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Simple Past Past Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or action taking place before a certain time in the past
several times
actions in the past taking place one after the sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
other
action in the past taking place in the middle of puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course
another action of the action)
Questions in Past Perfect Simple
Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
1. (what / Bob / do) that he was kept in after school?
2. (you / eat) anything before you went to the theatre?
3. (he / live) in London before he moved to Glasgow?
4. (she / find) a new job by that time?
5. (they / book) a room before they went to Dublin?
6. (how often / you / ring) the bell before he answered the door?
7. (why / they / have) dinner before they came to the party?
8. (Carly / wash) the dishes when her mum came home?
9. (you / read) the contract before you signed it?
10. (who / live) in the house before we moved in?
had built
11. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build) .
12. He (not / be) to Cape Town before 1997.
13. When she went out to play, she (do / already) her homework.
14. My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make) .
15. The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on) six weeks before.
16. The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order) .
17. I could not remember the poem we (learn) the week before.
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18. The children collected the chestnuts that (fall) from the tree.
19. (he / phone) Angie before he went to see her in London?
20. She (not / ride) a horse before that day.
English Tenses – Graphic Comparison
Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand when to use
which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there are just a few rules to
keep in mind.
If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be
able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.
→ Legend
Legend
action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
moment in time actions that suddenly take place
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action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that
moment
period of time actions taking place at the same time
action taking place before a certain moment in time
Result puts emphasis on the result
action taking place before a certain moment in time
Course / puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action
Duration
English Tenses – Examples
Explanation Past Present Future
Simple Past Simple Present Future I Simple
action that takes place He played football He plays football every He will / is going to
once, never or several every Tuesday. Tuesday. play football every
times Tuesday.
actions that happen one He played football and He plays football and He will play football
after another then he went home. then he goes home. and then he will go
home.
state He loved football. He loves football. He will love football.
Past Progressive Present Progressive Future I Progressive
action going on at that He was playing He is playing football. He will be playing
moment football. football.
actions taking place at He was playing football He is playing football He will be playing
the same time and she was watching. and she is watching. football and she will be
watching.
Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Future II Simple
action taking place He had won five He has won five He will have won five
before a certain matches until that day. matches so far. matches by then.
moment in time;
emphasises the result
Past Perfect Present Perfect Future II Progressive
Progressive Progressive
action taking place He had been playing He has been playing He will have been
before a certain football for ten years. football for ten years. playing football for ten
moment in time (and years.
beyond), emphasises
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the duration
Use
Simple Past Present Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or several action that stopped recently or is still going on
times
actions in the past taking place one after the other finished action that has an influence on the present
action in the past taking place in the middle of action that has taken place once, never or several
another action times before the moment of speaking
Use of Present Perfect
puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.
action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.
action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.
finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.
action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Exercise on Present Perfect Simple
Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).
have not w orked
1. I (not / work) today.
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2. We (buy) a new lamp.
3. We (not / plan) our holiday yet.
4. Where (be / you) ?
5. He (write) five letters.
6. She (not / see) him for a long time.
7. (be / you) at school?
8. School (not / start) yet.
9. (speak / he) to his boss?
10. No, he (have / not) the time yet.
Write questions in present perfect simple.
1. you / correct / my mistakes -
2. you / practise / your English -
3. she / tidy up / her room -
4. the boss / sign / the letter -
5. Mary / shut / the door -
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.
1. Tony has built a house. -
2. Avril has crossed the street at the traffic lights. -
3. They have never been to Australia. -
4. Rupert has dialled the number. -
5. Betty has spent 200 euros at the shopping mall. -
Test
Write the participle forms of the following verbs.
1. shut →
2. spend →
3. give →
4. teach →
5. sell →
Complete the table in present perfect simple.
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positive negative question
We have chatted.
The lesson has not started.
Have we won?
She has turned around.
They have not arrived.
Write sentences in present perfect simple.
1. we / reach / our goal -
2. our team / lose / the match -
3. she / underline / the word -
4. they / not / discover / the treasure -
5. Ron / not / talk / about the problem -
Write questions in present perfect simple.
1. you / knock / at the door -
2. the teacher / mark / the tests -
3. she / buy / a new computer -
4. they / rescue / the girl -
5. Brad / wear / a blue shirt -
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence.
1. They have seen him at the library. -
2. Robby Robber has robbed another bank. -
3. Bill has ordered three desserts. -
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4. Clara has repeated the sentence five times. -
5. Jane has asked a question. -
Simple Past (Past Simple)
Exercises on Simple Past
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used
for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Use of Simple Past
action in the past taking place once, never or several times
Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
actions in the past taking place one after the other
Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.
Signal Words of Simple Past
yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)
Write the verbs in simple past.
1. The first settlers (be) the Potawatomi.
2. They (call) this place Checagou (wild onion) because it (smell)
like onions.
3. Constructions on the Sears Tower (begin) in 1970.
4. Until 1997, the Sears Tower (be) the highest building in the world.
English pool of exercise
Exercise on Simple Present
Form positive sentences in Simple Present.
1. Anna / the window / open
→
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2. I / bread / buy
→
3. they / their pens / count
→
4. Christine / her home / decorate
→
5. it / too much / weigh
→
6. we / the game / lose
→
7. the children / on the floor / sleep
→
8. Benjamin / the rules / break
→
9. you / the sentence / understand
→
10. they / trees / plant
→
Exercise on Present Progressive
Form positive sentences in Present Progressive.
1. we / in the mountains / walk
→
2. I / a magazine / read
→
3. we / her / an apple / give
→
4. she / in a play / act
→
5. the teacher / our homework / check
→
6. my crush / at me / smile
→
7. you / English / speak
→
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8. your father / a lorry / drive
→
9. Jamie / the race / win
→
10. the boss / the contracts / sign
Level 3 Form positive sentences in Present Progressive.
1. you / a question / ask
→
2. the dog / bark
→
3. she / a bag / carry
→
4. she / home / walk
→
5. they / their mum / thank
→
6. my crush / at me / smile
→
7. we / tea / drink
→
8. they / their furniture / sell
→
9. Katy / a lot of money / spend
→
10. the passengers / panic
→
Exercise on Simple Past
Form positive sentences in Simple Past.
1. the dog / bark
→
2. you / high / jump
→
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3. You / a song / sing
→
4. Eric / his homework / forget
→
5. he / cash / pay
→
6. she / her room / tidy
→
7. she / the chapter / copy
→
8. we / the numbers / divide
→
9. he / his girlfriend / marry
→
10. she / the word / underline
Check answ ers
Level 4 Form positive sentences in Simple Past.
1. you / high / jump
→
2. Albert / squash / play
→
3. you / thirsty / be
→
4. he / to school / go
→
5. they / their calculators / use
→
6. she / my mistakes / correct
→
7. I / my point of view / defend
→
8. the snowman / in the sun / melt
→
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9. he / to our question / refer
→
10. his nose / bleed
→
Exercise on Past Progressive
Form positive sentences in Past Progressive.
1. you / a question / ask
→
2. you / cards / play
→
3. it /rain
→
4. Betty / her best / do
→
5. I / a magazine / read
→
6. she / on a chair / sit
→
7. your father / a lorry / drive
→
8. he / a blue shirt / wear
→
9. We / our holidays / enjoy
→
10. the child / behind the tree / hide
Form positive sentences in Present Perfect Simple.
1. Greg / the ball / kick
→
2. you / in the garden / work
→
3. you / thirsty / be
→
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4. we / fish / eat
→
5. they / their calculators / use
→
6. we / the game / lose
→
7. he / his leg / hurt
→
8. she / a friend / phone
→
9. Harry / trouble / cause
→
10. they / a new gadget / invent
→
Form positive sentences in Present Perfect Simple.
1. they / us / call
→
2. you / a box / carry
→
3. you / cards / play
→
4. you / the house / see
→
5. she / on a chair / sit
→
6. she / in a play / act
→
7. Amelie / the door / close
→
8. you / early / wake up
→
9. she / poems / write
→
10. he / his job / quit
→
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Exercise on Past Perfect Simple
Form positive sentences in Past Perfect Simple.
1. they / us / call
→
2. we / her / an apple / give
→
3. the dinner / a fortune / cost
→
4. he / cash / pay
→
5. Henry / houses / build
→
6. we / the numbers / divide
→
7. they / computers / order
→
8. the secretary / the documents / print out
→
9. he / his goals / reach
→
10. they / to my question / react
→
Form positive sentences in Past Perfect Simple.
1. John / money / collect
→
2. we / the door / open
→
3. she / in a play / act
→
4. the policeman / the thief / arrest
→
5. she / her teeth / brush
→
6. it / too much / weigh
→
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7. she / in London / teach
→
8. Jim / his head / cover
→
9. the secretary / the documents / print out
→
10. the girl / out of the house / creep
→
