The simple past tense is used to say that something happened some time ago. When we use this tense form, we usually also specify when that particular activity occurred. The present perfect tense is also used to talk about completed past actions and states. There is an important difference, though. We do not normally use finished time expressions with the present perfect tense.
Test your knowledge of simple past and present perfect tenses with this grammar exercise.
1. She ………………….. English for the last 20 years.
a) taught
b) has taught
c) is teaching
2. She …………………… English at university before she became a fulltime writer.
a) taught
b) has taught
c) teaches
3. I ………………… every book written by Jane Austen.
a) read
b) have read
c) am reading
4. Who ……………………. ‘Pride and Prejudice’?
a) has written
b) wrote
c) had written
5. Peter ………………………….. a window last night.
a) broke
b) has broken
c) had broken
6. She …………………… all her childhood in Mexico.
a) has spent
b) spend
c) spent
7. I can’t walk because I ……………………….. my leg.
a) broke
b) have broken
c) had broken
8. Regularly every summer, Andrew ………………………. in love.
a) fell
b) has fallen
c) was falling
9. Who …………………….. you those marbles?
a) give
b) gave
c) has given
10. I’m sure we …………………….. before.
a) met
b) have met
c) had met
Answers
1. She has taught English for the last 20 years.
2. She taught English at university before she became a fulltime writer.
3. I have read every book written by Jane Austen.
4. Who wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’?
5. Peter broke a window last night.
6. She spent all her childhood in Mexico.
7. I can’t walk because I have broken my leg.
8. Regularly every summer, Andrew fell in love.
9. Who gave you those marbles?
10. I am sure we have met before.
