Past Simple vs Present Perfect Exercises

The Simple Past VS Present Perfect Exercise

Looking for past simple and present perfect exercises?
This page offers interactive grammar exercises to help you practice the difference between the past simple and the present perfect. Choose the correct tense and check your answers instantly.

The Simple Past VS Present Perfect Exercise

Practice with these past simple and present perfect exercises. Test your understanding of the two tenses and check your answers immediately.

Banner about the Past Simple and Present Perfect Exercises (Quizzes For English Learners)
Quiz Time For English Learners: The Simple Past VS Present Perfect Exercise

Exercise 1 – Multiple Choice

Choose the correct tense (simple past or present perfect )

  1. Last holidays, I to Spain.
  2. She the report yet.
  3. I a fantastic movie yesterday.
  4. her last weekend?
  5. She well last night.
  6. We here since 2010.
  7. Charley ten books this month.
  8. My sister a new laptop two days ago.
  9. I this movie twice.
  10. They us an email last week.

Exercise 2 – Put the Verbs in the Correct Form

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: past simple or present perfect.
(Past Simple or Present Perfect)

  1. I __________ (lose) my keys. Can you help me look for them?
  2. She __________ (visit) Paris three times in her life.
  3. We __________ (finish) the project yesterday.
  4. They __________ (not / call) us yet.
  5. He __________ (buy) a new car last month.
  6. I __________ (never / try) sushi before.
  7. My parents __________ (move) to this city in 2015.
  8. __________ you ever __________ (see) a shooting star?
  9. She __________ (break) her arm last year.
  10. We __________ (live) here since 2018.
1. have lost
2. has visited
3. finished
4. have not called / haven’t called
5. bought
6. have never tried
7. moved
8. Have you ever seen
9. broke
1O. have lived

Exercise 3 – Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences using the correct tense: past simple or present perfect (Use the time expressions in brackets).

  • Example:
    • I have seen him before. (LAST WEEK)
    • → I saw him last week.
  1. I saw that movie before. (LATELY)
    → I ______________.
  2. She hasn’t finished her homework. (YESTERDAY)
    → She ______________.
  3. We didn’t eat at that restaurant before. (SO FAR)
    → We ______________.
  4. He has just arrived. (TWO MINUTES AGO)
    → He ______________.
  5. They visited London in 2022. (TWICE)
    → They ______________.
  6. I haven’t read that book yet. (LAST YEAR)
    → I ______________.
  7. She has lived here for five years. (IN 2019)
    → She ______________.
  8. Did you try Indian food? (EVER)
    → __________ you ______________?
  9. He didn’t call me last night. (RECENTLY)
    → He ______________.
  10. We have met him before. (LAST WEEKEND)
    → We ______________.
1. I have seen that movie lately.
2. She didn’t finish her homework yesterday.
3. We have not/haven’t eaten at that restaurant so far.
4. He arrived two minutes ago.
5. They have visited London twice.
6. I read that book last year.
7. She lived here in 2019.
8. Have you ever tried Indian food?
9. He has not called me recently.
10. We met him last weekend.

Quick Review

When Do We Use Past Simple?

We use the past simple for:

  • Finished actions in the past
  • Specific time expressions (yesterday, last year, in 2020)

Example: I visited Spain last summer.

When Do We Use Present Perfect?

We use the present perfect for:

  • Unfinished time periods
  • Life experiences
  • Actions connected to the present

Example: I have visited Spain three times.

FAQs – Past Simple vs Present Perfect

What is the difference between past simple and present perfect?

The past simple is used for finished actions in the past, usually with a specific time expression.
Example:
– I visited Spain last year.
The present perfect is used for actions that happened at an unspecified time or that are connected to the present.
Example:
– I have visited Spain three times.
The key difference is that the past simple focuses on when something happened, while the present perfect focuses on the result or experience.

When do we use past simple instead of present perfect?

We use the past simple when:
– The time is finished (yesterday, last week, in 2020)
– The time is clearly stated
– The action is completely in the past
Example:
– She finished the report yesterday.
– We do NOT use the present perfect with finished time expressions.

Can we use the present perfect with “yesterday”?

No, we cannot.
“Yesterday” is a finished time expression, so we must use the past simple, not the present perfect.
Correct: → I saw him yesterday.
Incorrect: → I have seen him yesterday. ❌

Tags: Exercises on English TensesExercises on Past TensesExercises on Present Tenses
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