English Grammar & Syntax Quiz: Simple Past Vs Present Perfect
10 questions · exam conditions
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Simple Past Vs Present PerfectQuestion 1 of 10

Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and still lives there.

Which sentence correctly distinguishes the completed move from the situation that continues to the present?

Maya has moved to Lisbon in 2021 and lived there since then.
Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and lived there since then.
Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and has lived there since then.
Maya has moved to Lisbon in 2021 and has lived there since then.
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English Grammar & Syntax Quiz

English Grammar & Syntax Quiz: Simple Past Vs Present Perfect

Practice Simple Past Vs Present Perfect in English Grammar & Syntax with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Simple Past Vs Present Perfect, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for English Grammar & Syntax.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and still lives there.

Which sentence correctly distinguishes the completed move from the situation that continues to the present?

  1. Maya has moved to Lisbon in 2021 and lived there since then.
  2. Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and lived there since then.
  3. Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and has lived there since then. (correct answer)
  4. Maya has moved to Lisbon in 2021 and has lived there since then.
Explanation: When a sentence describes two separate time relationships — one action that happened at a specific point in the past and another that began then and continues now — you need to match each verb to the right tense. This question tests your ability to pair the simple past with the present perfect correctly. The move to Lisbon happened at a fixed, completed moment: 2021. Completed actions tied to a specific past time use the simple past ("moved"). Living in Lisbon, however, started in 2021 and continues into the present — that ongoing relevance to now is exactly what the present perfect ("has lived") signals. Answer C captures both relationships precisely: "Maya moved to Lisbon in 2021 and has lived there since then." Here's why the other options fail. A uses "has moved," which is a problem because the present perfect cannot pair with a specific past time marker like "2021" — saying "has moved in 2021" is grammatically wrong in standard English. It also uses simple past "lived," which implies the living is finished rather than ongoing. B uses simple past for both verbs ("moved... lived"), so "lived" suggests she no longer lives there — contradicting the meaning. D repeats A's error of pairing "has moved" with "in 2021," and though "has lived" is correct for the second clause, the first clause disqualifies the whole sentence. A useful rule to memorize: never use the present perfect with a specific finished time expression (yesterday, in 2021, last year). If the time is pinned to the past, use simple past.

Question 2

Nora is tasting sea urchin for the first time as she speaks.

Which sentence correctly expresses Nora's experience?

  1. This was the first time Nora has tasted sea urchin.
  2. This is the first time Nora tasted sea urchin.
  3. This was the first time Nora tasted sea urchin.
  4. This is the first time Nora has tasted sea urchin. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a sentence describes an experience happening right now or at the current moment, you need to match the tense of both clauses carefully. The key concept here is the present perfect tense paired with a present-tense main clause — a structure English uses to describe something occurring for the first time up to and including the present moment. Option D — "This is the first time Nora has tasted sea urchin" — is correct because the present tense "is" anchors the sentence in the current moment, and "has tasted" (present perfect) correctly signals an experience that extends from the past up to now. Since the passage tells us Nora is tasting it as she speaks, the event is happening in the present, so "is" is the right tense for the main clause. Option A fails on two counts: "was" shifts the main clause into the past, and "has tasted" creates an inconsistent tense mix — you can't use present perfect alongside a past-tense main clause in this structure. Option C uses "was" and "tasted" (simple past), which would imply the entire event is already over and being recalled later — not what the passage describes. Option B uses the correct "is" but pairs it with simple past "tasted," which is inconsistent; simple past suggests a completed, disconnected past action, whereas the present perfect "has tasted" correctly links that experience to the present moment. A useful rule of thumb: "This is the first time" always pairs with the present perfect (has/have + past participle). Memorize this structure — it's a classic tense-consistency trap on grammar exams.

Question 3

A live news report first announces a discovery and then gives the specific circumstances of that discovery.

Which version uses verb tense most effectively?

  1. Researchers discovered a new cave system. They have located its entrance during a survey last Tuesday.
  2. Researchers have discovered a new cave system. They located its entrance during a survey last Tuesday. (correct answer)
  3. Researchers discovered a new cave system. They located its entrance during a survey last Tuesday.
  4. Researchers have discovered a new cave system. They have located its entrance during a survey last Tuesday.
Explanation: When a passage moves between a general announcement and a specific past event, verb tense must signal that relationship clearly. The simple past describes a completed action at a known time, while the present perfect ("have + past participle") describes something recently completed with ongoing relevance — but crucially, it cannot pair with specific time markers like "last Tuesday." Option B handles this perfectly. "Have discovered" opens the report with present-perfect tense, signaling breaking news with immediate relevance — exactly right for a live announcement. Then "located its entrance during a survey last Tuesday" shifts to simple past, which is required because a specific time ("last Tuesday") anchors the action to a finished moment. The tenses work together to mirror the passage's two-part structure: broad announcement, then specific detail. Option A flips the logic: simple past for the announcement ("discovered") is acceptable, but "have located" paired with "last Tuesday" is a grammatical error — present perfect cannot attach to a definite past time expression. Option C uses simple past throughout, which is grammatically consistent but strategically weak. It treats both clauses as equally distant past events, losing the "live, breaking news" quality that the passage calls for in the announcement. Option D uses present perfect throughout, making "have located... last Tuesday" just as wrong as option A's version. Present perfect and specific time references are incompatible, full stop. Study tip: Anytime you see a specific time expression (yesterday, last week, in 2020), that clause must use simple past — present perfect is automatically incorrect. Use this as a quick elimination rule on tense questions.

Question 4

Leah last spoke to Omar at the conference in May. She has had no contact with him after that conversation.

Which sentence correctly combines these facts?

  1. Leah hasn't spoken to Omar since she has seen him at the conference in May.
  2. Leah didn't speak to Omar since she saw him at the conference in May.
  3. Leah didn't speak to Omar since she has seen him at the conference in May.
  4. Leah hasn't spoken to Omar since she saw him at the conference in May. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a sentence describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, English requires the present perfect tense ("has/have + past participle"). The word since is your key signal here — it marks a starting point that connects the past to now, which demands present perfect in the main clause. Option D is correct: "Leah hasn't spoken to Omar since she saw him at the conference in May." The main clause uses present perfect (hasn't spoken) because the no-contact situation began in May and is still true today. The subordinate clause after since uses simple past (saw) because that conference visit was a single, completed event at a specific moment — it doesn't stretch into the present. Now for the distractors. Option A uses present perfect in both clauses (has seen), but the subordinate clause after since should use simple past — seeing him at the conference was a one-time completed event, not an ongoing state. Option B uses simple past in the main clause (didn't speak), which implies the action is fully over and disconnected from the present. This contradicts the meaning: she still hasn't spoken to him. Option C compounds two errors — it uses simple past in the main clause (didn't speak) AND present perfect in the subordinate clause (has seen), getting both halves exactly backwards. A handy rule to remember: "since" + simple past subordinate clause → present perfect main clause. Whenever you see since connecting a past event to the present, check that the main verb is present perfect and the since-clause verb is simple past.

Question 5

The current audit began in January and is not finished. A separate audit was completed in 2023.

Which sentence correctly reports findings from both audits?

  1. The current audit found three errors so far, while the 2023 audit has identified only one.
  2. The current audit found three errors so far, while the 2023 audit identified only one.
  3. The current audit has found three errors so far, while the 2023 audit identified only one. (correct answer)
  4. The current audit has found three errors so far, while the 2023 audit has identified only one.
Explanation: When a question asks you to report findings from multiple events, your first move should be to identify the tense each event requires. The key question is: Is this action complete, or is it still ongoing? Here's the rule: use the simple past ("identified," "found") for actions that are fully complete at a defined point in time. Use the present perfect ("has found," "has identified") for actions that began in the past but connect to the present — either because they're ongoing or their results still matter now. In this passage, the current audit began in January and is not finished — its findings are still accumulating. That calls for present perfect: "has found." The 2023 audit, by contrast, was completed in 2023 — it's fully done, a closed event in the past. That calls for simple past: "identified." Option C applies exactly this logic, making it the correct answer. A is wrong on both counts: it uses simple past ("found") for the ongoing audit and present perfect ("has identified") for the completed one — precisely backwards. B gets the 2023 audit right ("identified") but incorrectly uses simple past ("found") for the current, still-active audit, ignoring that its findings are ongoing. D gets the current audit right ("has found") but misapplies present perfect ("has identified") to the 2023 audit, which was completed at a fixed past time and needs simple past. A quick strategy: scan for time markers like "completed," "finished," or specific past years — they signal simple past. Words like "ongoing," "still," or "not yet" signal present perfect.

Question 6

The application portal closed permanently at noon on Friday. On Monday, an administrator reviewed the submissions that had arrived before the closure.

Which sentence should the administrator use to report the final result?

  1. We haven't received an application from Chen before the portal closed on Friday.
  2. We haven't received an application from Chen during the period ending Friday at noon.
  3. We didn't receive an application from Chen before the portal closed on Friday. (correct answer)
  4. We didn't receive an application from Chen since the portal closed permanently on Friday.
Explanation: When choosing a verb tense, always ask two questions: Is this time period still open or permanently closed? And does the sentence logically connect a past event to the present? These questions cut straight to the heart of this problem. The portal closed permanently on Friday, and the administrator is reporting on Monday. Because the submission window is definitively over — a completed, bounded event in the past — you need simple past tense ("didn't receive"). The report describes what happened within a closed time frame, with no ongoing relevance to the present moment. That reasoning confirms C as the correct answer: "We didn't receive an application from Chen before the portal closed on Friday" is factual, tense-appropriate, and logically precise. A fails because "haven't received" is present perfect tense, which implies the time period is still open or that a past event still has present consequences. Since the portal is permanently closed, there's no ongoing window — present perfect is grammatically inappropriate here. B makes the same present-perfect mistake ("haven't received"), and its phrasing "during the period ending Friday at noon" is awkwardly indirect when the passage already gives you a clear, natural reference point. D uses correct simple past ("didn't receive") but pairs it with "since the portal closed," which is a trap: "since" typically anchors present-perfect constructions and implies an ongoing period from a past point until now — the opposite of what you want for a permanently closed event. Your takeaway: present perfect = open or ongoing relevance; simple past = closed, finished timeframe. When a deadline is described as permanent or definitively past, default to simple past.

Question 7

The committee met yesterday from 2:00 to 4:00. A reporter is now asking whether the members approved the revised policy during that meeting.

Which question is most appropriate in this context?

  1. Did the committee approve the revised policy at yesterday's meeting? (correct answer)
  2. Has the committee approved the revised policy at yesterday's meeting?
  3. Did the committee approved the revised policy at yesterday's meeting?
  4. Has the committee approve the revised policy at yesterday's meeting?
Explanation: When choosing between simple past and present perfect, the key question is: does the sentence reference a specific, completed time in the past? If yes, simple past is required. Present perfect is used for actions connected to the present — when no specific past time is mentioned. Here, the context makes everything clear: the meeting happened yesterday, a definite, finished point in time. That single detail tells you the simple past tense is the right tool. Option A — "Did the committee approve the revised policy at yesterday's meeting?" — uses the simple past correctly. The auxiliary did pairs with the base form approve, forming a grammatically sound yes/no question. Now let's break down why the others fail. B uses has approved, which is present perfect. Present perfect cannot coexist with a specific past time expression like "yesterday's meeting" — this is one of the most tested grammar rules. The phrase "at yesterday's meeting" anchors the action in finished past time, making present perfect grammatically illegal here. C keeps the correct auxiliary did but incorrectly pairs it with approved (the past participle/simple past form) instead of the base form approve. In questions with did, the main verb must always be in its base form. D compounds two errors: it uses present perfect auxiliary has while also dropping the past participle — approve instead of approved — making it doubly wrong. Study tip: Whenever you see a specific past time marker (yesterday, last week, in 2005), that's your signal to use simple past — and eliminate any present perfect options immediately.

Question 8

During an interview, the host asks a living architect about her experience at any time up to the present. The architect answers by naming one specific trip.

Which exchange uses the simple past and present perfect appropriately?

  1. "Did you ever visit Brasília?" "Yes, I have gone there in 2019."
  2. "Have you ever visited Brasília?" "Yes, I went there in 2019." (correct answer)
  3. "Have you ever visited Brasília?" "Yes, I have gone there in 2019."
  4. "Did you ever visit Brasília?" "Yes, I went there since 2019."
Explanation: When choosing between the simple past and present perfect, the key question is: does the sentence include a specific point in time? The present perfect ("have/has + past participle") describes experiences or actions connected to the present without pinning them to an exact moment. The simple past, by contrast, is required whenever a specific time is mentioned — a year, a date, "last week," etc. In this exchange, the host is asking about the architect's lifetime experience up to now — an open, unfinished time window — so the question naturally calls for the present perfect: "Have you ever visited Brasília?" However, the architect's answer names a precise year (2019), which immediately closes that open window and forces the simple past: "Yes, I went there in 2019." That combination makes B the correct answer — each tense is doing exactly the job it was designed for. Looking at the distractors: A gets the question right ("Did you ever visit") — actually wrong, since asking about lifetime experience up to now requires present perfect — and then compounds the error with "I have gone there in 2019," which illegally pairs the present perfect with a fixed past date. C uses the correct question form but repeats that same tense error in the answer, attaching the present perfect to the specific year 2019. D correctly uses simple past in the answer ("I went"), but the question "Did you ever visit" is again inappropriate for an open-ended lifetime inquiry, and "since 2019" is grammatically incompatible with simple past. A reliable rule of thumb: spot the time expression first. A specific year or date → simple past. An open period like "ever," "lately," or "in your life" → present perfect.

Question 9

The historian is describing the career of a novelist who died in 1986.

Which sentence most appropriately completes the historian's account?

  1. During her career, the novelist has published twelve books and has won two national awards.
  2. During her career, the novelist published twelve books and won two national awards. (correct answer)
  3. During her career, the novelist has published twelve books and won two national awards.
  4. During her career, the novelist published twelve books and has won two national awards.
Explanation: When a question tests verb tense consistency, your first move should be to establish the timeline. Ask yourself: is the subject still alive? Are the events ongoing or completed? These questions unlock the right tense every time. Here, the novelist died in 1986. That single fact is decisive. Because her life and career are fully concluded, all verbs describing her accomplishments must use the simple past tense — not the present perfect. The present perfect ("has published," "has won") signals a connection to the present: either the action continues or its effects are still unfolding. But a person who died decades ago has no ongoing connection to the present. Her career is a closed chapter, so simple past is the only appropriate choice. Answer B uses "published" and "won" — both simple past, both consistent — making it the correct answer. Answer A uses "has published" and "has won," applying present perfect to both verbs. This implies the novelist is still actively connected to the present, which contradicts the fact of her death. Answer C mixes simple past ("published") with present perfect ("has won"), creating an illogical inconsistency — as if one award still carries present relevance while the other doesn't. Answer D commits the same mixing error in reverse: "published" (simple past) sits alongside "has won" (present perfect), again treating the two accomplishments as if they belong to different time frames. Both C and D reflect a common trap: partial correction that leaves one verb wrong. Your takeaway: always identify whether the subject is living or deceased before choosing tense. For deceased subjects, simple past is required across all verbs in the sentence — no mixing allowed.

Question 10

The first sentence refers to the ten-year period ending today. The second refers to a different ten-year period that ended in 2015.

Which pair of sentences correctly reflects the two time periods?

  1. Housing costs have risen sharply over the past decade. They rose more slowly during the decade that ended in 2015. (correct answer)
  2. Housing costs rose sharply over the past decade. They have risen more slowly during the decade that ended in 2015.
  3. Housing costs have risen sharply over the past decade. They have risen more slowly during the decade that ended in 2015.
  4. Housing costs rose sharply over the past decade. They rose more slowly during the decade that ended in 2015.
Explanation: When choosing between simple past and present perfect, ask yourself: does the time period connect to right now, or is it entirely in the past? Present perfect ("have risen") signals a connection to the present — it's used for actions whose time frame extends up to or includes the current moment. Simple past ("rose") signals a completed action in a fully closed time period. Here, the first sentence describes the decade ending today — a period still connected to the present moment. That calls for present perfect: "have risen." The second sentence describes a decade that closed in 2015 — a finished, disconnected time period. That calls for simple past: "rose." Answer A does exactly this: present perfect for the current decade, simple past for the completed one. Answer B reverses the tenses — it uses simple past for the present-connected period and present perfect for the closed one, which is backwards. Answer C uses present perfect for both sentences, incorrectly treating the 2015-ended decade as though it's still connected to the present. Answer D uses simple past for both, ignoring that the first decade runs through today and still requires present perfect. A useful rule of thumb: if a time expression like "in 2015" or "last century" signals a closed, specific point in the past, use simple past. If the period is described as ongoing through now — "over the past decade," "this year," "recently" — use present perfect. Watch for traps where a sentence sounds like it should use present perfect but includes a completed timestamp, or vice versa.