past simple present perfectThe past simple and the present perfect can both be used to show actions or events that were completed in the past. In many cases, they can demonstrate the same event – so how do we choose which tense to use? This article explains, very briefly, the fundamental differences between the two, with a look at the two tenses side-by-side, adapted from material discussed in The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide.

Beneath the explanation is an exercise to test your understanding of the past simple vs present perfect, taken from the book The English Tenses Exercise Book.

    How to choose between the present perfect and past simple

    The present perfect and the past simple can sometimes be used interchangeably, as they both demonstrate complete actions.

    The important difference is that the present perfect demonstrates the action affects (or is linked to) something that is relevant now. The past simple does not demonstrate a link to the present.

    • We washed the car. (The task was finished.)
    • We have washed the car. (It was recently done, and / or it is now clean.)
    • He went home. (He finished travelling home in the past.)
    • He has gone home. (He travelled home in the past, and should be there now.)

    The present perfect should be chosen instead of the past simple when the action either has a current or ongoing effect, or can still be added to. Otherwise, the past simple should be used for complete actions.

    • She escaped from prison. (A single complete action.)
    • She has escaped from prison and is running away. (A complete past event that informs us of where she is now.)
    • She escaped from prison twenty times. (A total number of completed actions, with no suggestion that it can be increased.)
    • She has escaped from prison twenty times. (A total number of completed actions so far, which can be added to.)

    Past Simple vs Present Perfect Exercise

    Complete the following sentences by putting the verb in brackets in either the past simple or present perfect form, without contractions. Remember, the past simple only tells us something was completed in the past, while the present perfect shows it is relevant to the present. The answers are given below.

    For example:

    • Q: You _______________ the door open ‒ please close it. (to leave)
    • A: You have left the door open ‒ please close it.
    1. This bread _______________ mouldy. (to go)
    2. Alison _______________ a website this morning. (to create)
    3. He _______________ the floor before dinner. (to sweep / not)
    4. The boiler _______________ again, so there is no hot water. (to break)
    5. I cannot come to class. Last time, Mr Rogers _______________ me not to come back. (to tell)
    6. Nathan has passed his driving test because he _______________. (to quit / not)
    7. My cousin hates spiders, so he _______________ all of his windows. (to seal)
    8. The garden _______________ with the recent hot weather. (to bloom)
    9. The sailors _______________ quickly because the winds were favourable. (to move)
    10. Chloe is visiting, but she _______________ how long she will stay. (to say / not)
    11. My phone battery _______________, can I use your charger? (to die)
    12. She could not find her purse, so _______________ with her credit card. (to pay)
    13. The school want to speak to me because my essay _______________ the competition. (to win)
    14. Did you receive the coffee machine you _______________? (to order)
    15. We put our poster up in the hall, _______________ it? (you / to see)
    16. _______________ the candles when you went shopping yesterday? (you / to buy)
    17. _______________ in your assignment yet? (you / to give / not)
    18. Why _______________ all the baguettes? There are none left! (that woman / to take)
    19. Lola is telling everyone about her new job, _______________ to you about it? (you / to speak)
    20. _______________ (the farmer / to deliver) that milk, or have you been to the shop?

    Answers to the Exercise

    1. This bread has gone mouldy.
    2. Alison created a website this morning.
    3. He did not sweep the floor before dinner.
    4. The boiler has broken again, so there is no hot water.
    5. I cannot come to class. Last time, Mr Rogers told me not to come back.
    6. Nathan has passed his driving test because he did not quit.
    7. My cousin hates spiders, so he has sealed all of his windows.
    8. The garden has bloomed with the recent hot weather.
    9. The sailors moved quickly because the winds were favourable.
    10. Chloe is visiting, but she has not said how long she will stay.
    11. My phone battery has died, can I use your charger?
    12. She could not find her purse, so paid with her credit card.
    13. Did you see? My essay has won the competition.
    14. Did you receive the coffee machine you ordered?
    15. We put our poster up in the hall, have you seen it?
    16. Did you buy the candles when you went shopping yesterday?
    17. Have you not given in your assignment yet?
    18. Why has that woman taken all the baguettes? There are none left!
    19. Lola is telling everyone about her new job, has she spoken to you about it?
    20. Did the farmer deliver that milk, or have you been to the shop?

    If you have any questions about this exercise or the details above, please let me know in the comments, and if you’d like more exercises to test your understanding of the tenses, do check out The English Tenses Exercise Book, now available from this site.

     

    Want to master the English tenses?

    Learn all the rules with The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide, and practise them with The English Tenses Exercise Book, which contains 160 exercises.

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