Past Simple vs. Present Perfect – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Choose the best option (a, b, c, or d) to complete each sentence.
1 Student: “Good morning, Mr. Harrison. I’m sorry I _______ in class yesterday.”
(a) wasn’t
(b) haven’t been
(c) didn’t be
(d) weren’t
2 “I _______ a very bad headache all day yesterday.”
(a) had
(b) have had
(c) have
(d) did had
3 “My mother _______ the school office at 9:00 AM to inform you.”
(a) called
(b) has called
(c) calls
(d) was call
4 “I _______ much better since I took some medicine this morning.”
(a) felt
(b) have felt
(c) feel
(d) have feel
5 “However, I _______ my homework for today yet.”
(a) didn’t finish
(b) haven’t finished
(c) haven’t finish
(d) don’t finish
6 Teacher: “I see. _______ the doctor yesterday afternoon?”
(a) Did you see
(b) Have you seen
(c) Do you see
(d) Were you see
7 Student: “No, I _______. I just stayed in bed and rested.”
(a) didn’t
(b) haven’t
(c) didn’t be
(d) don’t
8 Teacher: “Don’t worry. _______ any of the online lessons since yesterday?”
(a) Did you watch
(b) Have you watched
(c) Have you watch
(d) Do you watch
9 Student: “I _______ the first video a few minutes ago, but I need to finish the rest.”
(a) have watched
(b) watched
(c) watch
(d) was watched
10 Teacher: “That’s fine. We _______ a new topic while you were away.”
(a) started
(b) have started
(c) start
(d) was started
11 Student: “_______ the worksheets to the rest of the class yet?”
(a) Did you give
(b) Have you given
(c) Have you give
(d) Do you give
12 Teacher: “Yes, I _______ them out at the end of the lesson yesterday.”
(a) have handed
(b) handed
(c) hand
(d) was hand
13 Student: “I _______ my school bag since I got home on Monday.”
(a) didn’t open
(b) haven’t opened
(c) haven’t open
(d) don’t open
14 Teacher: “It’s okay. This is the first time you _______ a day of school this year.”
(a) missed
(b) have missed
(c) miss
(d) are missing
15 Student: “I know. I _______ a student here for two years and I’m never late.”
(a) was
(b) have been
(c) have be
(d) am being
16 Teacher: “I understand. Actually, I _______ the deadline for the essay just now.”
(a) changed
(b) have changed
(c) change
(d) was change
17 Student: “Oh! When _______ the new deadline?”
(a) was
(b) has been
(c) did be
(d) is
18 Teacher: “I _______ it to next Friday so everyone has more time.”
(a) moved
(b) have moved
(c) have move
(d) am moved
19 Student: “Thank you! I _______ to call my classmate for the notes ten times, but he didn’t answer.”
(a) tried
(b) have tried
(c) try
(d) was tried
20 Teacher: “He _______ his phone at home this morning, so he can’t answer you.”
(a) left
(b) has left
(c) leaves
(d) was left
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (a) wasn’t
- Why: “Yesterday” is a finished time, requiring Past Simple.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake (using Present Perfect with specific past time); (c) is a structural error; (d) is a subject-verb agreement error.
2 (a) had
- Why: Refers to a specific duration in the finished past (“all day yesterday”).
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) is present tense; (d) is a structural error.
3 (a) called
- Why: “At 9:00 AM” is a specific point in the past.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) is present tense; (d) is a structural error.
4 (b) have felt
- Why: “Since” indicates a state starting in the past and continuing to the present.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake (ignoring the ‘since’ connection); (c) is present; (d) is a structural error (V3 needed).
5 (b) haven’t finished
- Why: “Yet” shows an action not completed up to the present moment.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (V3 needed); (d) is Present Simple.
6 (a) Did you see
- Why: Asking about a specific time (“yesterday afternoon”).
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) is Present Simple; (d) is a structural error.
7 (a) didn’t
- Why: Correct short answer for a “Did you…?” question.
- Analysis: (b) is a common auxiliary mistake; (c) is a structural error; (d) is Present Simple.
8 (b) Have you watched
- Why: “Since” indicates a period from the past until now.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (V3 needed); (d) is Present Simple.
9 (b) watched
- Why: “A few minutes ago” is a specific past time marker.
- Analysis: (a) is a meaning trap (common with ‘ago’); (c) is present; (d) is a passive error.
10 (a) started
- Why: Action happened at a specific past time (“while you were away”).
- Analysis: (b) is a meaning trap; (c) is present; (d) is a passive error.
11 (b) Have you given
- Why: “Yet” indicates an action expected to happen before now.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (V3 needed); (d) is Present Simple.
12 (b) handed
- Why: “Yesterday” is a finished time.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is present; (d) is a structural error.
13 (b) haven’t opened
- Why: “Since” marks the beginning of a period continuing to now.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error (V3 needed); (d) is Present Simple.
14 (b) have missed
- Why: The structure “This is the first time…” always uses Present Perfect.
- Analysis: (a) is a common mistake; (c) is present; (d) is continuous.
15 (b) have been
- Why: “For two years” shows a state that began in the past and is still true.
- Analysis: (a) implies the student is no longer there; (c) is a structural error; (d) is the wrong aspect.
16 (a) changed
- Why: “Just now” refers to a very recent but specific past moment.
- Analysis: (b) is a meaning trap; (c) is present; (d) is a structural error.
17 (a) was
- Why: Asking about the specific time the change happened.
- Analysis: (b) is a common mistake; (c) is a structural error; (d) is present.
18 (b) have moved
- Why: Use Present Perfect to announce news or a recent change with a present result.
- Analysis: (a) is a meaning trap (too narrative); (c) is a structural error; (d) is a passive error.
19 (a) tried
- Why: Refers to the specific attempts made in the past (when the friend didn’t answer).
- Analysis: (b) is a meaning trap; (c) is present; (d) is a passive error.
20 (b) has left
- Why: A past action (leaving the phone) that has a result in the present (can’t answer).
- Analysis: (a) is a meaning trap; (c) is present; (d) is a passive error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Past Simple (V2): Use for finished actions at a specific time.
- Clues: yesterday, last night, 2 hours ago, in 2022, when I was sick.
- Present Perfect (Have/Has + V3): Use for actions with no specific time or actions connected to now.
- Clues: just, already, yet, ever, never, since, for.
- The “Absence” Rule:
- Explain the cause in Past Simple: “I was sick yesterday.”
- Explain the result in Present Perfect: “I haven’t done the work yet.”
- Since vs. For:
- Since + starting point (since Monday).
- For + duration (for three days).
- Questions:
- “When…?” -> Always Past Simple.
- “How long…?” -> Usually Present Perfect.