Present perfect vs past simple

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Today, Malala has already become one of the most recognised voices for education worldwide. She has lived in Birmingham for over a decade. She has visited Pakistan several times since 2018, but she has not yet returned to Swat to live.

Grammar Reference · Present perfect vs past simple

Past simple

She left Pakistan in 2012. — finished event, specific time

Present perfect

She has lived in Birmingham for over a decade. — still true now

The key contrast

She graduated in 2020. She has not returned to Swat yet. — past vs now

Common error

She has left in 2012. ✗ → She left in 2012. ✓ — use past simple with specific time

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Present perfect vs past simple

1.She (leave) Pakistan when she was fifteen years old.

2.Malala (visit) Pakistan several times since 2018.

3.He (not / return) to his hometown yet.

4.They (feel) a strong sense of loss when they first arrived abroad.

5.She (live) in her adopted country for over ten years.

6.He (graduate) from university in 2019 and then moved to Canada.

02Exercise 2 — Find and Correct the Error

find the error · rewrite the sentence

1.She has moved to Birmingham in 2012.

2.He lived here since he was a child.

3.I didn't meet her yet.

4.They have arrived three years ago.

5.She already adapted to her new country last year.

6.We have graduated in 2020 and started working immediately.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Present perfect vs past simple01EnglishPlans.com