Page 75 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

fM finished actions: present perfect or simple past?
Level

PRESENT PERFECT: WE THINK ABOUT THE PAST AND THE PRESENTTOGETHER
When we think about the past and present together, we normally use
the present perfect.

I've written to John, so he knows what's happening now.
I've made a cake. Would you like some?
Look - I've bought a new dress.

FINISHED ACTION PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT
letter (yesterday) I've written to John. ■<------------------------ John knows now.
cake (this morning) I've made a cake. Would you like some ? I'm offering you some now.
new dress (last Tuesday) Look - I've bought a new dress. < I'm showing you now.

SIMPLE PAST: WE THINK ONLY ABOUT THE PAST, NOTTHE PRESENT
When we think only about the past, we most often use the simple past.

My grandfather wrote me a lot of letters.
(He's dead now; I'm not thinking about the present.)
I made a cake for the children, but they didn't like it.
(I'm not talking about the present.)
I bought a new dress last Tuesday, for the party. NOW
(I'm thinking only about lastTuesday.)

Read the sentences and the questions, and circle the correct answers.

► Ann has bought a new coat. Has she got the coat now? YES / PERHAPS

► Grandma came to stay with us. Is Grandma with us now? YES / pr o babl y no t
1 I made a cup of tea. Is there tea now? YES/PROBABLY NOT

2 Eric has made a cake. Is there a cake now? YES / PROBABLY NOT
3 Jane went to France. Is she there now? YES/DON'T KNOW

4 Marlon has gone to Scotland. Is he there now? YES/DON'T KNOW
5 Pat and Al started a business. Is the business still running? YES / DON'T KNOW
6 Sue has started guitar lessons. Is she taking lessons now? YES / DON'T KNOW
7 The cat has run away. Is the cat at home now? NO/DON'T kn o w
8 The doctor sent Bill into hospital. Is he there now? YES/DON'T KNOW
9 Pete lost his glasses. Has he got his glasses now? no /DON'T kn o w
10 Joanna has cut all her hair off. Has she got any hair now? NO/DON'T KNOW

Q Circle the correct verb forms.
1 Shakespeare never travelled/ has never travelled in Africa.
2 When I was at school I studied/ have studied Latin.
3 Rob lost/has lost his job, and he can't find another one.
4 We met/have met some very interesting people on our last holiday.

5 Look - I bought/'ve bought some new shoes.
6 My grandmother left/has left school at 14.
7 'Does your father know you're back in England?' 'Yes, I told/'ve told him.
8 I made/'ve made mushroom soup. Would you like some?
9 'What's Rosie's phone number?' 'Sorry, I forgot/'ve forgotten!
10 Who built/has built Edinburgh Castle?

60 PERFECT TENSES