Present perfect and past simple

Essential Grammar In Use. Raymond Murphy

Exercise 1. Use the words in brackets (…) to answer the question.

Have you seen Ann? (5 minutes ago) Yes, I saw her 5 minutes ago.

Have you started your new job? Have you friends arrived? Has Sarah gone away Have you worn your new shoes?

(last week) Yes, I ……………….. last week (at 5 o’clock) Yes, they …………………… (on Friday) Yes, …………………………… (yesterday) Yes, ……………………………

 

Exercise 2. Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

The Chinese have invented printing. WRONG: The Chinese invented.

- Do you know about Sue? She’s given up her job. ……………………….

- How many plays has Shakespeare written? ……………………..……….

- Have you read any of Shakespeare’s plays? ……………………………..

- Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher. …………………………………

- Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. ……………………………………

- My grandparents have got married in London. …………………………..

- Where have you been born? ………………………………………………

- Mary isn’t at home. She’s gone shopping. ………………………………..

- Albert Einstein has been the scientist who has developed the theory of relativity. ………………………………………………………………….

 

Exercise 3. Put the verb into the most suitable form, Present Perfect or Past Simple.

- “Look! Somebody ………………. (spill) coffee on the carpet.” “Well, it ………….….. (not/be) me. I ……………. (not/do) it.”

- “Ben ……………………….. (break) his leg.” “Really? How …………….. (that/happen)?” “He ………………… (fall) off a ladder.”

- “Your hair looks nice. ………………………. (you/have) a haircut?” “Yes.” “Who ……………….. (cut) it? ……………….. (you/go) to the hairdresser?” “No, a friend of mine …………………… (do) it for me.”

 

Exercise 4. Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

1. I’ve lost my key. I can’t find it anywhere. …………………………….
2. Have you seen the news on television last night? ……………………..
3. I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? ………………………...
4. I’ve bought a new car last week. ………………………………………
5. Where have you been yesterday evening? ……………………….…….
6. Jenny has left school in 1991. …………………………….……………
7. I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him? ……………………………
8. I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten anything today. ………………………
9. Diane hasn’t been at work yesterday. ………………………………….
10. When has this book been published? …………………………………..

 

Exercise 5. Write a ten sentences story about your everyday life using the Present Perfect and Past Simple.

 

Revision test

- Put the verb in the Present Perfect or Past Simple.

1. My friend is a writer. He ……………………….. (write) many books.
2. We ………………… (not/have) a holiday last year.
3. I ……………………. (play) tennis yesterday afternoon.
4. What time ………………… (you/go) to bed last night?
5. ……………………………. (you/ever/meet) a famous person?
6. The weather …………………… (not/be) very good yesterday.
7. My hair is wet. I ……………….. (just/wash) it.
8. I ………………. (wash) my hair before breakfast this morning.
9. Kathy travels a lot. She ……………… (visit) many countries.
10. “Is Sonia here?” “No, she ………………. (not/come) yet.”

 

- Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, Present Perfect or Past Simple.