COURSE V

Present Perfect Tense vs. Past Tense

Students name: ____________________
______________________
THE PROBLEMS
She has lived there last year.
They didnt call yet.
Exercise 1: ___1) Circle the verbs (auxiliary verbs, main verbs and
past participles).
___2)
Write past if the verb is in the past tense and pres perf if the verb
is in the present perfect tense.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

I had a problem with my computer yesterday. __Past___

We have already seen that movie. __pres perf__
Sami has never hiked to the top of a mountain. _________
They were in the basement during the storm. ________
Lee has been late every day since Monday. _________
Many people cried at the end of the movie. _________
Ann didnt wait for me at the station. __________
I havent begun my homework yet. __________

Exercise 2: Look at the sentences and complete the explanations.

1. They finished their homework very late last night.
Explanation: We use _______ because the sentence is in the past
tense.
a) an auxiliary and past participle b) just a main verb
2. He hasnt slept at all for two nights.
Explanation: We use _______ because the sentence is in the present
perfect tense.
a) an auxiliary and past participle b) just a main verb
3. The passengers have already started to board the plane.
Explanation: We use _______ because the sentence is in the present
perfect tense.
a) an auxiliary and main verb b) an auxiliary and past participle
Unit 18: Present Perfect Tense vs. Past Tense 77
4. My boss didnt like my excuse.
Explanation: We use _______ because the sentence is in the past
tense.
a) an auxiliary and main verb b) an auxiliary verb and past participle
5. The bank opens at 9 a.m. every day except weekends.
Explanation: The verb (opens) is in the ______ tense.
a) present b) present perfect c) past
6. Antonios father has never forgotten his birthday.

Explanation: The verb (has forgotten) is in the ______ tense.

a) present b) present perfect c) past
7. Sara ate dinner at 6 p.m. last night.
Explanation: The verb (ate) is in the ______ tense.
a) present b) present perfect c) past
Exercise 3: Write the verb tense for each verb. Use present, present
perfect, and past.
present__ 1. calls past 2. called
pres perf_ 3. has called
__________ 4. Lived _________ 5. have lived __________ 6. Live_______
_________ 7. has built __________ 8. builds_________ 9. built __________
10. drinks_________ 11. drank __________ 12. has drunk_________
13. dont make ________14. didnt make_______15. havent made_____
Unit 18: Present Perfect Tense vs. Past Tense___
Exercise 4: Fill in the chart with the correct forms of the verbs.
Base Form: (Present Tense)
Tense)

(Past Tense)

(Present Perfect

EXAMPLE: clean He cleans___ He cleaned He has cleaned___

play : He __________ He ________ He _______________
play: We _________ We ________ We ______________
sit: I ___________ I ___________ I ________________
teach: You _________ You_________ You ______________
buy: She doesnt ___ She didnt____ She hasnt _________
live: They ________ They ________ They _____________
write: I dont _______ I didnt ______ I havent __________
eat: He __________ He _________ He _______________
give: We _________ We_________ We ______________
have: You _________ You_________ You ______________
travel: They ________ They ________ They _____________
take: She doesnt ___ She didnt____ She hadnt_________

exercises 5:
1. Write affirmative and negative sentences using the Present Perfect tense using the words
given.
EXAMPLE: a. He / lose / his passport. Hes lost his passport.
b. We / not / finish / our work. _________________________________
c. They / buy / a new house. ___________________________________

d. I / visit / New York / five times.______________________________

e. They / go / to the cinema.___________________________________
f. You / eat / four bananas! ____________________________________
g. She / not / travel / far. ______________________________________
h. I / not / do / any homework / this week._________________________
i. We / not / study / French._____________________________________

2. Write questions and answer them. Make the answers true for YOU.
EXAMPLE: a. She / see / her sister? Has she seen her sister?
b. They / phone / the doctor? _____________________ _____________________
c. You / take / any photographs? __________________ _____________________
d. He / make / any mistakes? _____________________ _____________________
e. We / watch / any television today? __________________ ___________________
3. Complete the following sentences with since or for.
a. She has worked as a secretary since 1991.
b. They have been married ________ a few years.
c. They have lived in Manchester ________ a long time.
d. Hes written 5 books ________ I met him.
e. We havent seen them ________ several weeks.
f. I havent been to the beach ________ last summer.
g. Have you used the phone ________ you arrived?
h. We havent heard any noise ________ many hours.
i. Has she studied hard ________ yesterday?
4. Write sentences using the Present Perfect form and since or for.
a. I / not / play / tennis / last summer. I havent played tennis since last summer.
b. I / know / her / more than ten years.
c. I / not / eat / anything / lunchtime.
d. You / live / in this town / a long time?
e. Jill / be / a good friend / we were at school together.
f. You / see / Jack / the party last week?
5. Complete the text using the Past Simple or the Present Perfect tense.
London has had (have) an underground train system since the 19 th century. The London
Underground ________ (start) in 1863, when engineers and workers ________ (build)
the Metropolitan railway. This railway line ________ (go) from Paddington Station to
Farringdon Street Station. It ________ (be) a very short line. Eight more lines
________ (open) since then. The worlds first electric railway ________ (open) in 1890.
This line ________ (go) from the city centre to South London. The most modern line is
the Jubilee line. It ________ (open) in 1977. Since the London Underground ________
(begin), many other cities, like New York and Moscow, ________ (build) their own
systems.
6. Correct the following sentences:
EXAMPLE: a. I have played tennis last week. I played tennis last week.
b. They have finished work yet. ______________________________
c. When you bought that umbrella?____________________________
d. Look! I have buy a new umbrella. ___________________________

e. I have bought three CDs last week. ___________________________

f. She didnt saw that film. ____________________________________
g. She hasnt never seen that film. ______________________________

7. Complete the following exercises with the appropriate verb tense.