English Grammar Course English Grammar Course Unit 20: Present perfect Tense (I have done) or Simple past Tense (I did)

Incorrect. Who wrote the Hamlet? The Hamlet was written sometime in the 16th century and therefore the sentence should be used in past tense. Has written is the present perfect and is incorrect.

Incorrect. Aristotle was a Greek Philosopher. We use was since this Aristotle was from a different century and it has no connection to the present. Therefore has been is wrong since it is the present perfect.

Incorrect. We use I have cut my finger to say that the cut happened just now.Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense had.

Incorrect.We use the past tense got married to say that the marriage happened in the past. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present tense get married.

Incorrect. Einstein was the physicist who developed the theory of relativity. We use  developed to say that it was done in the past.  Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses has developed which is the present perfect.

Incorrect. Abraham Lincoln was President of the U.S. from 1861 to 1865. This is an event from the past and the past tense has been used. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses has been. Has been is used for something that continues up to the present.

Incorrect. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867. This is an event from the past and the past tense has been used. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present perfect has bought. Has bought should be used only for something that continues up to the present.

Incorrect. Jill bought a new car two weeks ago, is correct since it is in the past tense. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses buyed. Buy is the present tense and is an irregular verb which means that the past tense does not end with ed.

Incorrect. Did you visit many museums when you were in Paris? This was in the past and did you visit  is correct. Therefore have you visited is wrong since it is the present perfect.

Incorrect. ‘When  did you give up smoking?’ is correct since it uses the past tense did you. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses ‘When have you given up smoking?’ which is the present perfect.

Incorrect. My bicycle isn’t here. Somebody has taken it, is correct since it is a recent happening and it uses the present perfect. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past present perfect tense.

Incorrect.I didn’t eat anything yesterday because I wasn’t hungry, is correct since it uses the past tense. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present perfect for an event from the past.

Incorrect. I have been sick twice this year is the right answer since it uses the present perfect.  Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses past perfect had been.

Incorrect. How many times were you sick this year? We use the past tense for something that happened some time back. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present perfect.

Incorrect. ‘I have not drunk any coffee so far today.’ We use the present perfect tense have not done for something that continues up to the present. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses present perfect continuous tense have not been drinking.

Incorrect. He was late three times this week. The past tense was is used since it happened during the course of the week and not today. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses has been. Has been should be used only for a period of time that continues up to present.

Incorrect. ‘How many games did the team win last season?’ This is an event from the past and the past tense has been used. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present perfect has won. It should be used only when something continues upto the present.

Incorrect. ‘How many games has the team won so far?’ Has been is used if something continues upto the present.  Please note that so far means until now. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense did they win.

Incorrect. ‘Mr. Clark worked in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.’ The past tense is used since this is an event from the past. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the present perfect  has worked.

Correct. George lives in Athens. He has lived there all his life. We use has done to talk about something that continues upto the present. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense lived.

Incorrect. Bob and Alice are married. They have been married for 20 years. We use  have done to talk about something that continues upto the present. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses were.

Incorrect. ‘When we were on vacation, the weather was terrible’. We use the past tense for something that happened in the past. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses has been which is to be used only if the situation continues upto the present.

Incorrect. The weather  has been very nice lately. We use has been for something that continues upto the present. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense was.

Incorrect. My grandfather died 30 years ago. I never met him. We use the past tense for events that are from the past. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it  uses the present perfect have never met.

Incorrect. I don’t know Carol’s husband. I have never met him. We use have done for something that continues upto the present. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense never met.