SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT? EXERCISE 1 (ESL)

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)

Choose which verb tense (simple past or present perfect) fits better.

1. I ________ to him in months.
a. haven't spoken
b. didn't speak

2. Maria ________ her friend Betty at school yesterday.
a. hasn't seen
b. didn't see

3. We ________ our friends in Switzerland last month.
a. have visited
b. visited

4. She ________ in Australia.
a. has been born
b. was born

5. I ________ told you this story already, have I?
a. haven't told
b. didn't tell

6. They ________ their flight, did they?
a. haven't missed
b. didn't miss

7. I ________ in Portland for three years (and still do).
a. have lived
b. lived

8. I ________ in Portland for three years (but I no longer do).
a. have lived
b. lived

9. Pamela and her boyfriend ________ to the movies twice last week.
a. have gone
b. went

10. Robert ________ to the gym every day this week.
a. has gone
b. went

11. Jim ________ volleyball since he was 12, and he still plays at least twice a month.
a. has played
b. played

12. Peter ________ dancing every day last week.
a. has gone out
b. went out

13. Cathy ________ that movie last Monday.
a. saw
b. has seen

14. Melissa ________ in many cities, and she is currently working in Seattle.
a. has worked
b. worked

15. P1: We were on vacation in Madrid. P2: Is Madrid worth visiting? I ________ there.
a. wasn't
b. haven't been

16. We ________ her about the party yet.
a. haven't told
b. didn't tell

17. P1: Sam's car is filthy! P2: That's because he ________ it in three months.
a. hasn't washed
b. didn't wash

18. These aren't new shoes. ________ them for years.
a. I've had
b. I had

19. I ________ my dog two years ago.
a. adopted
b. have adopted

20. When we lived in San Diego, we ________ a lot of money for rent.
a. have paid
b. paid

GRAMMAR REVIEW! Simple past & present perfect

The SIMPLE PAST TENSE in English is used to talk about actions or situations that happened and were completed in the past. Here are the main uses:

1. Completed actions in the past (to describe something that started and ended at a specific time in the past).
Examples:
I visited Paris last summer.
She graduated in 2020.

2. A series of completed actions (to list multiple actions that happened in the past, often in sequence).
Example:
He woke up, brushed his teeth, and left the house.

The PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (formed by combining "have/has" + past participle) is used in English to describe actions or events that have a connection to the present, even if they happened in the past. Here's a breakdown of when it's typically used:

1. Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past (when we don't say exactly when the action happened, just that it has happened)
Example:
I have seen that movie before.
She has visited Paris.

2. Actions that started in the past and continue to the present (often used with for or since)
Examples:
They have lived here for 10 years.
He has worked at the company since 2010.

3. Repeated actions in the past up to now (shows the action has happened more than once).
Examples:
I have eaten sushi many times.
We have gone hiking every summer.

4. With "just," "already," "yet," "ever," "never," "still" (in British English especially)
Examples:
She has just left the office.
Have you ever been to Japan?
I haven't finished my homework yet.

5. To describe life experiences when no specific time is mentioned.
Examples:
I've never broken a bone.
They have traveled all over the world.

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