Understanding the difference between the present perfect and past perfect can be challenging for English learners. In this post, you’ll try present perfect vs past perfect exercises with answers, including matching, multiple choice, gap-filling, and error correction activities.
These exercises will help you clearly see when to use have/has + past participle and when to use had + past participle.
Table of Contents
When to Use Present Perfect vs Past Perfect
Use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or that still affect the present.
Use the past perfect (had + past participle) to show that one action happened before another action in the past.
Example:
- I have finished my homework. (Present result)
- I had finished my homework before dinner. (Earlier past action)
Present Perfect vs Past Perfect Exercises
Exercise 1: Matching
Match the first part of each sentence (A) with its correct ending (B).
Some sentences are in the present perfect, others in the past perfect.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| 1. I have never 2. By the time we arrived, they had 3. She has lived in Paris 4. After he had eaten lunch, 5. We have known each other for 6. They had left 7. He has just | a. finished their homework. b. more than ten years. c. been to Japan before. d. when the rain started. e. called me. f. he went for a walk. g. since 2015. |
2. a
3. g
4. f
5. b
6. d
7. e
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct tense (present perfect or past perfect).
- She _____ the book before I called.
a) has finished
b) had finished - I _____ such a beautiful sunset.
a) have never seen
b) had never seen - They _____ when the meeting started.
a) have arrived
b) had arrived - He _____ before you came.
a) has just left
b) had just left - We _____ here since 2010.
a) have lived
b) had lived - By the time we got to the station, the train _____.
a) has left
b) had left - She _____ her phone, so she bought a new one.
a) has broken
b) had broken - She ______ the report before the manager arrived.
a) has finished
b) had finished - I ______ sushi before today.
a) have never tried
b) had never tried - By the time she decided to marry him, he ______ to Europe.
a) has emigrated
b) had emigrated - We ______ each other for more than ten years.
a) have known
b) had known - He ______ just ______ when I called him.
a) has / left
b) had / left - They ______ already ______ dinner when we arrived.
a) have / eaten
b) had / eaten - She ______ her keys, so she can’t open the door.
a) has lost
b) had lost
2. a) have never seen
3. b) had arrived
4. b) had just left
5. a) have lived
6. b) had left
7. b) had broken 8. b) had finished 9. a) have never tried 10. b) had emigrated 11. a) have known 12. b) had / left 13. b) had / eaten 14. a) has lost
Exercise 3: Gap Filling
Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or past perfect.
- I __________ (never/meet) her before today.
- She __________ (finish) the project before the deadline.
- They __________ (live) in Rome since 2018.
- We __________ (not/start) eating when the guests arrived.
- He __________ (just/leave) the office.
- By the time she called, I __________ (go) to bed.
- My parents __________ (be) to Australia twice.
2. had finished
3. have lived
4. had not started
5. has just left
6. had gone
7. have been
Exercise 4: Error Correction
Each sentence contains an error. Rewrite it correctly.
- I had saw that movie before it was released officially.
- She have finished her homework before she had dinner.
- They had already leave when I arrived.
- We has visited London twice.
- He have just gone home when I called.
- By the time we got there, the shop have closed.
- She had went to bed early last night.
2. She had finished her homework before she had dinner.
3. They had already left when I arrived.
4. We have visited London twice.
5. He had just gone home when I called.
6. By the time we got there, the shop had closed.
7. She had gone to bed early last night.
Quick Overview
2. Present Perfect
- Form: have/has + past participle
- Use: Describes actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or that affect the present.
- Example: I have visited London twice.
→ Read more about the present perfect!
2. Past Perfect
- Form: had + past participle
- Use: Describes an action that happened before another action in the past.
- Example: She had finished dinner before I arrived.
→ Read more about the Past perfect!
Key Differences
- The present perfect connects past actions to the present.
- The past perfect shows that one past action happened before another past action.
- Signal words:
- Present perfect: already, yet, ever, never, so far, just
- Past perfect: before, after, by the time, when
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Present Perfect | Past Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| Form | have/has + past participle | had + past participle |
| Main Use | Connects past actions to the present | Shows one past action happened before another past action |
| Time Reference | Unfinished time (today, this week, in my life) | Finished time (before, after, by the time) |
| Example | I have visited Paris twice. | I had visited Paris before I moved to London. |
| Signal Words | already, yet, ever, never, just, since, for | before, after, by the time, when, as soon as |
Common Mistakes
- Using past perfect without another past action.
- Confusing present perfect with simple past.
- Forgetting to use had for the past perfect.
FAQs: Present Perfect vs Past Perfect
What is the difference between the present perfect and the past perfect?
The present perfect connects a past action to the present, while the past perfect shows that one past action happened before another past action.
When should I use past perfect instead of present perfect?
Use the past perfect when you describe two past actions and want to show which one happened first.
Can I use past perfect without another past action?
Normally, no. The past perfect is used to show the sequence between two past events.
What is the formula for the present perfect and past perfect?
Present perfect: have/has + past participle
Past perfect: had + past participle
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between the present perfect and past perfect takes practice. These present perfect vs past perfect exercises with answers are designed to help you understand the structure, signal words, and correct usage of both tenses. Review the rules, practice regularly, and you’ll avoid common mistakes with confidence.
