Pst Simple vs Present Perfect

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke	irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I worked	regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
certain time in the past Example: I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.	just / already / not yet Example: I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has happened till now?

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
certain event in the past Example: He went to Canada last summer.	whether / how often till now Example: Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
Emphasis on action Example: I bought a new bike. (just telling what I did in the past.)	Emphasis on result Example: I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ...	just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple

Exercise 1

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. A: (you / play / already)  the new computer game?
2. B: No, not yet. I only (buy)  it yesterday and I (have / not)  the time yet.
3. A: (you / go)  to the cinema last night?
4. B: Yes. I (be)  there with Sue and Louis. (you / be)  to the cinema recently?
5. A: I last (go)  to the cinema two weeks ago.
6. B: So you (see / not)  the new action film yet.
7. A: No, unfortunately not. (you / enjoy)  it?
8. B: Oh, I really (love)  it. But Sue (like / not)  it - too much action!
9. A: But why (you / take)  her with you? She (tell)  me last week that she (hate)  action films.
10. B: I think she has an eye on Louis. She (try)  to flirt with him all the time. So he (can / concentrate / not)  on the film.

Exercise 2

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. I (just / finish)  my homework.
2. Mary (already / write)  five letters.
3. Tom (move)  to this town in 1994.
4. My friend (be)  in Canada two years ago.
5. I (not / be)  to Canada so far.
6. But I (already / travel)  to London a couple of times.
7. Last week, Mary and Paul (go)  to the cinema.
8. I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy)  a new film yet.
9. (they / spend)  their holiday in New Zealand last summer?
10. (you / ever / see)  a whale?