PAST SIMPLE vs PAST PERFECT

Complete the sentences with the Past Simple or Past Perfect of the
verbs in brackets.

1.- My aunt flew to Paris last year. She __________ (never /

go) on a plane before that.
2.- We didn’t need to queue because my wife __________
(already / buy) the tickets
3.- The thieves had already spent the money when the police
_________ (catch) them.
4.- Helen ________ (split up) with John before she met Paul.
5.- We ________ (know) her address because she _______ (tell) us.
6.- The children _________ (not eat) for days so they ___________
(be) extremely hungry.
7.- Everyone ___________ (hug) each other after they __________
(finish) their exams.
8.- She didn’t want to go to the cinema because she ___________
(already / see) the film.
9.- I ________ (just / buy) a dress when a thief _______ (steal) my
bag.
10.- My niece _________ (go) to London three times by the time
she _________ (be) sixteen.
11.- My students ________ (raise) some money after they ________
(see) a documentary on TV about Africa.
12.- It was half past three and we still _________ (not / eat) lunch.
13.- Our teacher ________ (give) us extra homework because we
___________ (not finish) our essays.
14.- My father _________ (lose) his glasses and he couldn’t read the
newspaper.
15.- The car stopped because we __________ (run) out of
petrol.
16.- He __________ (feel) very ill because he
__________ (not sleep) well.
17.- By the time I met John, he ___________ (leave)
college.
18.- When I _________ (ask) her to help me, she ________ (agree).
19.- I thought I _________ (read) that book before, but I hadn’t.
20.- I knew I __________ (see) her somewhere before.
21.- I was sure I __________ (not lock) the door.
22.- When we ___________ (get) home my wife realized she
__________ (lose) her purse.
23.- When we arrived at my parent’s house, they ________ (leave)
24.- After I _________ (buy) my new computer, I discovered that I
___________ (not have) enough money.
25.- The Vikings ________ (sail) to North America a thousand years
ago.
KEY

1.- had never gone

2.- had already bought
3.- caught
4.- had split
5.- knew / had told
6.- hadn’t eaten / were
7.- hugged / had finished
8.- had already seen
9.- had just bought / stole
10.- had been / was
11.- raised / had seen
12.- hadn’t eaten
13.- gave / hadn’t finished
14.- had lost
15.- had ran
16.- felt / hadn’t slept
17.- had left
18.- asked / agreed
19.- had read
20.- had seen
21.- hadn’t locked
22.- got / had lost
23.- had left
24.- had bought / didn’t have
25.- sailed
Past Simple / Present Perfect Simple
A Choose the correct answer.
1. I’m really hungry. I (haven’t eaten / didn’t eat) yet.
2. They (arrived / have arrived) a week ago.
3. We (have worked / worked) here for three years.
4. They (didn’t recognise / haven’t recognised) me at yesterday’s meeting.
5. Our neighbour (was / has been) in hospital since Friday.
6. (Have you travelled / Did you travel) abroad many times?

B Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or the Present Perfect
Simple.
1. John ........................... (not call) me recently.
2. They ........................... (buy) a new car last month.
3. The teacher ........................... (not return) the tests yet.
4. How long ........................... she ........................... (know) about this problem?
5. ........................... you ever ........................... (hear) such an unbelievable story?
6. When I was a child, I ........................... (live) in England for two years.
7. He ........................... (buy) me a beautiful gift for my birthday.
8. I am so excited to have a dog. I ......................................... (always / want) one.

C Correct the error in each of the sentences.

1. Have you ever eat Chinese food? 5. Mr Brown already left the office.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
2. She has moved to another city last year. 6. We haven’t been abroad since a year.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
3. They have sent out the invitations yet. 7. The lesson has started ten minutes ago.
............................................................................ ............................................................................
4. Jack hasn’t seen Jill since she has graduated. 8. Did she just leave?
............................................................................ ............................................................................

D Complete the passage with suitable words.

I 1.............................. always been very fit and healthy, and I have 2.............................. had a serious illness.
However, a couple of weeks 3.............................. , I caught the flu. I must admit that until then, I
4.............................. not realised just how unpleasant the flu could be. I had a high temperature for nearly a
week, and my whole body hurt. I don’t think I have 5.............................. felt so miserable. It’s taking me ages to
get my strength back. It really bothers me that I haven’t had enough energy to play football 6..............................
I got ill. In fact, I have 7.............................. been to the doctor to ask if it’s normal to feel weak for so long. He
says I’ll soon feel better. Apparently I’m lucky. For some people, especially the old and the weak, the flu can be
very serious. Doctors have tried 8.............................. years to find a cure for the flu, but they haven’t found one
9............................... . Fortunately, researchers have developed a vaccine which gives effective protection against
the disease. According to my doctor, most of his elderly patients have 10.............................. received their flu
shots.

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Past Simple / Present Perfect Simple – Answers
A 1. haven’t eaten 4. didn’t recognise
2. arrived 5. has been
3. have worked 6. Have you travelled

B 1. hasn’t called / has not called

2. bought
3. hasn’t returned / has not returned
4. has … known
5. Have … heard
6. lived
7. bought
8. have always wanted

C 1. Have you ever eaten Chinese food?

2. She moved to another city last year.
3. They haven’t sent out the invitations yet.
4. Jack hasn’t seen Jill since she graduated.
5. Mr Brown has already left the office.
6. We haven’t been abroad for a year.
7. The lesson started ten minutes ago.
8. Has she just left?

D 1. have 6. since
2. never 7. already / just
3. ago 8. for
4. had 9. yet
5. ever 10. already

Photocopiable © B Burlington Books

 Past Simple / Past Continuous (2)

1.- Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets into the
correct tense Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1.- It _____________ (snow) when I _________ (leave)

home this morning.
2.- It was a sunny afternoon and people __________ (sit)
on the grass in the park. Then suddenly it __________
(start) to rain.
3.- A: I tried to explain my problem to her.
B: ____________________ (she/listen)?
4.- My brother ______________ (talk) on the phone when I arrived, but
when he ____________ (see) me, he ___________ (finish) the call.
Perhaps he thought that I ____________ (listen) to his conversation.
5.- I nearly had an accident today. A car ____________ (come) towards
me, but I moved quickly out of the way and fortunately nothing
____________ (happen).
6.- A: Which hotel ______________ (you/stay) in when you lost your
passport?
B: I don’t remember. I ____________ (visit) many places during my
European tour and I ____________ (stay) in many different hotels.
7.- I ____________ (move) to Hastings in 1999. I ____________ (live)
there when I met them.
8.- ________________(many people / wait) for the 9:15 bus
last night?
9.- I ______________ (dance) with my girlfriend when the
disc jockey played our favourite song.
10.- I ____________ (study) grammar when I ___________
(fall) asleep.
11.- The scientists ___________ (work) in their laboratory
when they___________ (discover) the new drug.
12.- We ___________ (climb) the wall when the gardener
___________ (see) us.
13.-Vicky ___________ (have) a beautiful dream when the alarm clock
__________ (ring)
14.- As he ____________ (run) for the bus he ___________ (collide) with
a street lamp.
15.- When he __________ (carry) a suitcase, he __________ (drop) it on
his foot.
16..- ___________ (you / do) your homework on the bus
while you ____________ (come) to school?
17.- The students ____________ (read) the article when
the last class ___________ (finish).
18.- When I ____________ (arrive) at the cinema, my
friends __________ (wait) for me.
19.- ____________ (you / listen) to the teacher when she ___________
(explain) this exercise?
20.- Susan __________ (play) the piano while Mary ___________ (sing).
ANSWER KEY

1.- was snowing / left

2.- were sitting / started
3.- was she listening?
4.- was talking on the phone / saw / finished
5.- was coming / moved / happened
6.- were you staying
7.- moved / was living
8.- Were many people waiting
9.- was dancing
10.- was studying / fell asleep
11.- were working / discovered
12.- were climbing / saw
13.- was having / rang
14..- was running / collided
15.- was carrying / dropped
16.- Did you do / you were coming
17.- were reading / finished
18.- arrived / were waiting
19.- were you listening / explained
20.- was playing the piano / was singing
 PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS OR PAST SIMPLE?

1 Look! Steve _______________________________ (DANCE) with another girl.

2 Joe said something funny and we all _______________________________ (LAUGH).
3 Nick _______________________________ (WORK) from early in the morning until late at night every day.
4 I was surprised that Allan _______________________________ (NOT WIN).
5 Alex was looking for the treasure, but he _______________________________ (NOT FIND) it.
6 Richard _______________________ (OFFER) Kate something to drink, but she said she wasn't thirsty.
7 Tom is much shorter and _______________________________ (WEIGH) much less than Jack.
8 We _______________________________ (STAY) at home because it's raining.
9 James _______________________ (WRITE) a love letter to Cindy, but never _______________________ (GIVE)
it to her.
10 When was the last time you _______________________________ (CELEBRATE) Christmas with your whole
family?
11 Bill typically _______________________________ (FINISH) his work at 2:30.
12 Roy _______________________________ (NOT NEED) to come into the office on Mondays.
13 In Japan, the new school year _______________________________ (BEGIN) in April.
14 Could you please be quieter? David _______________________________ (SLEEP).
15 Neil can get there in ten minutes if he _______________________________ (DRIVE) fast.
16 Why _______________________ you _______________________ (DECIDE) to name your son Simon?
17 Sam _______________________________ (WASH) his car at least once a week.
18 _______________________ you _______________________ (WATCH) the news on TV every day?
19 How often _______________________ you _______________________ (LOOK) at yourself in the mirror?
20 Edward _______________________________ (PAINT) that picture last summer.
21 The girl _______________________ (JUMP) to her feet and _______________________ (LEAVE) the room.
22 She feeds her dog the same thing that she _______________________________ (EAT).
23 Lisa _______________________________ (VISIT) Randy every time that she's in the United States.
24 Do you want to hear about what I _______________________________ (DO) last summer?
25 Alex _______________________ (GET) into bed and _______________________ (TURN OFF) the light.
26 _______________________ you _______________________ (PREFER) green or black tea?
27 _______________________ you _______________________ (KNOW) anybody who can teach my kids French?
28 Look at the boy and the dog that _______________________________ (RUN) over there.
29 Tom said that he hated the song we _______________________________ (SING) last night.
30 The weather was cold and it _______________________________ (RAIN) a lot.

Sentences from www.tatoeba.org

KEY

1 Look! Steve IS DANCING with another girl.

2 Joe said something funny and we all LAUGHED.
3 Nick WORKS (WORKED) from early in the morning until late at night every day.
4 I was surprised that Allan DIDN’T WIN.
5 Alex was looking for the treasure, but he DIDN’T FIND it.
6 Richard OFFERED Kate something to drink, but she said she wasn't thirsty.
7 Tom is much shorter and WEIGHS much less than Jack.
8 We ARE STAYING at home because it's raining.
9 James WROTE a love letter to Cindy, but never GAVE it to her.
10 When was the last time you CELEBRATED Christmas with your whole family?
11 Bill typically FINISHES his work at 2:30.
12 Roy DOESN’T NEED to come into the office on Mondays.
13 In Japan, the new school year BEGINS in April.
14 Could you please be quieter? David IS SLEEPING.
15 Neil can get there in ten minutes if he DRIVES fast.
16 Why DID you DECIDE to name your son Simon?
17 Sam WASHES his car at least once a week.
18 DO you WATCH the news on TV every day?
19 How often DO you LOOK at yourself in the mirror?
20 Edward PAINTED that picture last summer.
21 The girl JUMPED to her feet and LEFT the room.
22 She feeds her dog the same thing that she EATS.
23 Lisa VISITS Randy every time that she's in the United States.
24 Do you want to hear about what I DID last summer?
25 Alex GOT into bed and TURNED OFF the light.
26 DO you PREFER green or black tea?
27 DO you KNOW anybody who can teach my kids French?
28 Look at the boy and the dog that ARE RUNNING over there.
29 Tom said that he hated the song we SANG last night.
30 The weather was cold and it RAINED a lot.