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?

David: Yes, I (1) ______ (to send) them yesterday.

Melissa: (2) _______ (To do) you send the

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 sin ce. Complete

the conversations with the correct present perfect form of the verb in parentheses. Once finished,

see the answers below.

Timeline 1

Specified

(Known time

period in the

past)

John: How long have you been here?

Lisa: I’ve (1) _______ here (2) _______ about 1 hour.

*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)

Timeline 2

Unspecified

(Unknown time

period in the

past)

Melissa: (4) _______ you shopped for food?

David: Yes, I have.

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

They completed the game.

Present Perfect

They have completed the game.

Both games were completed in the past, but

simple past emphasizes more a completed past

event

Simple Past

a) They completed the game at 5pm.

b) Ann was in Los Angeles for 3 days.

Present Perfect

a) They have completed the game.

b) Ann has been in Los Angeles for 3 days.

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)

Irregular Verbs: Learn them (go



went)

Person Singular (he, she, it): has + past participle

Examples: He has walked; Larry has gone

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

Hear

Heard

Read

Found

Swing

Swang

slept

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.

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.  _________________________________________.