Present perfect and past simple (I have done and I did)

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Present perfect and past simple (I have done and
I did)

• The present perfect is a present tense. It always
  tells us something about now.
• The past simple tells us only about the past.

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Examples

• Jack grew a beard but now he has shaved it off.
• They went out after lunch and they have just come
  back.

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• Do not use the present perfect if there is no
  connection with the present (for example, things
  that happened a long time ago)
• The Chinese invented printing.
• How many plays did Shakespeare write?

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Compare

• Shakespeare wrote many plays.
• My sister is a writer. She has written many books.

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• We use the present perfect to give new
  information or to announce a recent happening
• Ow! I have cut my finger!
• The police have arrested two men in connection
  with the robbery.

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You can use the present perfect with just,
already and yet.

• Just a short time ago
• Hello. Have you just arrived?
• We use already to say that something happened
  sooner than expected.
• Hes already gone.
• Yet until now and shows that the speaker is
  expecting something to happen. Use yet only in
  questions and negative sentences.
• Ive written the letter but I havent posted it
  yet.

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• Do not use the present perfect when you talk
  about a finished time (for example, yesterday /
  in 1985 / ten minutes ago). Use a past tense
• I went to bed early last night.
• They arrived an hour ago.

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• Use a past tense to ask When...? What time...?
• When did they arrive?
• What time did you finish work?

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Compare present perfect and past simple

• Present perfect
• We use the present perfect for a period of time
  that continues from the past until now.
• For example, today, this week, since 1985.
• It hasnt rained this week.
• Have you seen Ann recently?
• Tom lives in London.
• He has lived there for seven years.
• I have never played golf.

• Past simple
• We use the past simple for a finished time in the
  past.
• For example, yesterday, last week, from 1985 to
  1991.
• It didnt rain last week.
• Did you see Ann on Sunday?
• Tom lived in Scotland for ten years. Now he lives
  in London.
• I didnt play golf when I was on holiday last
  summer.

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EXERCISES

• Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form,
  present perfect or past simple.
• Mary ______________ to Australia for a while but
  shes back again now. (go)
• Wheres Ken? He ______________ out. Hell be
  back in about an hour. (go)
• I did German at school but I ______________ most
  of it. (forget)
• I meant to phone Diane last night but I
  ______________ . (forget)
• I ______________ a headache earlier but I feel
  fine now. (have)
• Look! Theres an ambulance over there. There
  ______________ an accident. (be)
• Theyre still building a new road. They
  ______________ it. (not/finish)
• Is Helen still here? No, she ______________
  out. (just/go)
• The police ______________ three people but later
  they let them go. (arrest)
• Ann ______________ me her address but Im afraid
  I ______________ it. (give, lose)
• Wheres my bike? It ______________ outside the
  house. It ______________ ! (be, disappear)
• What do you think of my English? Do you think I
  ______________ ? (improve)

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Are the underlined parts of these sentences right
or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

• How many plays has Shakespeare written?
• Have you read any of Shakespeares plays
• Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher.
• Ow! Ive cut my finger. Its bleeding.
• My grandparents have got married in London.
• Where have you been born?
• Mary isnt at home. Shes gone shopping

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Are the underlined parts of these sentences right
or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

• Ive bought a new car. Do you want to see
  it? ______________
• Ive bought a new car last week. ______________
• Where have you been yesterday evening? __________
  ____
• Jenny has left school in 1991. ______________
• Im looking for Mike. Have you seen
  him? ______________
• Im very hungry. I havent eaten anything
  today. ______________
• Diane hasnt been at work yesterday. ____________
  __
• When has this book been published?

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Put the verb into the correct form, present
perfect or past simple.

• When I _____________ (get) home last night, I
  ______________ (be) very tired and I
  ______________ (go) straight to bed.
• Your car looks very clean. ______________
  (you/wash) it?
• George ______________ (not/be) very well last
  week.
• Mr Clark ______________ (work) in a bank for 15
  years. Then he gave it up.
• Molly lives in Dublin. She ______________ (live)
  there all her life.
• ______________ (you/go) to the cinema last
  night? Yes, but it ______________ (be) a
  mistake. The film ______________ (be) awful.
• My grandfather ______________ (die) 30 years ago.
  I ______________ (never/meet) him.
• I dont know Carols husband. I ______________
  (never/meet/him).

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• A Is your father at home?
• B No, Im afraid he ______________ (go) out.
• A When exactly ______________ (he/go) out?
• B About ten minutes ago.
• A Where do you live?
• B In Boston.
• A How long ______________ (you/live) there?
• B Five years.
• A Where ______________ (you/live) before that?
• B In Chicago.
• A And how long ______________ (you/live) in
  Chicago?
• B Two years.