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 of
another action 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?
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.
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
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 every He plays football every He will / is going to play
once, never or several Tuesday. Tuesday. football every Tuesday.
times
actions that happen one He played football and He plays football and then He will play football and
after another then he went home. he goes home. 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 football. He is playing football. He will be playing
moment football.
actions taking place at He was playing football He is playing football and He will be playing football
the same time and she was watching. she is watching. and she will be watching.

Past Perfect Simple Present Perfect Simple Future II Simple

action taking place before He had won five matches He has won five matches He will have won five
a certain moment in time; until that day. so far. matches by then.
emphasises the result

Past Perfect Present Perfect Future II Progressive

Progressive Progressive

action taking place before He had been playing He has been playing He will have been playing
a certain moment in time football for ten years. football for ten years. football for ten years.
(and beyond), emphasises
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 times
another action 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).

1. I (not / work) today.

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.

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. -

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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