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B1Exercises

Present Perfect vs Past Simple exercises

Practise with the song. Listen to Remi and type the missing words, then choose the right form. The answers and explanations are at the bottom.

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Past simple

Say WHEN it happened

“I went there last December.”

Present perfect

Up to NOW, no finished time

“I've been there twice.”

Step 1

Hear it, then type it

Press play, listen to Remi, and type the missing words.

  1. to London? Yes, I have, I've been there twice,

  2. I there last December and the lights were really nice.

  3. but I my keys on Friday and I couldn't get back home!

  4. my report, and I've already sent it too,

  5. I my coffee yet, there's still so much to do!

  6. I down, I closed my eyes, and then it started to rain!

  7. this job for a year, I've lived in town since May,

  8. I here a year ago, I moved here on a rainy day.

  9. this song? Now you have, you've sung it twice!

  10. You it just a minute ago, and wasn't it nice?

0 of 10 checked · 0 right

Step 2

Choose the right form

Say WHEN, or up to NOW? Choose the form that fits.

  1. 1.I to London last December.

  2. 2.Up to now, I to London twice.

  3. 3.I my keys on Friday and couldn't get back home.

  4. 4.I my coffee yet. There's still so much to do!

  5. 5.At six o'clock I my flat and ran to catch the train.

  6. 6.I this job for a year, and I still love it.

  7. 7.I started here a year .

  8. 8.I in town since May.

0 of 8 answered

Answers

Hear it, then type it
  1. Have you ever been to London? Yes, I have, I've been there twice,
  2. I went there last December and the lights were really nice.
  3. but I lost my keys on Friday and I couldn't get back home!
  4. I've just finished my report, and I've already sent it too,
  5. I haven't had my coffee yet, there's still so much to do!
  6. I sat down, I closed my eyes, and then it started to rain!
  7. I've had this job for a year, I've lived in town since May,
  8. I started here a year ago, I moved here on a rainy day.
  9. Have you ever sung this song? Now you have, you've sung it twice!
  10. You sang it just a minute ago, and wasn't it nice?
Choose the right form
  1. I went to London last December.“Last December” is a finished time: you say WHEN, so use the past simple.
  2. Up to now, I have been to London twice.Up to now, with no finished time: present perfect (have + participle).
  3. I lost my keys on Friday and couldn't get back home.“On Friday” says when it happened, so it's the past simple.
  4. I haven't had my coffee yet. There's still so much to do!“Yet” looks at the time up to now: present perfect.
  5. At six o'clock I left my flat and ran to catch the train.A time on the clock, and a story that's finished: past simple.
  6. I have had this job for a year, and I still love it.“For a year” and you still have it: the time runs up to now, so present perfect.
  7. I started here a year ago.“Ago” is finished time, so it goes with the past simple (started).
  8. I have lived in town since May.“Since May” runs up to now: present perfect.

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