These present perfect and past simple exercises in the test format with answers were created by native English teachers. The explanation section includes clear usage examples, formulas, and grammar rules. All worksheets can be downloaded for free in Word or PDF format.
Published At: 4/4/2025, 11:57:34 PM
EXERCISE
EXPLANATION
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
The Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses are both used to talk about past actions, but they are used in different situations. Understanding the difference is important for expressing time clearly in English.
Present Perfect
The Present Perfect connects the past to the present. It is used to talk about:
Experiences (without saying exactly when they happened)
Recent actions with present results
Unfinished time periods (e.g., today, this week)
Form:have/has + past participle
Examples:
She has visited Paris.
I have just eaten lunch.
We haven’t seen that movie yet.
Past Simple
The Past Simple is used to describe actions that:
Happened at a specific time in the past
Are completely finished
Often include a time expression (yesterday, last year, in 2020, etc.)
Form:verb + -ed (regular verbs) or use second form for irregular verbs
Examples:
She visited Paris in 2022.
I ate lunch at 12 o’clock.
We watched that movie last night.
Comparison: Past Simple vs Present Perfect
Present Perfect
Past Simple
Focuses on result or experience
Focuses on completed action in the past
Time is not specific
Time is specific (e.g., yesterday, last year)
I have been to London.
I went to London in 2019.
Used with: ever, never, already, yet, just, since, for
Used with: yesterday, last night, in 2010, two days ago
Quick Tips
Use Present Perfect when the exact time is not important or not mentioned.
Use Past Simple when the action happened at a clear point in the past.
Signal words like “yesterday” or “last year” mean you should use the Past Simple.
If you see words like “ever”, “already”, or “yet”, use the Present Perfect.