English Verb Tenses: Simple Past vs.

Present Perfect

Understanding when to use simple past or present perfect can be a challenge when speaking – or
writing – in English. In fact, using the past tense is difficult for many English learners, so you are
not alone! These exercises will teach you the rules of each verb tense, describe some of the
differences, and provide you opportunities to practice. To understand the difference between the
two past verb tenses, see the timeline below.

Simple Past is normally understood as a completed event that happened a specific point in the
past. Complete the conversations with the correct past simple form of the verb in parentheses.
Once finished, see the answers below.

Past Present Future

Melissa: Have you sent the invitations? Melissa: (2) _______ (To do) you send the
David: Yes, I (1) ______ (to send) them yesterday. invitations?
David: Yes, I (3) _______ (to do).
Answers: sent; Did; did

Present Perfect is also used for events in the past, but over an extended period of time. The
period can be specified/known (see first timeline) or unspecified/unknown (second timeline).
Specified, or a specific period of time in the past, normally uses the words for or since. Complete
the conversations with the correct present perfect form of the verb in parentheses. Once finished,
see the answers below.

Specified
Timeline 1

(Known time
John: How long have you been here?
period in the Lisa: I’ve (1) _______ here (2) _______ about 1 hour.
past) *for is used for a length of time (50 minutes, 3 days, 4 hours)
John: Oh, okay. How long have you played the piano?
Lisa: I (3) ______ played the piano since I was 6 years old!
*since is used for a specific point in time (Wednesday, 2010, last week)

Unspecified
Timeline 2

(Unknown time Melissa: (4) _______ you shopped for food?

period in the David: Yes, I have.
past) Melissa: Have you ever skydived?
David: Yes, I actually have (5) ____________ before.

Answers: been; for; Have; Have; skydived

Same vs. Different Meaning

There are some cases in which using the simple past and present perfect have the same or a
different meaning. In general, simple past refers to a specific time in the past, whereas
present perfect is an unspecified time. In addition, the meaning of the sentences changes
when more specific information (e.g. dates, times) is provided. See the examples in the
chart below.

Generally Same Meaning Different Meaning

Simple Past Simple Past

They completed the game. a) They completed the game at 5pm.

b) Ann was in Los Angeles for 3 days.
Present Perfect
Present Perfect
They have completed the game.
a) They have completed the game.
Both games were completed in the past, but b) Ann has been in Los Angeles for 3 days.
simple past emphasizes more a completed past
event In Example A, the Simple Past form means the game
was completed at a specific time in the past,
whereas in Present Perfect it is an unknown time.

In Example B, the Simple Past form means the

activity started in the past and finished, whereas in
Present Perfect it started in the past and still
continues to the present.

Grammar Forms

To begin forming the simple past or present perfect, it’s important to know how the verb
forms change from present, past simple, and the past participle. See how each tense is
formed below.

Past Simple Form Present Perfect Form

Regular Verbs: add -ed (walk  walked) 3rd Person Singular (he, she, it): has + past participle
Examples: He has walked; Larry has gone
Irregular Verbs: Learn them (go  went)
All others (I, you, we, they): have + past particle
Examples: I have spoken with him; They have finished

Regular Verbs: add -ed (same form as simple past)

Irregular Verbs: Learn them (go  gone; speak  spoken)

Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the chart with the correct form of the verbs (base form, past simple,
or simple past). In some cases, past simple and the participle are the same, and other times
different. Remember that you use the past participle for present perfect.

Present (Base Form) Past Simple Past Participle

Awake awoke awaken

Break Broke broken

Drive Driven

Eat

Forgot Forgotten

Leave left

Forgive Forgave

Get Gotten

Rose Risen

Shake Shaken

Feel felt

Kept kept

Write Wrote

Sing Sang

Ring Rang

Hang Hanged

Meant meant

Catch Caught

Pay Paid

Spent

Fight Fought

Shrink Shrank

Met Met

Hear Heard

Read Read

Found Found
 Swing Swang

slept slept

Taught Taught

Tell Told

Know Knew

Light Lit/lighted

Lose Lost

Think thought

Meet met

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with either simple past or present perfect.

Ex. A: Have you ever been to Seattle?

B: Yes, I ___have been___ ( be) there. I __went_____ (go) there 4 years ago.

1. A: Are you going to finish your chores before you go to sleep?

B: Yes, I ________________________ (already / finish) them. I ___________________ ( finish)
these tasks well over 30 minutes ago.

2. A: Have you ever been to Brady Street?

B: Yes, I ________________. I ___________________ ( go) for a stroll there last night. It was
very pleasant.

3. A: I’m watching a great series on Netflix right now called Stranger Things. Would
you like to watch it with me tonight?
B: Thanks, but I _____________________________ (already / see) it. I __________________ (watch)
it a few months ago.

Exercise 3: Complete the exercises for Part A and Part B below.

Part A: What's the past tense . . . . . .?

Leave ___left___ Read _________

Feel ___felt___ Meet _________

Keep _________ Sleep _________

Part B: Write a sentence using each verb (listed above) in the simple past tense.
Example: Bob felt sad because his dog died.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Exercise 4: If working individually, read the questions below and answer them in complete
sentences. If you have a teacher or other student available, ask them the questions and
write their answers. The questions are in present perfect, but you can answer in either
present perfect or simple past. Check your answers for correct grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.

Ex. What have you done today?

I have walked my dog, done the dishes, and cleaned my room.

1. What cities have you visited this past year?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How many times have you been in a hospital?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Have you ever lost your passport? If so, when and where did it happen?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Have you eaten at a restaurant this week? If so, which one?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Have you ever lied about your age?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 5: Change the following sentences from simple past to present perfect, or from
present perfect to simple past. Then, think about how the two sentences change meaning or
stay the same.

Example: I have already gone to the movies.  _____I went to the movies.__________
(Present Perfect) (Simple Past)

1. She has written five letters today.  _______________________________________.

2. They haven’t started the soccer game yet.  __________________________________.

3. I have never been to China.  ______________________________________________.

4. I went to the Bucks game.  _______________________________________.

5. I already did my homework.  ___________________________________________.

6. I haven’t washed the dishes.  ___________________________________________.

7. She has gone to Paris for a week.  _________________________________________.