Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1

Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

What's the difference? Present Perfect and

Past Simple
Present Perfect Simple Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the
Finished actions:
past and continue to the present:
 I knew Julie for ten years (but then she
 I've known Julie for ten years (and
moved away and we lost touch).
I still know her).

A finished action in someone's life

A finished action in someone's life (when the
(when the person is still alive: life
person is dead):
experience):
 My great-grandmother went to Mexico three
 My brother has been to Mexico
times.
three times.

A finished action with a result in the A finished action with no result in the
present: present:

 I've lost my keys! (The result is that I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible!
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]
I can't get into my house now). (Now there is no result. I got new keys
yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this With a finished time word (last week, last
week, this month, today): month, yesterday):

 I've seen John this week.  I saw John last week.

Click here for more information about the present perfect tense
Click here for more information about the past simple tense

Remember:

1. We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the
present.
2. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still
happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present.
3. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
o NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.

 Present perfect or past simple exercise 1

 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]
 Present perfect or past simple exercise 2
 Present perfect or past simple exercise 3

Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1

Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in.

[.]
2) I

(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them?

[.]
3) I
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

(visit) Paris three times.

[.]
4) Last year I

(visit) Paris.

[.]
5) I

(know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died when I

was eight.

[.]
6) I
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

(know) Julie for three years - we still meet once a month.

[.]
7) I

(play) Hockey since I was a child - I'm pretty good!

[.]
8) She

(play) hockey at school but she didn't like it.

[.]
9) Sorry, I
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

(miss) the bus - I'm going to be late.

[.]
10) I

(miss) the bus and then I

(miss) the aeroplane as well!

[ . ][ . ]
11) Last month I

(go) to Scotland.

[.]
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]
12) I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He

(go) to the shops.

[.]
13) We

(finish) this room last week.

[.]
14) I

(finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy!

[.]
15) Yesterday, I
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

(see) all of my friends. It was great.

[.]
16) I

(see) Julie three times this week.

[.]
17) She

(live) in London since 1994.

[.]
18) She
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]

(live) in London when she was a child.

[.]
19) I

(drink) three cups of coffee today.

[.]
20) I

C
(drink) three cups of coffee yesterday.

[.]
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]
 Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect 1
Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or
present perfect
1) Last night I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let me in. Show

[ lost ]
2) I

C
heck
(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them? Show

[ 've lost ]
3) I

C
heck
(visit) Paris three times. Show

[ 've visited ]