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Unit 14 · Present perfect and past

Present perfect and past 2 (I have done and I did)

Study

A

We do not use the present perfect (I have done) when we talk about a finished time (for example, yesterday / last year / ten minutes ago etc.). We use a past tense:

›

It was very cold yesterday. (not has been)

›

Paul and Lucy arrived ten minutes ago. (not have arrived)

›

Did you eat a lot of sweets when you were a child? (not have you eaten)

›

I got home late last night. I was very tired and went straight to bed.

Use the past to ask When … ? or What time … ? :

›

When did your friends arrive? (not have … arrived)

›

What time did you finish work?

Compare:

Present perfect Past simple
Tom **has lost** his key. He can’t get into the house. Tom **lost** his key **yesterday**. He couldn’t get into the house.
Is Carla here or **has she left**? **When did Carla leave**?
B

Compare:

Present perfect (**have done**) Past simple (**did**)
I’ve done a lot of work **today**. I did a lot of work **yesterday**.
We use the present perfect for a period of time that continues until now. For example: **today / this week / since 2010**. We use the past simple for a **finished time** in the past. For example: **yesterday / last week / from 2010 to 2014**.
It **hasn’t rained** this week. It **didn’t rain** last week.
**Have you seen** Anna this morning? (it is still morning now) **Did you see** Anna this morning? (it is now afternoon or evening)
**Have you seen** Ben recently? (in the last few days or weeks) **Did you see** Ben on Sunday?
I’ve **been working** here **since 2010**. (I still work here now) I **worked** here **from 2010 to 2014**. (I don’t work here now)
I don’t know where Lisa is. I **haven’t seen** her. (= I haven’t seen her recently) A: **Was** Lisa at the party on Sunday? B: I don’t think so. I **didn’t see** her.
We’ve **been waiting** for an hour. (we are still waiting now) We **waited** (or **were waiting**) for an hour. (we are no longer waiting)
Jack lives in Los Angeles. He **has lived** there for seven years. Jack **lived** in New York for ten years. Now he lives in Los Angeles.
I’ve **never ridden** a horse. (in my life) I **never rode** a bike when I was a child.
It’s the last day of your holiday. You say: **It’s been** a really good holiday. I’ve really **enjoyed** it. After you come back from holiday you say: **It was** a really good holiday. I really **enjoyed** it.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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14.1

Are the underlined parts of these sentences OK? Correct them where necessary.

  1. 1
    I’ve lost my key. I can’t find it anywhere. example
  2. 2
    Have you eaten a lot of sweets when you were a child? example
  3. 3
    I’ve bought a new car. You must come and see it.
  4. 4
    I’ve bought a new car last week.
  5. 5
    Where have you been yesterday evening?
  6. 6
    Maria has left school in 1999.
  7. 7
    I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him?
  8. 8
    ‘Have you been to Paris?’ ‘Yes, many times.’
  9. 9
    I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten much today.
  10. 10
    When has this bridge been built?
14.2

Make sentences from the words in brackets. Use the present perfect or past simple.

  1. 1
    (it / not / rain / this week) example
  2. 2
    (the weather / be / cold / recently) The weather
  3. 3
    (it / cold / last week) It
  4. 4
    (I / not / eat / any fruit yesterday) I
  5. 5
    (I / not / eat / any fruit today)
  6. 6
    (Emily / earn / a lot of money / this year)
  7. 7
    (she / not / earn / so much / last year)
  8. 8
    (you / have / a holiday recently?)
14.3

Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

  1. 1
    I (I / not / be) to Canada, but I’d like to go there.example
  2. 2
    Paul and Lucy (arrive) about ten minutes ago.example
  3. 3
    I’m tired. (I / not / sleep) well last night.
  4. 4
    (There / be) a bus drivers’ strike last week, so (there / be) no buses.
  5. 5
    Edward (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then (he / give) it up. Now he works as a gardener.
  6. 6
    Mary lives in Dublin. (She / live) there all her life.
  7. 7
    My grandfather (die) before I was born. (I / never / meet) him.
  8. 8
    I don’t know Karen’s husband. (I / never / meet) him.
  9. 9
    It’s nearly lunchtime, and (I / not / see) Martin all morning. I wonder where he is.
  10. 10
    a: (you / go) to the cinema last night? b: Yes, but the movie (be) awful.
  11. 11
    a: (It / be) very warm here since we arrived. b: Yes, (it / be) 35 degrees yesterday.
  12. 12
    a: Where do you live? b: In Boston. a: How long (you / live) there? b: Five years. a: Where (you / live) before that? b: In Chicago. a: And how long (you / live) in Chicago? b: Two years.
14.4

Write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets.

  1. 1
    (something you haven’t done today) example
  2. 2
    (something you haven’t done today)
  3. 3
    (something you didn’t do yesterday)
  4. 4
    (something you did yesterday evening)
  5. 5
    (something you haven’t done recently)
  6. 6
    (something you’ve done a lot recently)