Past Simple vs Present Perfect – B1 Grammar Test
This B1 grammar test helps you understand the difference between past simple and present perfect.
Choose the correct answer.
RESULTS
#1. I ___ this movie before.
#2. She ___ to Paris last year.
#3. We ___ our homework an hour ago.
#4. He ___ never ___ sushi before.
#5. They ___ in this city since 2018.
#6. I ___ my keys. I can’t find them.
#7. She ___ her job two months ago.
#8. We ___ already ___ dinner.
#9. He ___ to London three times.
#10. I ___ him yesterday.
#11. They ___ each other for ten years.
#12. She ___ just ___ the report.
#13. We ___ a lot of changes recently.
#14. He ___ abroad when he was a student.
#15. I ___ never ___ such a beautiful place
#16. She ___ here for five years.
#17. They ___ the project last week.
#18. We ___ already ___ the tickets.
#19. He ___ since this morning.
#20. I ___ that book when I was a child.
✅ Answer Key with VERY DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
🧠 Golden Rule First (Very Important)
Past Simple → finished time in the past
(yesterday, last year, ago, in 2010)Present Perfect → experience, result now, unfinished time
(ever, never, already, just, since, for)
1. I have seen this movie before.
Correct: b) have seen
Why:
“Before” + life experience → present perfect.
Time is not specific.
❌ saw → needs a finished time (yesterday, last night)
2. She went to Paris last year.
Correct: b) went
Why:
“Last year” = finished past time → past simple.
3. We finished our homework an hour ago.
Correct: b) finished
Why:
“An hour ago” → clear past point → past simple.
4. He has never eaten sushi before.
Correct: b) has / eaten
Why:
“Never” + life experience → present perfect.
5. They have lived in this city since 2018.
Correct: c) have lived
Why:
“Since 2018” → started in the past, continues now.
6. I have lost my keys. I can’t find them.
Correct: b) have lost
Why:
The result is now (keys are missing).
7. She changed her job two months ago.
Correct: b) changed
Why:
“Two months ago” → past simple.
8. We have already eaten dinner.
Correct: b) have / eaten
Why:
“Already” → present perfect.
9. He has been to London three times.
Correct: c) has been
Why:
has been to = experience (visited and returned).
has gone to = went and is still there.
10. I met him yesterday.
Correct: b) met
Why:
“Yesterday” → finished past → past simple.
11. They have known each other for ten years.
Correct: c) have known
Why:
“Know” is a state verb + “for” → present perfect.
12. She has just finished the report.
Correct: b) has / finished
Why:
“Just” = very recent → present perfect.
13. We have made a lot of changes recently.
Correct: b) have made
Why:
“Recently” → unfinished time.
14. He lived abroad when he was a student.
Correct: b) lived
Why:
“When he was a student” = finished past period.
15. I have never seen such a beautiful place.
Correct: b) have / seen
Why:
“Never” + life experience → present perfect.
16. She has worked here for five years.
Correct: c) has worked
Why:
“For five years” → still true now.
17. They completed the project last week.
Correct: a) completed
Why:
“Last week” → past simple.
18. We have already bought the tickets.
Correct: b) have / bought
Why:
“Already” → present perfect.
19. He has worked since this morning.
Correct: c) has worked
Why:
“Since this morning” → past → now connection.
20. I read that book when I was a child.
Correct: b) read
Why:
“When I was a child” → finished past.
