1.2. Past Simple versus Present Perfect.

Present Perfect	Past Simple
Form	Form
I / we / you / they have worked / seen He / she has worked / seen Have I / we / you / they worked / seen? Has He / she worked / seen? I / we / you / they have not worked / seen He / she has not worked / seen	I / he /she / we worked / saw Did I / he /she / we work / see? I / he /she / we didn’t work / see
For actions which started in the past and have result in present. E.g. She has just written a report.	For actions which happened at a stated time in the past. E.g. She wrote a report yesterday
For actions which started in the past and are still going on. E.g. I have worked here for 5 years.	For actions which finished at a definite time in the past. E.g. I worked here five years ago.
Time expressions
since, for, how long, ever, never, yet, just, already, so far, recently How long?	yesterday, last week, last month, last year, two days / weeks /months / years ago, in 1966 When?

1. Fill in with Present Perfect or Past Simple.

A: ...Did you see... (you / see) the Bruce Lee film on TV last night?

B: No. But I ………………………… (see) all of his films on video already this year.

A: I ………………………… (live) in Germany for five years now. I ………………………… (move) here in 19B9.

B: I………………………… (live) in Portugal for a time, but I live in Rome now.

A: My uncle Tom ………………………… (meet) Winston Churchill.

B: That's nothing! My mum ………………………… (meet) Prince Charles

A: Where's Jane?

B: She ………………………… (go) to America. She ………………………… (leave) last week.

A: Really? Why ………………………… (she / go) there?

A: My father ………………………… (work) in that shop for twelve years. Then he ………………………… (get) a job in a bank. B: He ………………………… (work) at the bank for quite a few years now, hasn't he?

A; How long ………………………… (you / learn) Italian?

B: I ………………………… (start) learning the language when I ………………………… (be) twelve.

2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or Past Simple.

A: Hello, Billy I … haven't seen… (not / see) you for a long time.

B: Yes, I ………………………… (be) very busy recently.

A: Really? Tell me what you ………………………… (do) since we last ………………………… (see) each other.

B: Well, I ………………………… (get) my degree last month and then I ………………………… (move) house.

A: When ………………………… (you / move)?

B: Last week, but I ………………………… (not / unpack) everything yet. A: I ………………………… (phone) you on Tuesday but there ………………………… (be) no answer.

B: I ………………………… (be) busy at my new house then A: Never mind, I only ………………………… (want) to invite you to a party next week at my house.

B: Great! Thank you.

3. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

1. Mr and Mrs Patel …won.... (win) two free tickets to Paris in a TV show last week.

2. First Robert ………………………… (brush) his teeth. then he ………………………… (go) to bed.

3. “………………………… (you / ever / see) a lion?” “Yes, I saw one when I ………………………… (go) to Kenya in 1996”.

4. I ………………………… (not / see) my family for two years.

5. “Where's John?” “He ………………………… (go) fishing for the day with his father”.

6. My sister ………………………… (not / play) the violin since she was twelve.

7. I ………………………… (already. / see) the film. Let's watch something else.

8. Last week Fred ………………………… (fall) off a ladder and ………………………… (break) his arm.

9. I ………………………… (never / hear) such a moving song before.

10. Jennifer ………………………… (always / want) to get Harrison Fords autograph.

4. Correct the mistakes.

1. We have bought a new sofa last month

2. Jim lives in Germany for three years.

3. My father has went fishing.

4. Sue is just moved house.

5. We have eaten lunch at one o'clock.

6. Sophie has do her homework.

7. Ann and Tim have got married ten years ago. 6. I am at school since nine o'clock.

5. Fill in Present Simple or Present Perfect.

I …have known… (know) Timmy for a long time. We always ………………………… (play) together. Timmy ………………………… (not / can) read or write because he ………………………… (never / be) to school. He ………………………… (have) long brown hair since he was born. He ………………………… (live) in our house for five years. My parents ………………………… (take) care of him while …………………………

(be) at school. Timmy ………………………… (not / work), actually he ………………………… (never / have) a job. This …………………………

strange because Timmy ………………………… (be) my dog.

6. Fill in Present Simple or Present Perfect.

My best friend is called Alison. We …have known …. (know) each other since we ………………………… (be) five years old. We ………………………… (always / share) our problems and our troubles, but we …………………………

(also / enjoy) good times together and ………………………… (spend) many hours laughing together. We ………………………… (live} next door to each other before Alison ………………………… (move) to London. I ………………………… (visit) her many times since then. She ………………………… (just / buy) a new house but I ………………………… (not / see) it yet.

7. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple or Present Perfect.

A: Last night I … saw …. (see) “The Bodyguard" at the cinema. B: Oh, I ………………………… (already / see) it twice.

A: Do you know that Mrs Jones ………………………… (work) here for sixteen years?

B: I thought she ……………………….. (start) working here ten years ago.

A: ………………………… (you / ever / meet) anyone famous?

B: Well, I ………………………… (see) Jane Fonda

A: Really? I ………………………… (meet) her father. Henry Fonda, once. But he is dead now.

A: Yesterday I ………………………… (leave) the house and ………………………… (catch) the train. Then ………………………… (realise) that my keys ………………………… (be) in the house.

B: Oh no! That ………………………… (happen) to me before. What ………………………… (you / do)?

A: I ………………………… (call) the locksmith.

A: I ………………………… (already / make) the beds and I ………………………… (just / sweep) the floor, but I ………………………… (not / start) the ironing yet.

B: Don't worry I ………………………… (do) it yesterday.

A: How long ago ………………………… (you / begin) painting?

B: Ten years ago. I ………………………… (recently / complete) a painting that the National Gallery ………………………… (ask) me to do a year ago.

A: Why are you so happy?

B: I ………………………… (just / pass) my driving test!

A: ………………………… (you / always / have) long hair, Julie?

B: No, when I was young my hair ………………………… (be) very short.

Rule.

Since is used to express a starting point.	I've known Ann since October.
For is used to express a period time.	I've known Ann for two months.
Yet is used in questions and negations.	Have you met him yet? I haven't met him yet.
Already is used in statements and questions.	I've already posted the letters.
Just + Present Perfect	I’ve just called the doctor.
Just now + Past Simple	He left just now.

8. Fill in the gaps with time adverbs from the box.

so far how long just for since how long ago yet this week ago just now already

1. They got married a month …………. 6. ………… have you been in Rome?

2. He hasn’t called us …………. 7. The boss came ………….

3. I’ve had this car ………… a year. 8. ………… did he move house?

4. She’s ………… a dinner. 9. I’ve studied Maths ………… 2004.

5. He has …………. left. 10. I haven’t seen her ………….