Simple Past Past Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or
several times
action taking place before a certain time in the past
actions in the past taking place one after the
other
sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive
action in the past taking place in the middle of
another action
puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course
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?
11. The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
had built
.
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) .

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

football for ten years.
Use
Simple Past Present Perfect
action in the past taking place once, never or several
times
action that stopped recently or is still going on
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
another action
action that has taken place once, never or several 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).
1. I (not / work)
have not w orked
today.
2. We (buy) a new lamp.