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Present Perfect Vs Past Simple

The document discusses the differences between using the present perfect and past simple tenses in English. It provides examples of when to use each tense and rules for determining whether to use the present perfect or past simple based on if an action is connected to the present or occurred entirely in the past. It includes practice exercises for readers to complete sentences using the appropriate tense.

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Valter Pinheiro Lima
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175 views4 pages

Present Perfect Vs Past Simple

The document discusses the differences between using the present perfect and past simple tenses in English. It provides examples of when to use each tense and rules for determining whether to use the present perfect or past simple based on if an action is connected to the present or occurred entirely in the past. It includes practice exercises for readers to complete sentences using the appropriate tense.

Uploaded by

Valter Pinheiro Lima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PRESENT PERFECT VS.

PAST SIMPLE

Nancy Mann has applied


for the job and is being interviewed.
Complete the conversation with the past simple
or present perfect form of the verb.

I = Interviewer; N = Nancy

I: Who do you work for at the moment, Ms Mann?


N: I work for the BBC World Service.
I: And how long __________________________ (you/work) for the BBC?
N: I _________________________ (be) with the BBC for five years. Yes, exactly five years.
I: And how long ______________________ (you/be) their German correspondent?
N: For two years
I: And what __________________________ (you/do) before the BBC?
N: I worked as an interpreter for the EU.
I: As you know, this job is based in Geneva. ____________________________ (you/ever/live)
abroad before?
N: Oh yes, yes I ________________.
I: And when ____________________ (you/live) abroad?
N: Well, in fact I ________________ (born) in Argentina and I lived there until I was eleven.
Also, I ________________________________ (live and work) in Brusse ls for two years
when I was working for the EU.
I: Thats interesting. __________________________ (you/travel) much?
N: Oh, yes, yes indeed. I ____________________ (travel) all over western and eastern Europe,
and _________________ (be) to many parts of South America.
I: And why _____________________ (go) to these places?
N: Well, mostly for pleasure, but three years ago I went back to Argentina to cover various
political stories in Buenos Aires for the BBC

Grammar questions
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb work.

Nancy Mann ___________________________________ with the BBC for five years.


Before that she _________________________________ as an interpreter for the EU.

Why is the past simple used with one sentence and the present perfect with the other?
The Present Perfect - the present perfect always connects the past and the
present.
FORM: ______ / ______ + _________________ For and Since
Complete the rule with a period of time or
a point in time
The Present Perfect versus the Past Simple
Complete the rule with past simple or present perfect When used with the present perfect...
The _______________ is used for actions which started For is followed by ____________
in the past and continue in the present. and
The ___________________ is used for actions Since is followed by ___________
which began and finished in the past.
The ___________________ is used for general I __________ in Trujillo for _____ years.
experiences which occurred at any time in life. I __________ in El Cultural since 2001.
The ___________________ is used for more I ________________ to Lima last June.
specific questions about time, place, etc. I _____________________ Chan Chan.

Remember you CANNOT say: I study English for 2 years


She is a teacher for 3 years

The CORRECT sentences are: I have studied English for 2 years or I have been studying English for 2 years
She has been a teacher for 3 years

PRACTICE
Rewrite these sentences using the present perfect and since and for.

Example: Karen wears glasses. She started to wear glasses when she was a child.
Karen has worn glasses since she was a child

1. He works for the TV station. He started working there eight years ago.
__________________________________________________________________
2. They are married. They got married in 1962.
__________________________________________________________________
3. She knows how to fix a car. She learned how to do it a long time ago.
__________________________________________________________________
4. I wanted to go to China several years ago. I still want to go now.
___________________________________________________________________
5. My brother stopped smoking when he was in college, and he doesnt smoke now.
___________________________________________________________________
6. I was afraid of bats when I was a child, and I am afraid of them now.
___________________________________________________________________
7. My mother is in France. She went there last week.
___________________________________________________________________
8. They go to Cape Cod every summer. They started to do this 12 years ago.
___________________________________________________________________
PRACTICE

Lynne Carter, the manager of the Timeways Travel company, is interviewing a young man named Paul
Morris for a job.

Choose the correct form of the verb and underline:

Lynne: Your present company is Sun Travel, isnt it? How long have you worked/did you work
there?
Paul: (1) Ive worked/I worked for them for two years.
Lynne: I see. And what were you doing before that?
Paul: (2) Ive worked/I worked for a student travel company in Spain.
Lynne: Oh, really? How long (3) have you been/were you in Spain?
Paul: For nearly a year. (4) Ive moved/I moved back to London from Spain two years ago to join
Sun Travel.
Lynne: I see. And do you drive, Paul?
Paul: Yes, I do. (5) Ive had/I had a car in Spain, but (6) Ive sold/I sold it before (7) Ive come/ I
came back to Britain.

PRACTICE
Complete the conversations using the present perfect simple or the past simple of the verb in
parentheses.

1. I know Sally Robinson. Really? How long ___have you known___ (you/know) her?
When ________________ (you/first/meet) her?
2. ___________________________ (your husband/ever/have) pneumo nia? Yes, he ___________
(have) it twice. He _____________ (have) it ten years ago, and once when he ________________
(be) a child.
3. (Its 10 oclock in the morning.) ___________________ (you/see) Mrs Carter this morning?
Yes, I ___________________ (see her when I __________________ (arrive) in the office, but
she ______________________ (go) out soon afterwards.
4. (Its the middle of the afternoon.) Im really hungry. I _____________________ (not/have) any
breakfast this morning and I ____________________ (not/have) time to go out f or anything to eat
this afternoon.

PRACTICE
Complete the sentences below with the present perfect or past simple form of the verb.

1. I ve interviewed (interview) Nakisha for the position of Editor.


2. She _______________ (apply) for a job on November 12.
3. She _______________ (work) at the Broadfield Examiner for a long time.
4. She _______________ (find) that job while she _______________ (be) a college student.
5. She _______________ (begin) classes at Claremont College in 1990 and _______________
(receive) her B.A. there.
6. Then she _______________ (go on) to Ohio State University.
7. She _______________ (attend) Ohio State University for three years and will be finishing soon.
8. At Ohio State, she _______________ (take) Urban Studies.
9. She _______________ (not / get) a degree in Urban Studies, though.
10. After a year, she _______________ (decide) to study Political Science instead.
11. She _______________ (not/receive) her Masters Degree yet.
12. She _______________ (live) at Willow Terrace most of her life and _______ _____ (move)
recently.
13. For the past five months, she _______________ (live) on East 10 th Street.

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