1. Present perfect vs. past simplePresent perfect vs. past simple
((I have doneI have done andand I didI did))
TheThe presentpresent perfectperfect is ais a presentpresent tensetense. It. It
always tells us something aboutalways tells us something about nownow..
TheThe pastpast simplesimple tells us only about thetells us only about the
pastpast..

2. Examples:Examples:
JackJack grewgrew a beard but now hea beard but now he hashas
shavedshaved it off.it off.
TheyThey wentwent out after lunch and theyout after lunch and they havehave
justjust comecome back.back.

3. DoDo notnot use the present perfect if there is nouse the present perfect if there is no
connection with the present (for example,connection with the present (for example,
things that happened a long time ago):things that happened a long time ago):
The ChineseThe Chinese inventedinvented printing.printing.
How many playsHow many plays diddid ShakespeareShakespeare writewrite??

4. Compare:Compare:
ShakespeareShakespeare wrotewrote many plays.many plays.
My sister is a writer. SheMy sister is a writer. She has writtenhas written
many books.many books.

5. We use the present perfect to give newWe use the present perfect to give new
information or to announce a recentinformation or to announce a recent
happening:happening:
Ow! IOw! I have cuthave cut my finger!my finger!
The policeThe police have arrestedhave arrested two men intwo men in
connection with the robbery.connection with the robbery.

6. You can use the present perfect withYou can use the present perfect with
justjust,, alreadyalready andand yetyet..
JustJust = ‘a short time ago’= ‘a short time ago’
‘‘Hello.Hello. HaveHave youyou just arrivedjust arrived?’?’
We useWe use alreadyalready to say that something happenedto say that something happened
sooner than expected.sooner than expected.
‘‘He’He’s already gones already gone.’.’
YetYet = ‘until now’ and shows that the speaker is= ‘until now’ and shows that the speaker is
expecting something to happen. Useexpecting something to happen. Use yetyet only inonly in
questions and negative sentences.questions and negative sentences.
‘‘I’ve written the letter but II’ve written the letter but I haven’t postedhaven’t posted itit
yetyet.’.’

7. DoDo notnot use the present perfect when youuse the present perfect when you
talk about a finished time (for example,talk about a finished time (for example,
yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago).yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago).
Use a past tense:Use a past tense:
II wentwent to bed earlyto bed early last nightlast night..
TheyThey arrived an hour ago.arrived an hour ago.

8. Use a past tense to askUse a past tense to ask WhenWhen...?...? WhatWhat
timetime...?...?
When didWhen did theythey arrivearrive??
What time didWhat time did youyou finishfinish work?work?

9. Compare present perfect and pastCompare present perfect and past
simple:simple:
Present perfectPresent perfect
We use the present perfect for aWe use the present perfect for a
period of time that continuesperiod of time that continues
from the past until nowfrom the past until now..
For example,For example, today, this week,today, this week,
since 1985.since 1985.
ItIt hasn’t rained this weekhasn’t rained this week..
HaveHave youyou seenseen AnnAnn recentlyrecently??
Tom lives in London.Tom lives in London.
HeHe has livedhas lived there for seventhere for seven
years.years.
II have never playedhave never played golf.golf.
Past simplePast simple
We use the past simple for aWe use the past simple for a
finishedfinished time in the past.time in the past.
For example,For example, yesterday, lastyesterday, last
week, from 1985 to 1991week, from 1985 to 1991..
ItIt didn’t rain last weekdidn’t rain last week..
DidDid youyou seesee AnnAnn onon
SundaySunday??
TomTom livedlived in Scotland for tenin Scotland for ten
years. Now he lives inyears. Now he lives in
London.London.
II didn’t playdidn’t play golf when I wasgolf when I was
on holidayon holiday last summerlast summer..

10. EXERCISESEXERCISESPut the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple.Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple.
Mary ______________ to Australia for a while but she’s back again now.Mary ______________ to Australia for a while but she’s back again now.
(go)(go)
‘‘Where’s Ken?’ ‘He ______________ out. He’ll be back in about anWhere’s Ken?’ ‘He ______________ out. He’ll be back in about an
hour.’ (go)hour.’ (go)
I did German at school but I ______________ most of it. (forget)I did German at school but I ______________ most of it. (forget)
I meant to phone Diane last night but I ______________ . (forget)I meant to phone Diane last night but I ______________ . (forget)
I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have)I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have)
Look! There’s an ambulance over there. There ______________ anLook! There’s an ambulance over there. There ______________ an
accident. (be)accident. (be)
They’re still building a new road. They ______________ it. (not/finish)They’re still building a new road. They ______________ it. (not/finish)
‘‘Is Helen still here?’Is Helen still here?’ ‘No, she ______________ out.’ (just/go)‘No, she ______________ out.’ (just/go)
The police ______________ three people but later they let them go.The police ______________ three people but later they let them go.
(arrest)(arrest)
Ann ______________ me her address but I’m afraid I ______________Ann ______________ me her address but I’m afraid I ______________
it. (give, lose)it. (give, lose)
Where’s my bike? It ______________ outside the house. ItWhere’s my bike? It ______________ outside the house. It
______________ ! (be, disappear)______________ ! (be, disappear)
What do you think of my English? Do you think I ______________ ?What do you think of my English? Do you think I ______________ ?
(improve)(improve)

11. Are the underlined parts of these sentences rightAre the underlined parts of these sentences right
or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
How many playsHow many plays has Shakespeare writtenhas Shakespeare written??
Have you readHave you read any of Shakespeare’s playsany of Shakespeare’s plays
AristotleAristotle has beenhas been a Greek philosopher.a Greek philosopher.
Ow!Ow! I’ve cutI’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding.my finger. It’s bleeding.
My grandparentsMy grandparents have gothave got married inmarried in
London.London.
WhereWhere have you been bornhave you been born??
Mary isn’t at home.Mary isn’t at home. She’s gone shoppingShe’s gone shopping

12. Are the underlined parts of these sentences rightAre the underlined parts of these sentences right
or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
I’ve boughtI’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it?a new car. Do you want to see it?
____________________________
I’ve boughtI’ve bought a new car last week.a new car last week.
____________________________
WhereWhere have you beenhave you been yesterday evening?yesterday evening?
____________________________
JennyJenny has lefthas left school in 1991.school in 1991.
____________________________
I’m looking for Mike.I’m looking for Mike. Have you seenHave you seen him?him?
____________________________
I’m very hungry.I’m very hungry. I haven’t eatenI haven’t eaten anything today.anything today.
____________________________
DianeDiane hasn’t beenhasn’t been at work yesterday.at work yesterday.
____________________________
WhenWhen has this book beenhas this book been published?published?

13. Put the verb into the correct form,Put the verb into the correct form,
present perfect or past simple.present perfect or past simple.
When I _____________ (get) home last night, IWhen I _____________ (get) home last night, I
______________ (be) very tired and I ______________ (go)______________ (be) very tired and I ______________ (go)
straight to bed.straight to bed.
Your car looks very clean. ______________ (you/wash) it?Your car looks very clean. ______________ (you/wash) it?
George ______________ (not/be) very well last week.George ______________ (not/be) very well last week.
Mr Clark ______________ (work) in a bank for 15 years.Mr Clark ______________ (work) in a bank for 15 years.
Then he gave it up.Then he gave it up.
Molly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all herMolly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all her
life.life.
‘‘______________ (you/go) to the cinema last night?’______________ (you/go) to the cinema last night?’ ‘Yes,‘Yes,
but it ______________ (be) a mistake. The filmbut it ______________ (be) a mistake. The film
______________ (be) awful.’______________ (be) awful.’
My grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago. IMy grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago. I
______________ (never/meet) him.______________ (never/meet) him.
I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ______________I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ______________
(never/meet/him).(never/meet/him).

14. A: Is your father at home?A: Is your father at home?
B: No, I’m afraid he ______________ (go) out.B: No, I’m afraid he ______________ (go) out.
A: When exactly ______________ (he/go) out?A: When exactly ______________ (he/go) out?
B: About ten minutes ago.B: About ten minutes ago.
A: Where do you live?A: Where do you live?
B: In Boston.B: In Boston.
A: How long ______________ (you/live) there?A: How long ______________ (you/live) there?
B: Five years.B: Five years.
A: Where ______________ (you/live) before that?A: Where ______________ (you/live) before that?
B: In Chicago.B: In Chicago.
A: And how long ______________ (you/live) in Chicago?A: And how long ______________ (you/live) in Chicago?
B: Two years.B: Two years.