Present Perfect and Past Simple - A2 Exercises
Six tasks on the tense English learners hesitate over most. The Past Simple belongs to a finished time - yesterday, last summer, two years ago. The Present Perfect keeps the door open: the time is not over yet, or it does not matter when exactly it happened.
The last task is for speaking and nothing in it is checked: twelve time expressions to make true sentences about yourself.
Rule: Present Perfect and Past Simple ShowHide
Past Simple
A finished action at a finished time – we say or know when.
I went to the new gym yesterday.
Last week Fred fell off a ladder and broke his arm.
yesterday · last week · two years ago · in July · when I was six · When …?
Present Perfect
have / has + 3rd form. The time is not finished, or we don't say it.
- Life experience: Have you ever been to Tokyo?
- From the past up to now: I haven't seen Sam for a long time.
- In a time that isn't over yet: Ted has called you twice this morning.
ever · never · just · already · yet · for · since · today · this week · so far
Start with the Present Perfect, give the details in the Past Simple: Have you ever been to Paris? – Yes, I went there last summer. A finished time never goes with the Present Perfect: We moved here two years ago, not have moved.
Tasks
Past Simple
A finished action at a finished time – we say or know when.
I went to the new gym yesterday.
Last week Fred fell off a ladder and broke his arm.
yesterday · last week · two years ago · in July · when I was six · When …?
Present Perfect
have / has + 3rd form. The time is not finished, or we don't say it.
- Life experience: Have you ever been to Tokyo?
- From the past up to now: I haven't seen Sam for a long time.
- In a time that isn't over yet: Ted has called you twice this morning.
ever · never · just · already · yet · for · since · today · this week · so far
Start with the Present Perfect, give the details in the Past Simple: Have you ever been to Paris? – Yes, I went there last summer. A finished time never goes with the Present Perfect: We moved here two years ago, not have moved.