Past Simple
I spoke ("_ed" ending or 2rd column of the irregular verb list).
Negative: I DIDN'T speak (short for DID NOT, main verb is infinitive -1st column-).
Question: DID you speak?
It's used for actions you did once in the past, often saying WHEN you did them.
It usually comes with the following adverbs:
This morning, yesterday, last + night/week/month/summer/year, ...
In + any period of time in the past: In January, in 2010, in the 90s, ...
Also commonly used in relative clauses (= small phrase within a longer sentence).
Present Perfect
I HAVE spokEN ("_ed" ending or 3rd column of the irregular verb list).
Negative: I HAVEN'T spoken (short for HAVE NOT).
Question: HAVE you spoken?
It's used for actions you've EVER done in your life. We don't say WHEN exactly we did them.
It usually comes with the following adverbs:
Never, for, already, not yet, since, twice, many times, until now ...
Also commonly used for breaking news or making announcements.
Examples
I told you last time we met (WHEN?: last time we met).
I'VE told you many times (not saying exactly WHEN).
She lived in India in the 90s (WHEN?: in the 90s).
She'S lived in India since the 90s (saying HOW LONG but not WHEN).
Exercise on Past Simple and Present Perfect
Use the verb in brackets to fill the blanks using the right tense. Key answers below.I think I __________ (see, never) any of his films.
We __________ (not talk) to each other since we __________ (have) that argument.
I __________ (be) to Italy a couple of times, once to Rome and once to Milan.
Unfortunately, we __________ (not find) a nice apartment yet.
Arthur __________ (do) a road trip all across Thailand last summer.
I __________ (go) shopping on Sunday, but all the shops __________ (be) closed.
How many times __________ (I tell) you to clean the tub after you have a shower?
When __________ (be) the last time you __________ (do) something crazy?
Ms Richards __________ (found) the company in the early 2000s.
I __________ (join) the team in September, but __________ (not play) any game yet.
The alarm __________ (go) off when the burglars __________ (break) into the shop.
I __________ (live) in France five years ago, but I __________ (not speak) French ever since.
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Answers to the exercise
I think I have never seen any of his films.
We haven't talked to each other since we had that argument.
I've been to Italy a couple of times, once to Rome and once to Milan.
Unfortunately, we haven't found a nice apartment yet.
Arthur did a road trip all across Thailand last summer.
I went shopping on Sunday, but all the shops were closed.
How many times have I told you to clean the tub after you have a shower?
When was the last time you did something crazy?
Ms Richards founded the company in the early 2000s.
I joined the team in September, but haven't played any game yet.
The alarm went off when the burglars broke into the shop.
I lived in France five years ago, but I haven't spoken French ever since.
