2 I've done it. I did it yesterday. (b)
Things that have happened today are on the radio and TV news. Give the news using the present perfect and past simple.
► the Prime Minister / visit Luton University / speak to students there / earlier today The Prime Minister has visited Luton University. He spoke to students there earlier today.
the train drivers / go on strike / stop work / at twelve o'clock
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
the Queen / arrive in Toronto / fly there / in an RAF aircraft
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
two men / escape from Parkhurst Prison / get away / during the night
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
the actor Howard Bates / die in a car accident / his car / crash into a wall
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Linda Jones / win the women's marathon / run it / in 2 hours 27 minutes
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 Structures with for, since and last (C)
Complete the conversations.
► Mike: This car is filthy. I haven't been to the car wash for about a year. Tom: What! You mean it's twelve months since you last went to the car wash?
1 Laura: I haven't used my camera recently. June was the last time I took a photo.
Trevor: Really? I'm surprised you June.
2 Rachel: I haven't seen Andrew for weeks.
Daniel: Nor me. It's him.
3 Tom: What about a game of cards? We haven't played since your birthday.
David: Really? You mean my birthday cards?
4 Emma: I feel terrible. It's three days since I ate anything.
Vicky: What did you say? You three days?
15 Present perfect or past simple? (2)
A
I've been
or I
was?
We use the present perfect for a state which has We use the past simple for a state in the past, in a
gone on up to the present. (David is still in period which is finished. (David's stay in hospital
hospital.) is over.)
We've lived here for ten years. We lived there for ten years.
(And we still live here.) (We don't live there now.)
B Have you (ever)...? and Did you (ever)...?
PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE
We use the present perfect for actions in a periodWe use the past simple for actions in the past, a
of time up to the present. period which is finished.
This young director has made four films so far. The director made many films in his long career.
He has made films means that it is possible he will He made films means that his career in films is
make more films. over. He won't make any more.
Here are some more examples.
Have you ever been to America? ~ Yes, twice. Did Churchill ever go to America? ~ Yes, I think so.
I've played table tennis before. I played table tennis at college.
We've never had any money. We never had any money in those days.
C Today, this week, etc
PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE
We use today and phrases with this for a period We use yesterday and phrases with last for a past
up to the present. period.
It hasn't rained today. It rained yesterday.
Have you seen this week's magazine? Did you see last week's magazine?
But sometimes today etc can mean a past period. Compare:
I haven't seen Rachel today. I didn't see Sarah at work today.
(It's still daytime.) (The working day is over.)
Has the post come this morning? Did the post come this morning?
(It's still morning.) (It's later in the day.)
15 Exercises
1 I've been or I was? (A)
Complete this letter to a newspaper. Put in the present perfect or past simple.
A few days ago I (► ) learned (learn) that someone plans to knock down the White Horse Inn. This
pub (► ) has been (be) the centre of village life for centuries. It (1) (stand)
at our crossroads for 500 years. It (2)(be) famous in the old days, and
Shakespeare once (3) (stay) there, they say. I (4) (live)
in Brickfield all my life. The villagers (5)(know) about the plans for less
than a week and already there's a 'Save Our Pub' campaign. Last week we (6) (be)
happy, but this week we're angry. We will stop them, you'll see.
2 Have you (ever)...? and Did you (ever)...? (B)
Look at each conversation and choose the best sentence, a) or b).
► Have you heard about the woman walking across the US? ~ Yes, she's reached the Rockies. a) The walk is continuing, b) The walk has finished.
Have you ever played beach volleyball? ~ Yes, we played it on holiday. a) The holiday is still going on. b) The holiday is over.
Did you know old Mr Green? ~ No, I never met him.
a) Mr Green is probably alive, b) Mr Green is probably dead.
3 Wayne Johnson is a great footballer. ~ Yes, he's scored 200 goals for United.
a) Wayne Johnson still plays for United, b) Wayne Johnson has left United.
3 Today, this week, etc (C)
Put in this, last, today or yesterday.
► Last month prices went up, but this month they have fallen a little.
It's been dry so far week, but week was very wet.
I went shopping earlier and spent all the money I
earned
3 We didn't have many visitors year. We've had a lot
more year.
4 I don't feel so tired now. We got up quite late morning. I felt really
tired when we got up so early.
4 Present perfect or past simple? (Units 14 and 15)
Put in the verbs.
Tom: (►) Have you heard (you / hear) the news about David?
Harriet: No. (1) (what / happen)?
Tom: (2) (he / have) an accident. He was walking down some steps.
(3) (he/ fall) and (4) (break) his leg.
Harriet: Oh, how awful! When (5) (it / happen)?
Tom: Yesterday afternoon. Melanie (6) (tell) me about it last night.
Harriet: Last night! (7) (you / know) about it last night, and
(8)(you / not / tell) me!
Tom: Well, (9)(I / not / see) you last night. And
(10)(I / not / see) you today, until now.
Harriet: I hope he's all right. (11) (he / have) lots of accidents, you know.
(he / do) the same thing about two years ago.