Past Simple and Perfect Tense Quiz

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from: English Page

for - since - ago

For - since - ago are used to talk about time
For is used to say how long an action or situation lasts.



*For is used with the Present Perfect :


- I have been waiting at the bus stop for 10 minutes.

- I have lived in this country for 10 years.



*For can also be used with other tenses :


- Present : I go on holidays for two weeks every year in the summer.

- Past : When I was sixteen, I stayed in London for two months.

- Future : During my trip to California next month, I will be in San Diego for two days.



Since is used to refer to the starting point of actions or situations.

It is generally used with the Present Perfect.


* I have been waiting for the bus since 8 o'clock.

* I live in Tokyo. I have lived in Tokyo since September 2000.


Ago is used to say when past events happened, going back from today towards the past.


* I came to Tokyo three years ago.

* I arrived at the bus stop ten minutes ago.

* I visited New York two years ago.

from: Learn English Today

Present Perfect Tense 1-2

Present Perfect Simple

Affirmative

I have done

You have done

He/she/is has done

We have done

They have done

You have done

Negative

Long Form Contracted Form

I have not done I haven't done

You have not done You haven't done

He/she/it has not done He/she/it hasn't done

We have not done We haven't done

You have not done You haven't done

They have not done They haven't done

Interrogative

Have I done?

Have you done?

Has he/she/it done?

Have we done?

Have you done?

Have they done?

from: LEARN ENGLISH TODAY

Perfect Present - Past Simple

(I have finished) (I finished)

When do we use them?

PRESENT PERFECT

The Present Perfect is used to link the present and the past.

The Present Perfect is used :

1. To talk about an action which started in the past and continues today.

For and since are used to express duration.

◊ I have lived here for 10 years. I have lived here since 1998.

(I arrived here 10 years ago and I am still here.)

2. To refer to past events in an unfinished period of time :

◊ I have written two letters today.

(Two letters are written but today is not finished.)

3. To talk about recent events that have just happened or been announced :

◊ There has been a plane crash near the coast.

(We know the event took place but we don't know when.)

4. To talk about a past action with a result in the present :

◊ I've broken my arm. I can't drive. (= because my arm is broken now)

5. To talk and ask about experiences or accomplishments up to the time of speaking, but at no specific time.

" I'm a writer. I've written 9 books."

" Have you ever written a biography?" "No never."

PAST SIMPLE

The Past Simple is used to talk about past events which happened in a finished period of time.

The Past Simple is used :

1. When the period of time is finished :

◊ I wrote two letters yesterday.

(Yesterday is finished.)

2. When the time is mentioned, either a precise time in the past, or a time expression which clearly situates the event in the past:

◊ I lived in the country

... until the age of 6

... when I was young

... from 1985 to 1992

... before we moved to London

... a long time ago

NB : As a general rule, if you can answer the question "when?", use the Past Simple

FROM: LEARN ENGLISH TODAY