Both the simple past and the present perfect are used to talk about finished actions and situations. However, there is an important difference between them. The present perfect tense cannot be used with expressions referring to the past.
Can you use simple past and present perfect tenses correctly? Test your understanding with this grammar exercise.
1I ............... here when I was a child.
Wrong!
Use "lived" because "when I was a child" refers to a finished time in the past.
2I ............... her since last year.
Wrong!
Use "haven't seen" because "since last year" connects the past with the present.
3She ............... unhappy since she left school.
Wrong!
Use "has been" because the state started in the past and continues to the present.
4"Where is John?" "He ............... here ten minutes ago."
Wrong!
Use "was" because "ten minutes ago" is a finished past time.
5They ............... the contract last week.
Wrong!
Use "signed" because "last week" is a finished past time.
6She ............... ill for a long time now.
Wrong!
Use "has been" because "for a long time now" describes a state continuing to the present.
7Somebody ............... their umbrella in the lobby.
Wrong!
Use "has left" because the past action has a present result: the umbrella is here now.
8............... a ghost?
Wrong!
Use "Have you ever seen" to ask about experience up to now.
9I can't get into my house because I ............... my keys.
Wrong!
Use "have lost" because the past action has a present result: I cannot get in now.
10I ............... six letters since morning.
Wrong!
Use "have written" because "since morning" connects the past with the present.
11Sophia ............... absent since Monday.
Wrong!
Use "has been" because "since Monday" describes a state continuing to the present.
12You can't see him now because he ............... home.
Wrong!
Use "has gone" because it means he went home and is not here now.
Answers
- I lived here when I was a child.
- I haven’t seen her since last year.
- She has been unhappy since she left school.
- “Where is John?” “He was here ten minutes ago.”
- They signed the contract last week.
- She has been ill for a long time now.
- Somebody has left their umbrella in the lobby.
- Have you ever seen a ghost?
- I can’t get into my house because I have lost my keys.
- I have written six letters since morning.
- Sophia has been absent since Monday.
- You can’t see him now because he has gone home.