The past simple talks about a finished time in the past: yesterday, last year, in 2015, two days ago. The present perfect connects the past with now: experience in your life, news, results you can see, and periods that are not finished yet. The table shows the main rules. Then practise with the exercises below and read the explanation after each answer.
| Past simple | Present perfect | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | worked, went I didn’t go. Did you go? | have / has + past participle I haven’t gone. Have you gone? |
| Time | finished: yesterday, last week, in 2010, ago, when I was a child | not stated, or unfinished: ever, never, just, already, yet, so far, today, this year |
| Use | finished actions and periods, details of a story, history | experience, news, results now, for / since up to now |
| Question | When…? What time…? | How long…? Have you ever…? |
| Example | I lost my keys yesterday. | I’ve lost my keys. Can you help me find them? |
Present perfect vs past simple quiz
Four sets of 20 questions: start with Basics (A2) and move up to Advanced (B2), or try the At work set with office situations. Choose an option or type the verb in the correct form. Prefer to check everything at the end? Switch to Exam mode.
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I to Paris last year.
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I to Paris three times in my life.
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We (see) a great film yesterday.
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Have you ever a horse?
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When you arrive?
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She (live) in London since 2020.
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I him two days ago.
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My dad a new car. Come and see it!
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(you / finish) your homework yet?
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Shakespeare many plays.
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I three cups of coffee today.
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In 2015 we (move) to Kraków.
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I’ve known her ten years.
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We met ten years .
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I (never / try) Thai food.
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Where you go on holiday last summer?
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Oh no! I my phone!
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He (not / call) me yesterday.
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Look! It snowing.
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When I was a child, I in a small village.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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“Have you ever been to Rome?” “Yes, I there in 2019.”
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I my wallet. I can’t find it anywhere.
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How long (you / know) your best friend?
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When (you / meet) your best friend?
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So far this season, our team every match.
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“Your hair looks great!” “Thanks, I it cut yesterday.”
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It’s the first time I (be) on a plane.
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There an accident on the motorway. Two cars crashed at 8 am.
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Two cars (crash) near Gdańsk at 8 o’clock this morning.
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I this film. Let’s watch something else.
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She for the company for ten years, but then she retired.
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He for the company for ten years, and he still loves his job.
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What time (the meeting / finish) yesterday?
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Up to now, nobody the problem.
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I to the gym twice last week.
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“Where’s Mum?” “She to the supermarket.”
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Did you the news last night?
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I (lose) five kilos since I started running.
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When learning English?
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The Titanic in 1912.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I three novels so far, and I’m working on a fourth.
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Hemingway seven novels.
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This is the best meal I (ever / eat).
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I her since we left school.
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The last time I him was in 2018.
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I haven’t seen him since we (leave) school.
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It’s ages since we out for dinner.
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Have you heard? Jake his job!
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“Really? When (he / do) that?”
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I on holiday this year. I’ve been too busy.
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My grandfather in the army for twenty years before he became a teacher.
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How many countries (you / visit) in your life?
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Since I last saw you, I a new job.
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I gave up smoking two years ago, and I a cigarette since.
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When I was a student, I (work) in a café every weekend.
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The government new tax rules, which come into force next month.
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“Have you finished the report?” “Yes, I it an hour ago.”
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Prices (go up) by 10% since last year.
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This town a lot since I was a child.
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Who the telephone?
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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I the report yesterday afternoon.
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I the report. Can you check it?
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How long (you / work) for this company?
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When (you / join) the company?
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Our profits by 15% this year.
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We the contract last Friday.
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I (never / work) with such a talented team.
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“Is Ms Novak here?” “No, she home. She’ll be back tomorrow.”
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In my last job, I a team of five people.
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We (not / receive) your payment yet.
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The CEO the new strategy at yesterday’s meeting.
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So far this quarter, we 40 new clients.
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I (meet) the client in March, and we got on really well.
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I’m afraid the flight . We need to rebook.
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I in sales for six years before I moved to marketing.
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How many interviews (you / have) this week?
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When the last team meeting?
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Since I joined the company, I three different managers.
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Our website (crash) twice since Monday.
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I your email this morning, but I didn’t have time to reply.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
News first, details after
In conversations and in the news, we often introduce a topic with the present perfect and then switch to the past simple for the details:
- “Have you ever been to Japan?” “Yes, I went there in 2019. We stayed in Tokyo.”
- There has been an accident on the motorway. Two cars crashed at 8 am.
Finished or unfinished period?
The same words can go with either tense. What matters is whether the period is over. She worked there for ten years (she doesn’t work there now). She’s worked there for ten years (she still does). Shakespeare wrote 39 plays (his life is over). She’s written three novels so far (she’s still writing).
Common mistakes
- ❌ I have seen him yesterday. → ✅ I saw him yesterday.
- ❌ When have you arrived? → ✅ When did you arrive?
- ❌ I know him since 2015. → ✅ I’ve known him since 2015.
- ❌ I haven’t seen her since we have left school. → ✅ …since we left school.
FAQ
Is this different in American English?
Yes, a little. Americans often use the past simple with just, already and yet: Did you eat yet? instead of Have you eaten yet? Both are correct in their variety. These exercises avoid questions where the answer depends on British or American English.
What level are these exercises?
There are four sets: Basics (A2), Intermediate (B1), Advanced (B2) and At work (B1–B2). The advanced set covers since + past simple, the last time, it’s ages since, superlatives and finished lives.
Can I use these exercises in class?
Yes. Under each quiz there is a link to download it as a printable PDF worksheet with an answer key on a separate page. It’s free to use with your students.