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Present Perfect vs Past Simple – What Is the Difference? (A2)

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Practice Questions & Answers

All A2 questions for “Present Perfect vs Past Simple – What Is the Difference? (A2)”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

Exercise 1: Present Perfect or Past Simple? – Fill in the Gap

1. I _____ octopus. Is it good?
- A. have never eaten ✓
- B. never ate
- C. did never eat
Answer: have never eaten
No specific time + ever/never = present perfect. Life experience.
2. She _____ Tokyo last year and absolutely loved it.
- A. visited ✓
- B. has visited
- C. was visiting
Answer: visited
Last year = specific finished time. Past simple.
3. _____ you finished the report yet? The manager is asking.
- A. Have ✓
- B. Did
- C. Were
Answer: Have
Yet with present perfect: Have + subject + past participle + yet?
4. He _____ me three times yesterday but I was in a meeting.
- A. called ✓
- B. has called
- C. was calling
Answer: called
Yesterday = specific finished time. Past simple.
5. They _____ in Barcelona since 2015. They love it there.
- A. have lived ✓
- B. lived
- C. did live
Answer: have lived
Since 2015 + still living there = present perfect. Not past simple (that would mean they no longer live there).
6. I _____ my phone on the bus this morning. I am so stressed.
- A. lost ✓
- B. have lost
- C. was losing
Answer: lost
This morning with a specific event = past simple. The action is described as a story event.
7. She _____ the hotel. We do not need to worry about that.
- A. has already booked ✓
- B. already booked
- C. did already book
Answer: has already booked
Already = done before expected. Present perfect. Result is relevant now.
8. _____ you see the match last night? It was incredible.
- A. Did ✓
- B. Have
- C. Were
Answer: Did
Last night = specific finished time. Past simple question: Did + subject + base verb?
9. I _____ at this company for eight years. I know everyone here.
- A. have worked ✓
- B. worked
- C. did work
Answer: have worked
For eight years + still working there = present perfect.
10. She _____ from university in 2018 and started her career immediately.
- A. graduated ✓
- B. has graduated
- C. was graduating
Answer: graduated
In 2018 = specific finished time. Past simple.
11. He _____ the email. Check your inbox now.
- A. has just sent ✓
- B. just sent
- C. did just send
Answer: has just sent
Just = very recently, result relevant now. Present perfect.

Exercise 2: Choose Between Present Perfect and Past Simple

1. Which is correct?
- A. I have seen her yesterday.
- B. I saw her yesterday. ✓
- C. I did see her yesterday.
- D. I have saw her yesterday.
Answer: I saw her yesterday.
Yesterday = specific finished time. Past simple. Never use present perfect with yesterday.
2. Which is correct?
- A. Have you ever visited Rome? ✓
- B. Did you ever visit Rome?
- C. Did you ever visited Rome?
- D. Have you ever visit Rome?
Answer: Have you ever visited Rome?
Ever in a life experience question = present perfect. Have + you + ever + past participle.
3. Which is correct?
- A. She has worked here in 2015.
- B. She worked here in 2015. ✓
- C. She did work here in 2015.
- D. She has work here since 2015.
Answer: She worked here in 2015.

Exercise 3: Serena Williams – A Career Like No Other

1. Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes in history. She _____ her first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 1999, when she was just seventeen years old. Since then, she _____ 23 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other player in the modern era. In 2017, Serena _____ and won the Australian Open while she was eight weeks pregnant, one of the most remarkable achievements in sport. Throughout her career, she _____ countless records and inspired millions of young athletes around the world. She _____ from professional tennis in 2022, but her legacy continues to inspire the next generation.
- A. won
- B. has won
- C. was winning
- D. has collected
- E. collected
- F. was collecting
- G. played
- H. has played
- I. was playing
- J. has broken
- K. broke
- L. was breaking
- M. retired
- N. has retired
- O. was retiring
Answer: won, has collected, played, has broken, retired
Won in 1999 = specific time, past simple. Has collected = from then until now (no end), present perfect. Played in 2017 = specific time, past simple. Has broken = career-long experience, no specific time, present perfect. Retired in 2022 = finished event, past simple.

Exercise 4: Build Sentences in the Right Tense

1. seen / have / ever / you / film / this / ?
Answer: Have you ever seen this film?
Present perfect with ever: Have + subject + ever + past participle?
2. she / ago / left / office / the / an / hour
Answer: She left the office an hour ago.
Ago = specific finished time. Past simple.
3. already / I / eaten / have
Answer: I have already eaten.
Present perfect with already: have + already + past participle.
4. did / you / weekend / last / what / do / ?
Answer: What did you do last weekend?
Last weekend = specific finished time. Past simple question.
5. here / they / for / have / lived / years / twenty
Answer: They have lived here for twenty years.
For + period, still living there = present perfect.
6. she / has / the / just / sent / email

Exercise 5: Speaking Practice – Experience or Finished Event?

1. You are a friendly English tutor doing a structured speaking drill with an A2 student. The grammar focus is choosing between present perfect (have/has + past participle, no specific time, still relevant) and past simple (specific finished time: yesterday, last week, in 2010, ago). CRITICAL RULES: (1) NEVER present perfect with yesterday/last week/last year/ago/in [year] - those ALWAYS need past simple. (2) ALWAYS present perfect with ever/never/just/already/yet/for/since when no specific finished time. (3) When = specific time question, always past simple. STRUCTURE: Ask exactly 6 questions, one at a time. Wait for the student's full answer. QUESTIONS TO ASK (in this order): 1. 'Let us start! Tell me about your life experiences - three things you have done and three things you have never done. Use I have... and I have never...' (Target: I have visited France. I have never tried sushi. Check: have + past participle for experience without specific time.) 2. 'Now tell me about your week. What did you do yesterday? What happened last weekend?' (Target: Yesterday I went to the gym. Last weekend I visited my family. Check: past simple with yesterday/last weekend.) 3. 'I will say a sentence - you tell me if it needs present perfect or past simple, then say it correctly. Ready? Someone asks: when did you last eat?' (Target: I ate at lunchtime / I had breakfast this morning. Check: specific time = past simple.) 4. 'Use for or since. Tell me: how long have you lived where you live? How long have you had your phone?' (Target: I have lived here for three years. I have had my phone since 2022. Check: for + period, since + point. Flag since three years.) 5. 'Tell me two things that have just happened or you have already done today.' (Target: I have already had coffee. My phone has just died. Check: have/has + just/already + past participle.) 6. 'Final challenge! I will describe a situation - choose the right tense. Ready? You are telling a friend about a film. First, have you seen it? Second, when did you see it?' (Target: Have you seen Inception? Yes, I saw it last year. Check: present perfect for experience, past simple with last year.) FEEDBACK RULES: - Never explain the rule. Recast errors naturally. - If student uses present perfect with yesterday: recast - Oh, you saw her yesterday! What was that like? - If student uses past simple with ever: recast - Have you ever been there? That is the question! - If student says since three years: recast - You have lived there for three years! That is a while. - Keep language at A2 level. - After all 6 questions, give one genuine specific compliment and say goodbye.

Exercise 6: Writing Practice – Your Life So Far

1. Question 1

Present Perfect vs Past Simple – What Is the Difference? (A2)

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Practice Questions & Answers

Exercise 1: Present Perfect or Past Simple? – Fill in the Gap

Exercise 2: Choose Between Present Perfect and Past Simple

Exercise 3: Serena Williams – A Career Like No Other

Exercise 4: Build Sentences in the Right Tense

Exercise 5: Speaking Practice – Experience or Finished Event?

Exercise 6: Writing Practice – Your Life So Far

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