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Present Perfect V Past Simple

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What can you remember about how to use these tenses? Here are some top tips for using the present perfect and the past simple and then a test to check your understanding.

The present perfect:

  • Is often used with the words just, yet and already.
  • Talks about life experiences
  • Talks about something that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

The Past Simple:

  • Talks about a specific time in the past.
  • Is often used with words such as yesterday, last year, ago.
  • Is always a complete and finished action.

Lesson by Caroline

  • 1. I ___ to the shops at 8.30 this morning.



  • 2. Where ___ last weekend?



  • 3. I still ___ my essay.



  • 4 .___ to South America?



  • 5. I ___ my Grandad last week, he seemed very well.



  • 6. I ___ my entire life.



  • 7. ___ The Killers when they were on tour last year?



  • 8. ___ lunch yet? I’m starving.



  • 9. My brother made me watch the worst film yesterday. I ___ so terrified in my life!



  • 10. Do you remember when we were little and you cried because I ___ your toy?