Present Perfect and Past Simple (I have done and I did) The present perfect is a present tense. It always tells us something about now. The past simple tells us only about the past.

Examples: Jack grew a beard but now he has shaved it off. They went out after lunch and they have just come back.

Do not use the present perfect if there is no connection with the present (for example, things that happened a long time ago): The Chinese invented printing. How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Compare: Shakespeare wrote many plays. My sister is a writer. She has written many books.

We use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening: Ow! I have cut my finger! The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.

You can use the present perfect with just, already, yet, still. Just = ‘a short time ago’ ‘Hello. Have you just arrived?’ We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected. ‘He’s already gone.’ Yet = ‘until now’ and shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences. ‘I’ve written the letter but I haven’t posted it yet.’ Still ‘I still haven’t found what I’m looking for’

Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (for example, yesterday / last week / in 1985 / ten minutes ago). Use the past simple: I went to bed early last night. They arrived an hour ago.

Use the past simple to ask When...? What time...? When did they arrive? What time did you finish work?

Compare Present Perfect and Past Simple: We use the present perfect for a period of time that continues from the past until now. For example, today, this week, since 1985. It hasn’t rained this week. Have you seen Ann recently? Tom lives in London. He has lived there for seven years. I have never played golf. Past Simple We use the past simple for a finished time in the past. For example, yesterday, last week, from 1985 to 1991. It didn’t rain last week. Did you see Ann on Sunday? Tom lived in Scotland from 1997 to 2003. I didn’t play golf when I was on holiday last summer.

EXERCISES Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple. I did German at school but now I ______________ most of it. (forget) I meant to phone Diane last night but I ______________ it. (forget) I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have) Look! There’s an ambulance over there. There ______________ an accident. (be) They’re still building a new road. They ______________ it. (not/finish) ‘Is Helen still here?’ ‘No, she ______________ out.’ (just/go) The police ______________ three people but later they let them go. (arrest)

EXERCISES Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple. I did German at school but now I have forgotten_ most of it. (forget) I meant to phone Diane last night but I _forgot_ it. (forget) I _had__ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have) Look! There’s an ambulance over there. There has been_ an accident. (be) They’re still building a new road. They _haven’t finished_ it. (not/finish) ‘Is Helen still here?’ ‘No, she _has just gone_ out.’ (just/go) The police arrested_ three people but later they let them go. (arrest)

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. How many plays has Shakespeare written? Have you read any of Shakespeare’s plays? Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher. Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. My grandparents have got married in 1983. Where have you been born? Mary isn’t at home. She’s just gone shopping

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. How many plays did Shakespeare write? Have you read any of Shakespeare’s plays? Right Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. Right My grandparents got married in 1983. Where were you born? Mary isn’t at home. She’s just gone shopping. Right

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? ______________ I’ve bought a new car last week. ______________ Where have you been yesterday evening? ______________ Jenny has left school in 1991. ______________ I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him? ______________ Diane hasn’t been at work yesterday. ______________ When has this book been published?

Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? OK ______________ I bought a new car last week. ______________ Where were you yesterday evening? ______________ Jenny left school in 1991. ______________ I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him? OK ______________ Diane wasn’t at work yesterday. ______________ When was this book published?

Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple. When I _____________ (get) home last night, I ______________ (be) very tired and I ______________ (go) straight to bed. Your car looks very clean. ______________ (you/wash) it? George ______________ (not/be) very well last week. Molly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live) there all her life. ‘______________ (you/go) to the cinema last night?’ ‘Yes, but it ______________ (be) a mistake. The film ______________ (be) awful.’ My grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago. I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ______________ (never/meet) him.

Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple. When I _got_ (get) home last night, I _was_ (be) very tired and I _went_ (go) straight to bed. Your car looks very clean. _Have you washed_ (you/wash) it? George _wasn’t_ (not/be) very well last week. Molly lives in Dublin. She _has lived_ (live) there all her life. ‘_Did you go_ (you/go) to the cinema last night?’ ‘Yes, but it _was_ (be) a mistake. The film _was_ (be) awful.’ My grandfather _died_ (die) 30 years ago. I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ’ve never met_ (never/meet) him.