Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
1.- Complete the passage below, using the correct form of the verbs in brackets (present perfect or simple past):
The Olympic Games The original Olympic Games 1____________________ (begin) around 800 BC in Ancient Greece and 2____________________ (continue) until they 3 ____________________ (be) abolished by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in AD 393. The first modern Olympics 4____________________ (take) place in Athens in 1896, and since then, more than a dozen different countries 5 ____________________ (stage) the Summer Olympics. The cities of Paris, London, Berlin and Los Angeles 6____________________ (stage) the Olympics twice. In 1956, Australia 7____________________ (become) the first country outside Europe and America to stage the Olympics, while Mexico 8 ____________________ (be) the first Latin American country to stage the Olympics in 1968. Many of the greatest athletes in the world 9____________________ (take) part in the Olympic Games, but no one 10____________________ (equal) the achievements of the great Finnish athlete, Paavo Nurmi, who between 1920 and 1928 11____________________ (win) nine gold medals and three silver medals. The Olympic Games 12____________________ (see) many tragedies and triumphs. For example, in the marathon of 1908, the little Italian Dorando Pietri 13 ____________________ (collapse) five times in the last part of the race, but 14 ____________________ (come) first –only to be disqualified because spectators 15____________________ (help) him over the finishing line. And in 1936, the famous black American athlete Jesse Owens 16____________________ (break) six world records in a single day! From the first modern Olympics in Athens, when only fourteen countries 17 ____________________ (participate), the Olympics 18____________________ (grow) to include over 140 countries. Gold, silver and bronze medals 19 ____________________ (go) to over 8,000 men and women. (From ADAMSON, D. (1997) Practise your Tenses, Longman, p. 28)
2.- Mike Skidmore designs company magazines, brochures, and many other products. Complete the text about him. Write the past simple or the present perfect form of the verbs in brackets:
A SUCCESS STORY Skidmore Turnbill Design b e g a n (begin) business with four staff in a small office in London in 1989. Mike Skidmore _______________ (form) a partnership with an old friend and colleague, Mark Turnbull. Skidmore _____________ (bring) the design ideas to the business and Turnbull ____________(provide) the business skills. They ____________ (start) their company during the bad economic recession from 1989 to 1993, but they ______________ (get) through those difficult years well. Now, they ________________ (develop) into one of the most popular design studios in London. They _______________ (move) offices twice as they ______________ (grow). Today, their annual turnover ______________ (increase) from nothing in 1989 to around 3 million pounds.
(Adopted from International Express. Pre-intermediate. Workbook)
3.- Put in the verbs from the boxes (simple past or present perfect): Not be Be
Happen Buy
Have Change
Lose Have
Not pass Open
Pass Spend
Last year ___________ a good year for Pete and Sonia. Pete ___________ a car accident and ____________ a month in hospital, Sonia _____________ her job, the children ____________ their school exams, and a lot of other bad things ___________. This year __________ much better. Pete ___________ his job, and is making much more money. They ___________ a new house. Sonia _____________ a small restaurant, and it´s going very well. They ___________ a baby. And the other children ____________ all their exams this time. (Adapted from The Good Grammar Book)
4.- Joe is calling Maria. Complete their conversation with the correct form of the verbs in brackets and with short answers. Choose between the present perfect and the past simple: JOE: MARIA: JOE: MARIA: JOE: MARIA: JOE: MARIA:
Hi, Maria. ……(1) (you / finish) that report yesterday? No, I ……(2). I´m still writing it and I ……(3) (not stop) worrying about it all week. Apart from that, How ………(4) (the week / be) so far? OK, I suppose. I´m a bit tired. I ……(5) (sleep) for a few hours last night. It sounds as if you ………(6) (not have) much rest this week. Don´t worry, I´ll come back tomorrow. OK, but I´ll still have to work. Last time you came I ……(7) (not do) any work. That´s true, but it ……(8) (not bother) us at all, remember? Listen, why don´t you relax now? ………(9) (you / try) that special herbal tea yet? Yes, I ……(10). In fact, I ……(11) (already / drink) five cups so far today and it´s only 3 o´clock. Yesterday I ……(12) (drink) at least three cups.
1.4.7.10.(Adapted from Grammar Express)
2.5.8.11.-
3.6.9.12.-