Simple past or present perfect tense

Simple past or present perfect tense The simple past tense is used to say that something happened some time ago When we use this tense form, we usually also specify when that particular activity occurred The present perfect tense is also used to talk about completed past actions and states There is an important difference, though We not normally use finished time expressions with the present perfect tense Test your knowledge of simple past and present perfect tenses with this grammar exercise She ………………… English for the last 20 years a) taught b) has taught c) is teaching She …………………… English at university before she became a fulltime writer a) taught b) has taught c) teaches I ………………… every book written by Jane Austen a) read b) have read c) am reading Who …………………… ‘Pride and Prejudice’? a) has written b) wrote c) had written Peter ………………………… a window last night a) broke b) has broken c) had broken She …………………… all her childhood in Mexico a) has spent b) spend c) spent I can’t walk because I ……………………… my leg a) broke b) have broken c) had broken Regularly every summer, Andrew ……………………… in love a) fell b) has fallen c) was falling Who …………………… you those marbles? a) give b) gave c) has given 10 I’m sure we …………………… before a) met b) have met c) had met Answers She has taught English for the last 20 years She taught English at university before she became a fulltime writer I have read every book written by Jane Austen Who wrote ‘Pride and Prejudice’? Peter broke a window last night She spent all her childhood in Mexico I can’t walk because I have broken my leg Regularly every summer, Andrew fell in love Who gave you those marbles? 10 I am sure we have met before Stay on top of your writing! Download our grammar guide from www.englishgrammar.org to stay up-to-date Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)