when to use the Simple Past

  • used for actions and events completed in the past (I saw him yesterday.)
    signal words (signifying a definite time): yesterday, …….. ago, when …., last week / month / year, in 2018
  • habitual action in the past (She always walked to school.)

when to use the Present Perfect

  • for a state or action which has started in the past, gone on up to the present and continues past the time of speaking (I have been ill for a week.)
    signal words: for, since, always, lately, recently
  • for a completed action in the past without specifying when but having a result in the present  (I have washed the car. (result: It is now clean)).
  • for recent actions  (We have just missed the bus.)
    signal word: just
  • for an incomplete period in which actions happened repeatedly (Elisa has already rung him four times this morning.)
    signal words: this morning / afternoon / evening / week etc. / ever / never / always / occasionally / often / several times / It’s / This is the first / second time etc

Exercises

Simple Past and Present Perfect (I went en I have gone) (elementary)

  • exercise 1: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 2: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 3: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 4: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 5: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 6: two exercises practising the use of the simple past and the present perfect
  • exercise 7: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 8: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 9: choose the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 10: choose the simple past or the present perfect

Simple Past and  Present Perfect (I went en I have gone) (intermediate)

  • exercise 1: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 2: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 3: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 4: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect
  • exercise 5: fill in the correct verb form of the simple past or the present perfect

Useful pages

  • exercises for practising the Simple Past ( I went)
  • exercises for practising the Present Perfect (I have gone)
  • exercises for practising irregular verbs (gowent – gone)
  • exercises for practising for en since