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Past Simple And Present Perfect Exercises (A2-B1)

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: A2, B1 📚 Type: Grammar ⭐ XP: up to +15 (on pass)

The fastest way to learn is from your mistakes. Try these 15 Past Simple And Present Perfect exercises at Level A2-B1 and read the explanation for every question — especially the ones you get wrong. Each explanation names the specific rule so you know exactly what to review.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: She ___ her keys yesterday and couldn't get in.

Question 1 options
'Lost' is correct because 'yesterday' is a definite past time marker, which requires the past simple tense. 'Has lost', 'have lost', and 'is losing' are incorrect because they either use the present perfect or present continuous, neither of which goes with 'yesterday'.
Q2 15

Question 2: I ___ never been to Canada before this trip.

Question 2 options
'Have' is correct because 'never' is a present perfect time marker and the structure 'have/has + never + past participle' forms the present perfect tense. 'Did', 'was', and 'had' do not form the present perfect with 'never been'.
Q3 15

Question 3: The past simple tense is used when the exact time of a past action is known or stated.

Question 3 options
True because the past simple refers to a definite, finished time in the past. When a specific time expression like 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'in 2005' is given, the past simple is required.
Q4 15

Question 4: Which situation correctly uses the present perfect tense?

Question 4 options
'She has lived in Paris since 2015' is correct because 'since 2015' shows an action that started in the past and continues to now, which is a key use of the present perfect. The other options describe completed actions with specific past times, which require the past simple.
Q5 15

Question 5: Arrange the words to make a correct sentence:

Question 5 options
  • the project
  • have already
  • They
  • finished

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'They have already finished the project' because the present perfect is formed with 'have' + past participle, and 'already' is placed between 'have' and the past participle.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Question 6 options
'I have just received your message' is correct because 'just' is a present perfect time marker and requires 'have/has + past participle'. The other options incorrectly pair 'just' with past simple, or use 'received' without a correct auxiliary.
Q7 15

Question 7: Tom: 'Do you want to see this film?' Anna: 'No thanks. I ___ it twice already this month.'

Question 7 options
'Have seen' is correct because 'already this month' describes an unfinished time period (the month is not over), which requires the present perfect. 'Saw', 'did see', and 'was seeing' are either past simple or past continuous, which are incorrect here.
Q8 15

Question 8: Which sentence correctly uses the past simple (not the present perfect)?

Question 8 options
'She graduated from university in 2019' is correct because 'in 2019' is a specific, finished past time that requires the past simple. The other options use 'yet', 'ever', or 'since', which are present perfect markers.
Q9 15

Question 9: Put the words in the correct order:

Question 9 options
  • the museum
  • visit
  • last Monday
  • Did you

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order is 'Did you visit the museum last Monday?' because past simple questions begin with 'Did' + subject + base verb, and 'last Monday' is a specific past time expression.
Q10 15

Question 10: We ___ for this company for ten years, and we still work here today.

Question 10 options
'Have worked' is correct because the sentence describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present ('still work here today'), which is expressed by the present perfect. 'Worked' suggests a finished action, while 'are working' and 'work' do not describe the duration from past to present.
Q11 15

Question 11: Which statement about the present perfect tense is true?

Question 11 options
The present perfect connects a past action to the present — either the action happened at an unspecified time or it continues into now. It is not used with specific past time markers like 'yesterday' or 'in 2005', which belong to the past simple.
Q12 15

Question 12: Rewrite in the present perfect: 'She visited Rome.' → She ___ Rome.

Question 12 options
'Has visited' is correct because the present perfect is formed with 'has' (third person singular) + past participle. 'Have visited' uses the wrong auxiliary for third person singular, 'visited' is past simple, and 'has visit' is missing the past participle form.
Q13 15

Question 13: Match each sentence to the correct grammar label.

Question 13 options
I have never eaten Thai food.
She called her mother last night.
He has worked at the bank since 2018.
They moved to this city two years ago.
Past simple with a definite time
Present perfect for unfinished duration
Past simple with 'ago'
Present perfect for experience

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Past simple is used for finished actions with a definite time. Present perfect is used for experience, actions continuing to the present, or actions with 'just/already/yet'.
Q14 15

Question 14: The time word 'for' can be used with both the past simple and the present perfect tense.

Question 14 options
True because 'for' can appear in both tenses. With the past simple, 'for' describes a completed period: 'She lived there for two years.' With the present perfect, 'for' describes an ongoing period: 'She has lived there for two years.'
Q15 15

Question 15: A friend asks about your travel experience. Which sentence is most natural to use?

Question 15 options
'I have been to Japan three times' is correct because when talking about general life experience without a specific time, the present perfect is used. 'I went to Japan three times' is less natural here as it implies a specific, closed period rather than a general life experience.