Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 20 · A2

I have done (present perfect) and I did (past)

With a finished time (yesterday, last week, in 2015) use the past simple, never the present perfect. The present perfect is for time up to now; the past simple is for finished time.

Start the lesson

11Steps · about 21 minutes

In this lesson

A finished time: use the pastA1 screen of questions
Time until now, or finished timeB2 screens of questions
Put it together+4 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 2

A finished time: use the past

With a finished time (yesterday, last week, at three o'clock, in 2015, six months ago), use the past simple: arrived, saw, was.

Do not use the present perfect with a finished time. Use the past simple for When ... ? and What time ... ? too.

  • We arrived yesterday.
  • I bumped into Leo on Tuesday. (not I have bumped)
  • Where were you last night? (not Where have you been)
  • We didn't go abroad last summer. (not We haven't gone)
  • "What did you do last night?" "I stayed in."
  • Jane Austen lived from 1775 to 1817. She was a novelist. She wrote six novels.
  • When did the parcel come? (not When has the parcel come?)

Point A · Exercise 20.1

Use the words in brackets to answer the questions.

  1. Example

    Have you seen Ann? (five minutes ago) Yes, I saw her five minutes ago.

    AnswerYes, I saw her five minutes ago.

  2. Have you booked your holiday? (on Monday) Yes, I .

  3. Have your friends arrived? (at five o'clock) Yes, they .

  4. Has Tom moved out? (last month) Yes, .

  5. Have you worn your new boots? (yesterday) Yes, .

Point B of 2

Time until now, or finished time

Present perfect: time until now Past simple: finished time
I've lost my key. (I can't find it now) I lost my key last week.
Bill has gone home. (he isn't here now) Bill went home ten minutes ago.
Have you seen Ann? (where is she now?) Did you see Ann on Saturday?
Have you ever been to Spain? (in your life) Did you go to Spain last year?
My friend is a writer. He has written a lot of books. Dickens wrote a lot of novels.
The letter hasn't arrived yet. The letter didn't arrive yesterday.
We've lived in Hull for six years. (we live there now) We lived in Hull for six years, but now we live in York.
  • I've lost my key.
  • I lost my key last week.
  • We've lived in Hull for six years.
  • We lived in Derby for ten years, but now we live in Leicester.

Point B · Exercise 20.4 · part 1 of 2

Put the verb in the present perfect or the past simple.

  1. Example

    A: Have you ever been (you / ever / be) to Cornwall? B: Yes, we went (go) there on holiday two years ago.

    AnswerHave you ever been to Cornwall? Yes, we went there on holiday two years ago.

  2. A: (you / have) a nice time at the festival? B: Yes, it (be) amazing.

  3. A: Where's Alan? (you / see) him? B: Yes, he (go) out a few minutes ago.

  4. A: What about Ben? B: No idea. I (not / hear) from him.

  5. Dev works in a garage. He (work) there for a year. Before that he (be) a postman.

Point B · Exercise 20.4 · part 2 of 2

Put the verb in the present perfect or the past simple.

  1. He (deliver) post for three years, but he (not / like) the early starts.

  2. A: Do you know Leo's dad? B: I (meet) him once or twice, but I (never / have) a proper chat with him.

Put it together · Exercise 20.2 · part 1 of 2

Is the verb in bold right? Write OK, or write the correct form.

  1. Example

    I've broken my glasses. I can't read this.

    OK

    AnswerI've broken my glasses. I can't read this.

  2. Example

    Have you seen Ann yesterday?

    Did you see

    AnswerDid you see Ann yesterday?

  3. I've finished my work at two o'clock.

  4. Let's go. I've packed my bag.

  5. What time have you got home last night?

  6. Sue isn't here. She's gone out.

Put it together · Exercise 20.2 · part 2 of 2

Is the verb in bold right? Write OK, or write the correct form.

  1. Jim's grandmother has died in 2009.

  2. Where have you been last night?

Put it together · Exercise 20.3 · part 1 of 2

Put the verb in the present perfect or the past simple.

  1. Example

    My aunt is a singer. She has made (make) six albums.

    AnswerMy aunt is a singer. She has made six albums.

  2. Example

    We didn't have (not / have) a holiday last year.

    AnswerWe didn't have a holiday last year.

  3. I (play) squash yesterday afternoon.

  4. What time (you / go) to bed last night?

  5. (you / ever / meet) a famous person?

  6. The weather (not / be) very good yesterday.

Put it together · Exercise 20.3 · part 2 of 2

Put the verb in the present perfect or the past simple.

  1. The floor is slippery. I (just / mop) it.

  2. I (mop) the floor before lunch today.

  3. Kathy travels a lot. She (visit) lots of countries.

  4. "Is Sonia here?" "No, she (not / come) yet."

Lesson 20 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: is done, was done (passive 1)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. A finished time: use the past–Not checkedB. Time until now, or finished time–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked