Past Simple and Present Perfect Tenses

Exercise 33. Explain the use of the Past Simple and the Present Perfect in the following sentences:

1. We had a nice walk two days ago. 2. We have run out of sugar. Could you spare me some? 3. When my son was in the country last winter he played snowballs almost every day. 4. It has been windy all day. 5. The man has entered our office this morning. I was typing when he came in. 6. She looked for a job for several months. 7. I tried to remember his address for a fortnight. 8. When did the last readers' conference take place? 9. It's the best picture I have ever taken. 10. He visited his native town in 1990. 11. William Somerset Maugham wrote many wise stories. 12. I haven't seen him for two weeks.

Exercise 34. In pairs, ask and answer questions using the prompts below as in the example.

SA: Have you ever been to the USA?

SB: Yes, I have.

SA: When did you go?

SB: I went in 1936.

Exercise 35. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Present Perfect.

1. A: I …went … (go) to the new gym yesterday.

B: It's good, isn't It? I … (go) there a few times.

2. A: … (you/write) to Simon lately?

B: Yes, I … (write) him a letter last week.

3. A: How long … (you/be) married?

B: Only for six months. I … (get) married last December.

4. A: I … (not/see) Sam for a long time.

B: Really? I … (see) him yesterday at the swimming pool.

5. A: … (you/type) the report yet?

B: Yes, I … (finish) it half an hour ago.

6. A: Mary … (know) Steven for six years.

B: When … (they/meet)? A: When they … (be) at university together.

7. A: … (you/ever/play) rugby?

B: Yes, I have. I … (play) for the first time last week.

8. A: James … (write) a new book last year.

B: I know. I … (read) some great reviews about it in the newspaper.

Exercise 36. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Present Perfect.

Dear Margaret,

Thank you very much for your letter which I 1) ...received... (receive) last week. I 2) … (be) really happy to hear from you after all this time.

I’ve got a lot of news to tell you about myself. I 3) … (get) a new job nine months ago. I work as a reporter for our local TV station now. I 4) … (have) many interesting experiences so far. When I first 5) … (start) work, the manager 6) … (ask) me to interview our old school headmaster. He 7) … (be) so surprised to see me with a microphone in my hand!

Last month, a fire 8) … (break out) in a big factory in the area. I 9) … (be) the only reporter who 10) … (manage) to talk to the owner! That 11) … (make) me feel very proud.

As you can see, I enjoy my job very much. I 12) … (meet) a lot of important people and I 13) … (have) the opportunity to see lots of new places. I 14) … (buy) a new car because my old one 15) … (break down) a couple of weeks ago.

I have to go now because they 16) … (just/inform) me that I have to fly by helicopter to Middleford. I have to talk to people whose homes were damaged by the storm which 17) … (hit) the area last night. You see, I don't have a moment's rest!

Keep in touch.

Love,

Rosie

Exercise 37. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

A: Hello, Billy. I 1) …haven't seen… (not/see) you for a long time.

B: Yes, I 2) … (be) very busy recently.

A: Really? Tell me what you 3) … (do) since we last 4) … (see) each other.

B: Well, I 5) … (get) my degree last month and then I 6) … (move) house.

A: When 7) … (you/move)?

B: Last week, but I 8) … (not/unpack) everything yet.

A: I 9) … (phone) you on Tuesday but there 10) … (be) no answer.

B: I 11) … (be) busy at my new house then.

A: Never mind, I only 12) … (want) to invite you to a party next week at my house.

B: Great! Thank you.

Exercise 38. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

1. Mr and Mrs Patel ...won... (win) two free tickets to Paris in a TV show last week.

2. First, Robert … (brush) his teeth, then he … (go) to bed.

3. '… (you/ever/see) a lion?' 'Yes, I saw one when I … (go) to Kenya in 1996.'

4. I … (not/see) my family for two years.

5. 'Where's John?' 'He … (go) fishing for the day with his father.'

6. My sister … (not/play) the violin since she was twelve.

7. I … (already/see) this film. Let's watch something else.

8. Last week, Fred … (fall) off a ladder and … (break) his arm.

9. I … (never/hear) such a moving song before.

10. Jennifer … (always/want) to get Harrison Ford's autograph.

Exercise 39. Contrast the Present Perfect with the Past Simple Tense.

1. Ти відіслав в Джиму телеграмму вчора? Ти вже відіслала в телеграмму? 2. Я погано спав вчора вночі. Я погано сплю в останні ночі. 3. Професор Уїлсон рекомендував мені декілька статей з цього питання на консультації. Профессор Уїлсон щойно рекомендував мені декілька статей з цього питання. 4. Він жив у Лондоні в 1983 році. Він не був у Лондоні з 1983 року. 5. Я не бачив його з неділі. Останього разу я бачив його у неділю. 6. Я знаю Ненсі давно. Я знав її у віці п’яти років. 7. Профессор коли-небудь говорив про цю книгу? Профессор говорив на лекції про цю книгу? 8. Микола був схвильований цілий день вчора. Микола схвильваний увесь день. 9. Я говорив з ним хвилину тому. Я щойно говорив з ним. 10. Мері була в нас минулого тижня. Мері не була в нас з минулого тижня.

Exercise 40. Justify the use of the Past Simple or the Present Perfect Tense by the situation.

e.g. I have lost the key. — I have lost the key that's why I can't get into my room.

I lost the key. — I lost the key the other day so I had to change the lock.

1. a) I have had a busy day today. b) I had a busy day today.

1. a) I read David Copperfield.

b) I have read David Copperfield.

3. a) I have had a good rest. b) I had a good rest.

3. a) He lived here for some time.

b) He has lived here for some time.

5. a) The leaves have turned yellow. b) The leaves turned yellow.

6. a) The has spoken to me. b) He spoke to me.

7. a) He has done a good job. b) He did a good job.

8. a) I have been to her place. b) I was at her place.

9. a) She has been married. b) She was married,

10. a) The snow has melted. b) The snow melted.

11. a) I have played this game. b) I played this game.

12. a) I have been on a cruise. b) I was on a cruise.

13. a) The milk has turned sour. b) The milk turned sour.

14. a) I have burnt the pie. b) I burnt the pie.