Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 13 · B1

Present perfect and past 1 (I have done and I did)

The present perfect tells you about the situation now; the past simple tells you only about the past. Use the past simple for things that are not new, and once you carry on talking about something you have just announced.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 25 minutes

In this lesson

Now, or only thenA2 screens of questions
New things, and things that are not newB1 screen of questions
Giving the news, then talking about itC1 screen of questions
Put it together+5 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

Now, or only then

Rachel is turning out her handbag on the kitchen table. Her purse is not in it.

She has lost her purse. That is the present perfect, and it tells us about now: she does not have her purse.

Ten minutes later it turns up in the bread bin, for reasons nobody can explain.

Has she lost her purse? No, she has found it. Did she lose it? Yes, she did. She lost her purse (past simple), but now she has found it (present perfect).

The present perfect is a present tense: it describes the situation now. The past simple tells you only about the past. If somebody says "Rachel lost her purse", you know nothing about whether she has it now.

  • They've gone to Majorca. They're back on Saturday. (they are away now)
  • They went to Majorca, but they're back home now. (not They've gone)
  • The rain has stopped, so we can walk. (it isn't raining now)
  • The rain stopped for an hour, but now it's pouring again. (not The rain has stopped)

Point A · Exercise 13.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use the present perfect where possible; otherwise use the past simple.

  1. Example

    A man is patting his pockets outside his front door.

    I can't get in. I've lost (lose) my key.

    AnswerI can't get in. I've lost my key.

  2. The café is closed and dark.

    The café is empty now. Everybody (go) home.

  3. A woman is apologising to a friend.

    I meant to text you last night, but I (forget).

  4. Two people are standing by a car with the bonnet up, waving at a passing driver.

    Can you give us a hand? Our car (break) down.

  5. Someone asks a friend if she is all right. She answers:

    Yes, I (have) a migraine earlier, but it's gone now.

Point A · Exercise 13.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Use the present perfect where possible; otherwise use the past simple.

  1. A photograph of Imogen in Rome; Imogen herself is now at her desk in Leicester.

    Imogen (go) to Rome for a week, but she's back in Leicester now.

Point B of 3

New things, and things that are not new

Use the present perfect for news and recent happenings. The past simple is usually possible here too.

For things that are not recent or new, use the past simple, not the present perfect. History, finished lives and childhoods belong to the past simple.

  • I've fixed the boiler. The heating's working again.
  • I fixed the boiler. The heating's working again.
  • "Amira has had twins!" "That's wonderful news."
  • Charlotte Brontë was a novelist. She wrote Jane Eyre. (not has been ... has written)
  • My dad grew up in Barnsley. (not has grown)
  • Somebody has invented a kettle you can control from your phone.
  • Who invented the television? (not has invented)

Point B · Extra practice

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

  1. Good news! Ayesha a baby boy. (have)

  2. Charles Dickens fifteen novels. (write)

  3. My grandad up in Barnsley. (grow)

Point C of 3

Giving the news, then talking about it

The present perfect brings in new information (see Unit 7). As soon as the conversation carries on about it, we normally switch to the past simple.

  • Ouch! I've cut my thumb.
  • How did you manage that? (not have you managed)
  • I was slicing a bagel. (not have been slicing)
  • Look! Somebody has drawn on the wall.
  • Don't look at me. I didn't break it. (not haven't broken)

Point C · Extra practice

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

  1. Ouch! I my finger. (cut)

  2. How you that? (do)

  3. I an onion with a blunt knife. (slice)

Put it together · Exercise 13.2 · part 1 of 2

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

  1. Example

    Have you heard about Cerys? She's handed in her notice.

    OK

    AnswerHave you heard about Cerys? She's handed in her notice.

  2. Example

    My grandmother has grown up in Jamaica.

    My grandmother grew up

    AnswerMy grandmother grew up in Jamaica.

  3. How many novels has Charles Dickens written?

  4. I've forgotten her surname. Is it Patel or Shah?

  5. Who has invented the bicycle?

  6. Online scams have become a serious problem.

Put it together · Exercise 13.2 · part 2 of 2

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

  1. We've cleaned the windows, but now they're filthy again.

  2. Where have you been born?

  3. Mum has gone to the shops. She'll be back in twenty minutes.

  4. Rosalind Franklin has been the scientist who has photographed the structure of DNA.

Put it together · Exercise 13.3 · part 1 of 3

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

  1. Example

    It stopped (it / stop) snowing for a while, but now it's snowing again.

    AnswerIt stopped snowing for a while, but now it's snowing again.

  2. Example

    The street where I grew up is unrecognisable now. It's changed (it / change) a lot.

    AnswerThe street where I grew up is unrecognisable now. It's changed a lot.

  3. I did French at school, but (I / forget) most of it now.

  4. The police (stop) four cars, but later they let them all go.

  5. What do you think of my cooking? Do you think (it / improve)?

  6. Ready to go? (you / finish) your tea?

Put it together · Exercise 13.3 · part 2 of 3

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

  1. (I / apply) for a job at the council last year, but I didn't get it.

  2. Where's the ladder? (it / be) against the shed, but it's not there now.

  3. Quick, ring 999. (there / be) a crash at the roundabout.

  4. A: I've found my glasses. B: Oh, good. Where (you / find) them? A: (they / be) in the fridge. (I / not / ask) myself why.

Put it together · Exercise 13.3 · part 3 of 3

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

  1. A: Nathan won't be playing football for a while. (he / break) his ankle. B: Oh no. How (that / happen)? A: (he / trip) over the dog.

Lesson 13 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Present perfect and past 2 (I have done and I did)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Now, or only then–Not checkedB. New things, and things that are not new–Not checkedC. Giving the news, then talking about it–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked