Exercises - Simple Past or Present Perfect
Level A2
Complete the sentences with the simple past or present perfect form of the verbs. Use the words in brackets in the second part of the exercise.
Answer explanations
Part 1
When I was nine, my family moved to Canada.
An action completed in the past (when I was 9) → Simple Past
I´m waiting outside the house because I have lost my key.
An action in the (recent) past with present results → Present Perfect
She worked hard last week.
An action completed in the past (last week) → Simple Past
My sister arrived in California two days ago, but she has not phoned us yet.
1st clause: A completed action in the past (two days ago) → Simple Past
2nd clause: An action that began in the past and continues into the present – with a signal word for the present perfect (yet) → Present Perfect
Have you ever been to New Zealand?
An experience that someone has (or has not) had at some point in their life → Present Perfect
When did you go to New Zealand?
Questions beginning with when? or what time? generally use the simple past tense when they refer to the past.
Sorry, I can´t come over. I have not finished my homework.
An action that has continued up to the present → Present Perfect
The train left at 11 o´clock.
An action completed in the past (at 11) → Simple Past
We have just had lunch.
Signal word for the perfect tense (just) → Present Perfect
The last dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago.
An action completed in the past (65 million years ago) → Simple Past
Part 2
I have been to London three times.
An experience I have had at some point in my life → Present Perfect
He visited his grandmother last week.
An action completed in the past (last week) → Simple Past
Steve was in New York in 2016.
An experience at a specific point in the past (in 2016) → Simple Past
She has been to San Francisco before.
An experience that someone has had at some point in their life → Present Perfect
Olivia enjoyed the party last night.
An action completed in the past (last night) → Simple Past
I have lived in three different houses in my life.
Experiences I have had so far in my life → Present Perfect
She wore a beautiful dress yesterday.
An action completed in the past (yesterday) → Simple Past
Note the irregular verb wear – wore – worn.
My friends arrived in Glasgow two hours ago.
An action completed in the past (two hours ago) → Simple Past