you/ do) when the telephone _______(ring)?
10. Why ________(you /run) when I _______you (see) the other day?

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

James Ellis ______ (go) on a business trip last week. He _________ (visit) some customers in Frankfurt. He ______ (leave) home early on Monday morning and ___(take) a taxi to the airport. He ______ (get) there at about 8 o'clock. He _____(check in) and _______(go) to the airport lounge. He _______ (buy) a newspaper and ______(go) to get a coffee.

He _________(drink) his coffee when he _______(see) an old friend, Bob. He ______(be) very surprised that Bob _______(be) in London and _________(find out) that he ________(start) a new job in the city. As they ________(speak) they _______(hear) an announcement. "Would all passengers for the 9.30 flight to Frankfurt please go to boarding gate 10". James _______(say) goodbye to Bob and as they _______(be) _______(leave) Bob _______(give) him his business card and ________(ask) him to phone when he _________(return) from Frankfurt.

After _______(board**) James _______(put) his briefcase in the overhead locker and ________(sit) down. During the flight, James _______(do) some paper work and _______(speak) to the woman sitting next to him, while they ________(speak) the flight attendant _________(bring) breakfast. When the plane ________(land) in London, it was almost 11 o'clock.

James _______(take) a train to his hotel. Then he _______(walk) to the customer's office. He _________(get) there at 1.00 pm and _______(go) to the reception desk. The receptionist _______(ask) him to wait. Whilst he _______(wait) she _______(offer) him a drink. He and his customer _______(talk) all afternoon. When Bob _______(get) to his hotel at 7 o'clock that night, he _______(phone) his wife and then ______(go) to the hotel restaurant.

Simple Past / Present Perfect

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 (do) very little. Most computers (be) separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times (change) . Computers (become) powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) on the Internet and (begin) communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

Simple Past / Present Perfect

1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
   B: I don't know. I (see, never) that movie.
   
   2. Sam (arrive) in San Diego a week ago.
   
   3. My best friend and I (know) each other for over fifteen years. We still get together once a week.
   
   4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ten very creative short stories in the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.
   
   5. I (have, not) this much fun since I (be) a kid.
   
   6. Things (change) a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start) working here three years ago, the company (have, only) six employees. Since then, we (expand) to include more than 2000 full-time workers.
   
   7. I (tell) him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander) off into the forest and (be) bitten by a snake.
   
   8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss) the bus this morning. You (be) late to work too many times. You are fired!
   
   9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see, never) the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
   
   10. How sad! George (dream) of going to California before he died, but he didn't make it. He (see, never) the ocean.
   
   11. In the last hundred years, traveling (become) much easier and very comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) two or three months to cross North America by covered wagon. The trip (be) very rough and often dangerous. Things (change) a great deal in the last hundred and fifty years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
   
   12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) since the last time I (see) you. You (grow) at least a foot!
   
   13. This tree (be) planted by the settlers who (found) our city over four hundred years ago.
   
   14. This mountain (be, never) climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers (try) to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever) . The climb is extremely difficult and many people (die) trying to reach the summit.
   
   15. I (visit, never) Africa, but I (travel) to South America several times. The last time I (go) to South America, I (visit) Brazil and Peru. I (spend) two weeks in the Amazon, (hike) for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly) over the Nazca Lines.

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

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.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.

 

 

Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

1. Judy: How long (be) in Canada?
Claude: I (study) here for more than three years.

2. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about buying a new one.

3. I (love) chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah (have) some difficulties in their relationship lately, so they (go) to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John (work) for the government since he graduated from Harvard University. Until recently, he (enjoy) his work, but now he is talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) about changing my career because I (become) dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

7. I (see) Judy for more than five years and during that time I have (see) many changes in her personality.

 
 

 

Present Simple and Present Continuous; Past Simple and past continuous

Present Simple / Present Continuous
A Complete the sentences with the Present Simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1 Stan and I ...................... (meet) our friends at football practice twice a week.
2 That jacket ...................... (look) great.
3 Brian ....................... (watch) television every evening.
4 We usually ...................... (do) our homework together.
5 Tom and Mark ...................... (not want) to go to the museum.
6 ...................... Peter ...................... (wash) the car on Sundays?

B Complete the sentences with the Present Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 They ...................................... (not work) on their computer at the moment.
2 ...................... Brenda ...................... (take) her sister to the park now?
3 Jill ...................................... (not write) an e-mail right now.
4 ...................... you ...................... (sit) in the classroom now?
5 Don’t make a noise! The teacher ...................................... (speak) now.
6 Mary ...................................... (travel) home at the moment.

C Choose the correct time expression.
1 Christmas is in December every year / now.
2 I am playing soccer every Thursday / tonight.
3 Does Mike visit his grandmother every week / this week?
4 I always walk to school to school today / on Tuesdays.
5 We are learning about the Internet every day / today.
6 That band is playing my favourite song at the moment / on Sundays.

D Complete the sentences with the Present Simple or Present Continuous form of the verbs
in brackets.
1 Jane and her team ...................................... (want) to win the gym competition today.
2 ...................... you usually ...................... (work) on Saturdays?
3 Bill ...................................... (write) a book report at the moment.
4 Robert often ...................................... (study) in the evening.
5 ...................... you ...................... (look) for information on the Internet now?
6 I ...................................... (not know) anything about the theatre.
meet
want
aren’t working

Present Simple / Present Continuous – Answers
A 1 meet 4 do
2 looks 5 don’t want
3 watches 6 Does … wash
B 1 aren’t working 4 Are … sitting
2 Is … taking 5 is speaking
3 isn’t writing 6 is travelling
C 1 every year 4 on Tuesdays
2 tonight 5 today
3 every week 6 at the moment
D 1 want 4 studies
2 Do … work 5 Are … looking
3 is writing 6 don’t know




Past Simple / Past Continuous, used to

A Complete the sentences with the Past Simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1 Peter ...................... (ride) his bicycle to school yesterday.
2 Mum ...................... (play) tennis yesterday.
3 I ...................... (forget) to do my homework last night.
4 Gina ...................................... (not clean) her room last week.
5 My grandparents ...................... (not travel) to London a month ago.
6 What ...................... you ...................... (drink) after the game?

B Complete the sentences with the Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 The reporter ...................................... (write) an article while the photographers
...................................... (take) pictures.
2 The pupils ...................................... (not study) for a test. They ...................................... (make) a
poster.
3 ......................you ...................... (ride) your horse at 4 o’clock yesterday?
4 We ...................................... (sit) at our desks when the bell rang.
5 My brother ...................................... (not wash) the dishes when Mum came home.
He ...................................... (sleep)!
6 ...................... it ...................... (snow) when you left the house?

C Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verbs in
brackets.
1 I ...................................... (write) an e-mail to Tom when the postman ......................................
(deliver) his letter!
2 When I ...................................... (leave) home yesterday, some dogs ...................................... (sit)
near the front gate.
3 John ...................................... (not swim) at four o’clock. He ...................................... (play) football.
4 Bob ...................................... (lie) in the garden when it ...................................... (start) to rain.
5 As I ...................................... (put) the baby to bed, the phone ...................................... (ring).
6 What .................. you .................. (do) when Dan ...................................... (fall)?

D Complete the sentences with used to and the verbs in brackets.
1 When Grandma was a girl, she ...................................... (wear) long dresses.
2 Ron ...................................... (not like) swimming, but now he swims every day.
3 Before Steven’s accident, he ...................................... (work) in a factory.
4 Where ...................... you ...................... (go) to school when you were young?
5 What music ...................... teenagers ...................... (listen) to in the 1950s?
6 A hundred years ago, people ...................................... (not travel) in aeroplanes.

Past Simple / Past Continuous, used to – Answers
A 1 rode 4 didn’t clean
2 played 5 didn’t travel
3 forgot 6 did … drink
B 1 was writing, were taking
2 weren’t studying, were making
3 Were … riding
4 were sitting
5 wasn’t washing, was sleeping
6 Was … snowing
C 1 was writing, delivered
2 left, were sitting
3 wasn’t swimming, was playing
4 was lying, started
5 was putting, rang
6 were … doing, fell
D 1 used to wear 4 did … use to go
2 didn’t use to like 5 did … use to listen
3 used to work 6 didn’t use to travel



EXTENSION

Present simple and present continuous

Present simple

We use the present simple to talk about: ·       regular habits and routines.      We usually go rollerblading at the weekend. ·       permanent situations.      David lives in Manchester. ·       scientific facts.      Water boils at 100˚C. ·       states, not actions, e.g. like, believe, know.      She doesn’t like chorizo.

Present continuous

We use the present continuous to talk about: ·       something that is happening now or      ‘around now’.      They’re playing tennis at the moment. ·       temporary situations.      He’s visiting his grandparents in Ibiza. ·       changing or developing situations.      The number of car accidents every year      is increasing. ·       future arrangements.      She’s going to the cinema this evening.

1  Complete the sentences. Use the correct form of the present simple or present continuous.

     Kim usually visits (visit) her cousins at

     the weekend.

At the moment Linda is working (work) as a motorcycle courier.

1   Tom ……………… often ………………

     (not go) to the Cyber café.

2   Excuse me. ……………… you

     ……………… (know) how to get to

     Church Street?

3   What ……………… you ………………

     (listen to)?

4   Juan ……………… (work) for the Iberia airline. He’s a pilot.

5   In the summer, the sun ……………… (rise) at five o’clock in the morning.

6   I ……………… (not like) my gym. I

     ……………… (not get) fit fast enough!

7   Tom and I ……………… (go) to the beach this weekend.

2   Complete the text. Use the correct form of the present simple or present continuous.

It’s the year 2100. Ben ¹……………… (be) a

computer programmer and he ²………………

(live) on the moon. Every day at 18.00 he

³……………… (finish) work at the space station

and ⁴……………… (go) to the Matrix café.

  It’s 18.30 and Ben ⁵……………… (look out)

of the café window at the space cars flying by.

  Every day he ⁶……………… (watch) the

same space cars, but today is different. Ben

⁷……………… (not sit) alone. There

⁸……………… (be) a girl at his table. She

⁹……………… (read) a digital magazine. The

girl is very beautiful. She ¹⁰………………

(have got) short, orange hair and yellow eyes.

She ¹¹……………… (wear) a green space suit.

  ‘¹²……………… I ……………… (know)

you?’ she asks.

  ‘I ¹³……………… (not think) so,’ says Ben.

‘I’m Ben. What’s your name?’

3  Write the questions. Use the present simple or present continuous. Then answer them.

1   What / you / do / next weekend?

     ………………………………………………

     ………………………………………………

2   How often / you / go / to the cinema?

     ………………………………………………

     ………………………………………………

3   What time / you / usually / get up?

     ………………………………………………

     ………………………………………………

4   What / you / wear / today?

     ………………………………………………

     ………………………………………………

Past simple and past continuous

Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about a finished action in the past. Mark went to the cinema last night.

Past continuous

We use the past continuous to talk about: • an action which was in progress at a particular time in the past. They were watching TV at nine o’clock last night. • an action in the past that is interrupted by another action I was walking along the street when someone stole my bag.

1   Choose the correct tenses.

It was one o’clock in the morning and I 1 was lying / lay awake in bed. The wind 2 was blowing / blew outside and it 3 rained / was raining. Suddenly I 4 heard / was hearing a loud crash. It 5 came / was coming from downstairs. I 6 got up / was getting up and 7 switched on / was switching on the light. Everything was quiet and still. Only the clock in the hallway 8 was ticking / ticked. I 9 walked / was walking down the stairs when I 10 noticed / was noticing something strange. The front door was wide open.

2   Complete the sentences. Use the correct form of the past simple or past continuous.

     Peter was driving (drive) home when he saw 

     (see) the accident.

1   I ……………… (watch) TV when the phone

     ……………… (ring).

2   He ……………… (wear) sunglasses when I

     ……………… (meet) him.

3   She ……………… (fall) asleep while she

     ……………… (do) her homework.

4   The pop star ……………… (sing) when the

     lights ……………… (go out).

5   It ……………… (start) to rain while we

     ……………… (walk) on the beach.

3   Complete the text. Use the correct form of      the past simple or past continuous.

At midnight last night rescue teams

¹……………… (search) for victims after a

giant tornado ²……………… (hit) Oklahoma

and Kansas. The storm flattened more than

5,000 homes and ³……………… (injure)

more than 700 people.

  Robert Hensley ⁴……………… (hide) in

his cellar when the tornado ⁵………………

(destroy) his home. ‘I ⁶……………… (not come out) until two hours later,’ he said,

‘My house was gone and I ⁷………………

(not recognize) the street.’

  Mary Richardson ⁸……………… (have) a

bath when she ⁹……………… (hear) the

tornado. She quickly ¹⁰……………… (put on)

a coat and ¹¹……………… (escape) to the

local high school. ‘I ¹²……………… (run) to

the school when the tornado ¹³………………

(strike) my house,’ she said. ‘It

¹⁴……………… (be) a very frightening

experience.’

4   Write the questions. Use the past simple or past continuous.

1   What / the rescue teams / do at midnight?

     ………………………………………………

2   How many / homes / the storm / destroy?

     ………………………………………………

3   Where / Robert Hensley / hide / when the tornado hit his home?

     ………………………………………………

4   When / he / come out?

     ………………………………………………

5   Who / have a bath / when the

     tornado arrived?

     ………………………………………………