TalkingPencil

Choose between the present perfect and the simple past in a short text

Questions in this subject are always in English
The text is what is being learned, so translating it would change the exercise. Explanations still follow your chosen language.

Follow this one with me, a step at a time. Try to guess each step first.
Worked example 1

Film club We ___ (see) this film when we were in Primary 6.

Remember: Find the time words. Do they reach up to now, or point to a finished time?

Common mistakes

  • Used a present tense for a finished event. The time in the text shows it is over.
  • Used a present tense for something that began in the past and continues. Chinese says this with a present verb; English needs has or have.
  • Used the simple past with since. Since joins the past to now, so it takes the present perfect.