Present Perfect or Simple Past?

Question 1

We use it to talk about a period of time (situation) that continue from the past until now.

Answer 1

Present pefect

To refer to a period of time or a situation (whathever things are or are not) that began in the past and that “is” always when we talk.

• I’ve seen him many times recentlcy.
• I haven’t seen him for ages.

Question 2

We use it with time specific expressions such as:

• yesterday
• one year ago
• last week
• when I was a child
• when I lived in Japan
• at that moment
• that day
• one day…

Answer 2

Simple past. Think to “when” question.

Question 3

We use it with today, this morning, this year, etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking.

Answer 3

Present pefect _{(period around now in these cases)}

• Have you had a vacation this year?
• I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you?
• Rob hasn’t studied very hard this semester.

Question 4

We use it to talk about new or recent happenings, new information.

Answer 4

Present perfect. _{(period around now)}

• I’ve lost my keys. Have you seen them?
• Is Sally here? No, she’s gone out.
• Bill and Sarah have won the lottery.

Question 5

It is used when we you only want to know if you did something, not when you did it.

Answer 5

Present perfect.

You are interested in the information itself, not in the moment of the action.

Question 6

We use it in the first time something has happened.

Answer 6

_Present pefect _

• Have you ever ridden a horse before? No this is a first time I’ve ridden a horse.
• Have you ever been there before?
• This is the second time this has happened.

Question 7

We use it to talk about finished time with expression such yesterday, ago, when I was, from… to…

Answer 7

**Simple past **_{(finished time, think to “when”)}

• It was very cold yesterday.
• I bought a new jacket las week.
• She went out 10 minutes ago.
• He worked here from 1999 to 2005.

Question 8

We use it with expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Answer 8

_Present perfect _

• We use it to talk about an action happened at an unspecified time before now.

Question 9

We use it for things that are not recent or new.

Answer 9

_Simple past _ _{(not recent or new = finished time)}

• My mother grew up in USA. (finished time)
• Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. ^{(finished time)}

Question 10

We always use it with to ask “When…?” or “What time…?”.

Answer 10

Simple past

• When did your friends get here?
• What time did you finish work?

Question 11

It _____ (not/rain) this week.

Answer 11

It hasn’t rained this week._{(This week… Period continuous until now.)}

Question 12

_____ (see) Bob recently?

Answer 12

Have you seen Bob recently?_{(unspecified time)}

Question 13

We _____ (wait) for an hour. (We are no longer waiting)

Answer 13

We waited for an hour. (for = finished time)

Question 14

_____ (eat) a lot of candy when you were a child?

Answer 14

_Did you ea_t a lot of candy when you were a child? (when = specified time)

Question 15

I _____ (buy) a new car. You have to come and see it.

Answer 15

I’ve bought a new car. You have to come and see it. ^{(new information/recent happening)}

Question 16

I _____ (buy) a new car last week.

Answer 16

I bought a new car last week. (last week= specified time)

Question 17

Where _____ (be) last night?

Answer 17

Where were you last night? (specified time)

Question 18

Maria _____ (graduate) from high school in 2004.

Answer 18

Maria graduated from high school in 2004.

^{(specified time)}

Question 19

I’m looking for Mike. _____ (see) him?

Answer 19

I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him?

^{(not interested in “when”, only in result)}

Question 20

I don’t know where Lisa is. _____ (you/see) her?

Answer 20

I don’t know where Lisa is. Have you seen her?

^{(not interested in “when”, only in result)}

Question 21

No, but we _____ (be) there twice this month.

Answer 21

No, but we have been there twice this month.

^{(this = unspecified time)}

Question 22

Mr. Lee _____ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he quit.

Answer 22

Mr. Lee worked in a bank for 15 years (for = finished time). The he quit.

Question 23

Kelly lives in Toronto. She _____ (live) there all there life.

Answer 23

Kelly lives in Toronto. She has lived there all there life. ^{(period continues until now)}

Question 24

It’s nearly lunch time. I _____ (not/see) Martin all morning.

Answer 24

It’s nearly lunch time. I haven’t seen Martin all morning. (period continues until now)

Question 25

Where do you live? Montreal. How long _____ (live) there?

Answer 25

Where do you live? Montreal. How long have you lived there? (period continues until now)

Question 26

Where did you live before? Montreal. How long _____ (live) there?

Answer 26

Where did you live before? Montreal. How long did you live there? _{(before = finished time)}

Question 27

Where _____ (you /put) my wallet?

Answer 27

Where have you put my wallet?

^{(Not interested in “when”, only in the result)}

Question 28

I _____ (lose) weight, but I gained it back again.

Answer 28

I lost weight, but I gained it back again. (finished time)

Question 29

They _____ (have) a tree in the front yard, but they cut it down.

Answer 29

They had a tree in the front yard (finished time), but they cut it down.

Question 30

Your brother and his wife _____ (just/leave).

Answer 30

Your brother and his wife have just left.

^{(recent happening)}

Question 31

The cost of gas _____ (go up), but it’s going down again.

Answer 31

The cost of gas has gone up, but it’s going down again. (finished time)

Question 32

I _____ (already/do) my homework.

Answer 32

I have already done my homework.

^{(already = unspecified time)}

Question 33

I felt good at work all day because I _____ (eat) a good breakfast.

Answer 33

I felt good at work all day because I ate a good breakfast. (finished time)

Question 34

_____ (you/see) any good movie recently?

Answer 34

Have you seen any good movie recently.

^{(recently unspecified time)}

Question 35

Christine is a well known architect. She _____ (designe) many big buildings.

Answer 35

Christine is a well known architect. She has designed many big buildings. (not interested in when, only in the result)

Question 36

Mike is a good college student, but he _____ (have) problems in high scool.

Answer 36

Mike is a good college student, but he had problems in high scool. _{(specified time)}

Question 37

The Egyptians _____ (build) the first pyramids.

Answer 37

The Egyptians built the first pyramids. (finished time)

Question 38

I know this computer works. I _____ (use) it.

Answer 38

I know this computer works. I’ve used it.

^{(not interested in “when”, only in the information)}

Question 39

Sally swum a lost last year, but she _____ (swim) much this year.

Answer 39

Sally swum a lost last yeard, but she hasn’t swum much this year. (unspecified time)

Question 40

It hasn’t rained so far this week, but it _____ (rain) a lot last week.

Answer 40

It hasn’t rained so far this week, but it rained a lot last week. (specified time)

Question 41

My parents have been to Mexico, but they _____ (not/be) one since then.

Answer 41

My parents have been to Mexico, but they haven’t been one since then. (Since = situation continues until now.)

Question 42

I _____ (pay) the bill last month, but I _____ (not/paid) any so far this month.

Answer 42

I paid the bill last month (specified time), but I haven’t paid any so far this month (this = unspecified time).

Question 43

My car _____ (not/break down) recently, but it _____ (break down) twice last month.

Answer 43

My car hasn’t broken down recently _{(unspecified time)}, but it broke down twice last month _{(specified time)}.

Question 44

My father _____ (grow up) in Chicago, but my mother _____ (not grow up) there.

Answer 44

My father grew up in Chicago (finished time), but my mother didn’t grew up there (finished time).

Question 45

This mountain _____ (be, never) climbed by anyone.

Answer 45

This mountain has never been climbed by anyone. _{(not interest in “when”, only if it is)}