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Joy English · Level B1 · Tensesjoy-english.com

Present perfect or past simple?

Name:Date:

Learn when to talk about a finished time in the past and when to connect the past with now.

Choose the correct tense

Choose the best option to complete each sentence.

  1. Mina ___ her grandparents last weekend.
    • a) has visited
    • b) visited
    • c) has been visiting
  2. ___ you ever been to a jazz concert?
    • a) Have
    • b) Did
    • c) Were
  3. When ___ to this city?
    • a) have you moved
    • b) you moved
    • c) did you move
  4. Jamal ___ for this company since 2018.
    • a) has worked
    • b) works
    • c) worked
  5. My parents ___ married for thirty years, and they are still very happy together.
    • a) were
    • b) are
    • c) have been
  6. Kofi ___ to Accra in 2015 and stayed there for a year.
    • a) has moved
    • b) moved
    • c) has been moving
  7. Lena ___ three short stories so far this year.
    • a) wrote
    • b) has written
    • c) was writing
  8. I ___ Aiko at the station two hours ago.
    • a) met
    • b) have met
    • c) have been meeting

Write the verb

Type the past simple or present perfect form of the verb in brackets.

  1. This is the first time I ___ (try) skiing.
  2. We ___ (go) to the beach yesterday afternoon.
  3. Ravi ___ (live) here since he was a child.
  4. When ___ (you / arrive) in London?
  5. Tomás ___ (not / see) his cousins since the summer.
  6. Our team ___ (win) the final in 2021.
  7. Sofia ___ (be) to Japan twice, and she wants to go again.
  8. Kofi ___ (lose) his phone last week, but he found it the next day.

Answer key

Choose the correct tense

  1. b) visitedLast weekend is a finished time, so we use the past simple.
  2. a) HaveEver asks about experience up to now, so we use the present perfect: have + been.
  3. c) did you moveA question with when asks about a specific past time, so we use the past simple.
  4. a) has workedSince 2018 describes a period from the past until now, so we use the present perfect.
  5. c) have beenThey are still married, so the period continues until now. We use the present perfect with for.
  6. b) movedIn 2015 is a finished time, and the story is complete, so we use the past simple.
  7. b) has writtenSo far this year is an unfinished period, so we use the present perfect.
  8. a) metAgo always points to a finished time, so we use the past simple.

Write the verb

  1. have tried / 've triedAfter this is the first time, we use the present perfect: have tried.
  2. wentYesterday afternoon is a finished time, so we use the past simple: went.
  3. has lived / 's lived / has been living / 's been livingSince shows a period that continues until now, so we use the present perfect: has lived (or has been living).
  4. did you arriveQuestions with when ask about a finished time, so we use the past simple: did you arrive.
  5. hasn't seen / has not seen / 's not seenSince the summer means from then until now, so we use the present perfect negative.
  6. wonIn 2021 is a finished time, so we use the past simple: won.
  7. has been / 's beenWe talk about life experience with no finished time, so we use the present perfect: has been.
  8. lostLast week is a finished time, and the story is over, so we use the past simple: lost.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/grammar/present-perfect-or-past-simple