Present Perfect vs Past Simple
Complete the exercises online or print the worksheet for offline practice.
Exercise 1: Forming the Present Perfect
Complete each sentence with have/has + past participle of the verb in brackets.
I (live) in Canada for six years.
She (finish) her college diploma.
We (know) our neighbors since 2021.
He (break) his phone screen twice this year.
They (see) that movie three times.
My manager (give) me more responsibility lately.
I (not/try) poutine yet, but I want to.
you ever (drive) in the snow?
Exercise 2: Present Perfect or Past Simple?
Choose the correct tense. Finished time (yesterday, in 2020, last week) needs past simple; unfinished time or no time needs present perfect.
1.I ___ my homework, so I can relax now.
2.She ___ to Montreal last summer.
3.___ you ever ___ sushi?
4.We ___ our landlord twice this week, and it is only Wednesday.
5.My grandfather ___ in a factory for forty years before he retired.
6.I ___ my wallet! I can't pay for the groceries.
7.When ___ you ___ your first job?
8.He ___ three cups of coffee today, and it's not even noon.
Exercise 3: For, Since, Already, Yet, Just
Complete each sentence with for, since, already, yet, or just.
I have worked at this clinic 2022.
She has been a citizen three years.
Have you eaten lunch ?
We have finished dinner — the plates are still warm.
He has seen that episode, so let's watch a different one.
I haven't received my work permit .
They have known each other high school.
We have lived in this building ten months.
Exercise 4: Find and Fix the Error
Each sentence mixes up the tenses. Write the correct sentence.
I have seen my cousin yesterday.
She works here since March.
Did you ever been to Niagara Falls?
We have went to the beach last weekend.
He has finish his shift already.
I am living here for five years.
Exercise 5: Choose the Tense from the Time Words
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets: present perfect or past simple. Let the time expression decide.
I (meet) my best friend in 2019.
I (know) her ever since.
She (never/fly) in a small plane.
They (sell) their car two months ago.
So far this month, I (save) three hundred dollars.
When I was a child, we (spend) every summer at the lake.
This is the first time I (make) borscht for my coworkers.
He (change) jobs three times since he arrived in Canada.
Exercise 6: Your Experiences
Write about your life. Use present perfect for the experience and past simple for the details.
Write about three interesting things you have done in your life. For each one, add when or where you did it.
Write two sentences about things you haven't done yet but want to do.