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simple past or present perfect

• Dolphins -- have lived (live) in BC waters for millions of years, and are still common today.
• I -- lost (lose) my binder yesterday, but my brother found it this morning.
• The Titanic -- sank (sink) in 1912.
• We -- have owned (own) this TV set since 1968, and it still works!
• This wine -- has been (be) in the cellar for 15 years. When we take it out and open it, it will taste beautiful!
• He -- cried (cry) when his girlfriend left him, but he's OK now.
• I -- have bought (buy) some new shorts, but I don't think I like them. Maybe I'll take them back to the store.
• Karl -- has never eaten (eat) bacon in her life! She's a true vegetarian.
• I -- wore (wear) these boots to go hiking yesterday.
• The children -- have drunk (drink) all the orange juice! We'll need to get some more.
• I (just / finish) -- have just finished my homework.
• Mary (already / write) -- has already written five letters.
• Tom (move) -- moved to this town in 1994.
• My friend (be) -- was in Canada two years ago.
• I (not / be) -- have not been to Canada so far.
• But I (already / travel) -- have already travelled to London a couple of times.
• Last week, Mary and Paul (go) -- went to the cinema.
• I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy) -- have not bought a new film yet.
• (they / spend) -- Did they spend their holiday in New Zealand last summer?
• (you / ever / see) -- Have you ever seen a whale?

Some words and expressions refer to past time and are usually used with the Simple Past (or other past forms). Other words and expressions refer to present time and are usually used with the Present Perfect (or other present forms).

• yesterday -- simple past
• today -- present perfect
• at 7 a.m. today -- simple past
• in 2006 -- simple past
• a long time ago -- simple past
• in my life -- present perfect
• in Shakespeare's lifetime -- simple past
• last year -- simple past
• since Eifel Tower -- present perfect
• three years ago -- simple past
• so far -- present perfect
• this year -- present perfect
• this week -- present perfect
• during World War II -- simple past
• already -- present perfect
• yet -- present perfect
• after Christmas -- simple past
• just -- present perfect
• ever / never -- present perfect
• How long time ago -- simple past
• since we last met -- present perfect
• after I got married -- simple past
• lately -- present perfect
• the day before yesterday -- simple past
• last night -- simple past
• since last weekend -- present perfect
• at the weekend -- simple past

Complete simple past or present perfect

As Leonardo -- rode (ride) to his villa, he thought someone -- has stolen (stole) the Mona Lisa. The young man -- said (say) to Leonardo: something terrible -- has happened (happen), master. Mss Grazia -- has seen (see) the man who -- stole (steal) the painting. Perhaps Mr Francesco who -- ordered (order) the Monalisa -- has stolen (steal) the painting. Many interesting things -- have happened (happen) since Leonardo -- returned (return). Since the Pope -- signed (sign) the permission for him to conduct anatomical experiments, Leonardo -- has done (do) them. When Lisa -- arrived (arrive), Piero -- has already given (give) his letter to the Pope. Lisa -- have declared (declare) that her husband -- was (be) in Spain for two weeks. By the time Piero -- arrived (arrive) in Sevilla, Leonardo -- has been released (release) from the Inquisitor's dungeon. My master -- has been (be) in the dungeons for more than a week , Piero -- said (say) to the Pope.

Simple past or present perfect

• I -- had (have) a problem with mu computer yesterday.
• We -- have already seen (see already) that movie.
• Sami -- has never hiked (hike never) to the top of a mountain.
• They -- were (be) in the basement during the storm.
• Anne -- has been (be) late every day since Monday.
• Many people -- cried (cry) at the end of the movie.
• Pamela -- did not wait OR didn't wait (not wait) for me at the station.
• I -- have not begun OR haven't begun (not begin) my homework yet.
• He -- lived (live) there last year.
• They -- haven't called OR have not called (not call) yet.
• They -- finished (finish) their homework very late last night.
• He -- has not slept OR hasn't slept (not sleep) at all for two nights.
• The passengers -- have already started (start already) to board the plane.
• My boss -- didn't like OR did not like (not like) my excuse.
• Antonio's father -- has never forgotten (forget never) his birthday.
• Sarah -- ate (eat) dinner at 6 p.m. last night.
• Yesterday I -- cleaned (clean) my messy bedroom.
• Mary -- has sat (sit) at her computer since 8 o'clock
• We -- didn't write OR did not write (not write) a letter to the newspaper.
• Last year, they -- travelled (travel) around the world.
• Jimmy doesn't have much money, so he -- hasn't had OR has not had (not buy) a car yet.
• Mr Todd and Mrs Smith -- have taught (teach) maths at this university for eight years.
• The students -- needed (need) a break during the test last Friday.
• In France, in 1999, Patti -- bought (buy) a lot of bread and cheese.
• My boss -- has never given (never give) me a present on my birthday.
• Ken -- has played (play) video games for several hours.
• I didn't finish my report because I -- have had (have) a problem with my computer.
• We -- had (have) a good time at Jim's party last week.
• They -- have never seen (see never) a zebra.
• I -- have not spoken OR haven't spoken (not speak) to my boss about my pay raise yet.
• She -- has already written (write already) her pen pal 18 letters.

• I -- haven't seen OR have not seen (not see) Anna for a long time.

• Really. I -- saw (see) her yesterday.

• They -- went (go) to Venice three years ago.

• David lost his wallet yesterday but he -- found (find) it this morning in his jacket  pocket.

• -- Have you been (you be) to Paris?

• We -- have lived (live) in this house for five years and we're very happy here.

• I know Manchester quite well. I -- lived (live) there for three years when I was a student.

• He -- met (meet) Sally in the supermarket last week. 

• She feels great. She -- has lost (lose) three kilos since Christmas.

• It's cold in here because someone -- has opened (open) the window.

• Before they bought the car, they -- thought (think) about it very carefully.

• -- Have you fed (you feed) the cat yet?

• The last time I -- played (play) tennis was four years ago.

• My wife is a writer. She -- has written (write) many books.
• We -- did not have OR didn't have (not have) a holiday last summer.
• I -- played (play) tennis yesterday afternoon.
• What time -- did you go (you go) to bed last night?
• -- Have you ever met (ever meet) a famous person?
• The weather -- wasn't OR was not (not be) very good yesterday.
• My hair is wet. I -- have just washed OR 've just washed (just wash) it.
• I -- washed (wash) my hair before breakfast this morning.
• Mary travels a lot. She -- has visited (visit) many countries.
• Look! Somebody -- has broken (break) my bike.
• I -- lost (lose) my mobile phone two days ago.
• My English teacher -- didn't come OR did not come (come) yesterday.
• How many exercises -- have you done (you do) today? today? Only two, but I -- did (do) ten last week.
• The weather -- has been (be) very nice this week.
• His grandfather -- died (die) 10 years ago.
• My cousin -- has lived (live) in France all her life and she still lives there.
• I -- have smoked (smoke) for ten years now.
• When we -- were (be) on holiday the weather was awful.
• John -- lived (live) in England for thirty years, but now he is living in Málaga.
• Paul -- arrived (arrive) late at the training course this morning because his dogs -- were (be) ill.
• On Monday they -- took (take) the students to the park in order to pick some samples of flowers.
• They -- met (meet) Sarah at the airport a few days ago.
• When I was a child, I -- used (use) to spend my holidays with my parents.
• Why -- did you go (you go) abroad last holidays?
• She -- has just finished (just finish) her homework.
• -- Have you ever had (ever have) any accident in your car? No, I -- haven't (have).
• I -- have already seen (already see) that movie.
• Someone -- have stolen (steal) my car.
• You -- have never tried (never try) windsurfing in your life.
• John -- has never spent (never spend) his holidays abroad.
• Mike -- went (go) on a cruise last summer.
• -- Have you taken (you take) many pictures recently?
• -- Did you take (you take) many pictures in the summer holidays?
• How -- Did she feel (she, feel) when she -- heard (hear) about the results of the exams?

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