English Today

Flow and Fly

A. FLOW - FLOWED - FLOWED

1. move along smoothly

Rivers flow into the sea.

Traffic flows.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

Prosperity flows out from the country.

2. hang down loosely (usually of hair or clothes)

Her shiny hair was flowing down her back.

3. be the result of

Progress flows from hard work.

 

B. FLY - FLEW - FLOWN

1. move through the air as a bird does

We're flying to London tomorrow morning.

Birds shouldn't live in a cage. They should fly free in the sky.

2. move quickly, rush along

The door flew open.

Mary flew down the stairs to meet her friends.

Time flies!

C. IDIOMS WITH FLY

1. fly high = be ambitious

He's been flying high ever since he graduated from university.

2. The bird has flown = the person wanted has left or escaped

It's no use looking for the thief any more. The bird has flown.

3. as the crow flies = in a straight line

It's only 10 miles from here as the crow flies.

4. go fly a kite = used to tell someone who is annoying you to go away

I've had enough of this conversation. Go fly a kite!

5. the feathers fly = cause fighting / an argument

The feathers will fly when your father finds out that you've been playing truant again!

6. when pigs fly = used to say that something will never happen.

A- I've lent John some money but he promised to pay me back soon.

B- Sure! When pigs fly!

Present Perfect Simple Vs Simple Past - Practice - Answer Key

 

Grammar Reference

A. Underline the correct tense: (simple past or present perfect simple)

(a) The Earth existed / has existed for more than 4,000 million years.

(b) Dinosaurs have lived / lived on Earth for 160 million years.

(c) Humans have been / were on the planet for just 50,000 years.

(d) For thousands of years, people thought / have thought that the world was flat.

(e) The first Australians - the Aborigines - have lived / lived there for about 40,000 years.

(f) People in Europe have only known / only knew about Australia for about 400 years.

(g) For many years, the United States has been / was a British colony.

(h)The USA has been / was an independent country for over 200 years.

(i) The dollar has been / was the currency of the United States for just over 200 years.

Source: world-english

B. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. Have you washed the dishes yet?

2. Daughter: I washed the dishes yesterday, but I haven't had the time yet to do it today.

3. Mother: Have you already done your homework?

4. Daughter: No, I have just come home from school.

5. Mother: You came home from school two hours ago!

6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy called when I arrived and I have just finished the phone call.

7. Mother: Didn't you see Lucy at school in the morning?

8. Daughter: Yes, but we didn't have time to talk then.

C. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. I have just finished my homework.

2. Mary has already written five letters.

3. Tom moved to this town in 1994.

4. My friend was in Canada two years ago.

5. I haven't been to Canada so far.

6. But I have already travelled to London a couple of times.

7. Last week, Mary and Paul went to the cinema.

8. I can't take any pictures because I haven't bought a new film yet.

9. Did they spend their holiday in New Zealand last summer?

10. Have you ever seen a whale?

D. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It has a beautiful old city centre and a castle that lies on a hill above the city. In the castle you can see the statues of two Scottish heroes: Robert Bruce and William Wallace (known from the film Braveheart). Several famous people were born in Edinburgh, for example Alexander Graham Bell (who invented the telephone), Tony Blair (former Prime Minister of the UK) and Arthur Conan Doyle (who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories). By the way, J. K. Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter book in an Edinburgh coffee-shop.

Photo Credit

Write the verbs in the correct tense (Simple Past or Present Perfect).

1. My friend has been to Edinburgh three times.

2. Some years ago he studied English there.

3. Last month he visited some friends in Edinburgh.

4. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to Edinburgh with him.

5. This is a pity. They are my friends, too, and I haven't seen them for ages. 

E. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. A: Have you ever tasted  sushi?

2. B: Yes, I have eaten sushi at least five times so far.

3. A: When did you eat sushi for the first time?

4. B: I ate sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He invited the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.

5. A: Did you like it?

6. B: Absolutely. In fact, it was so good that we have been to that restaurant three times so far. And on my mum's birthday, we ordered some sushi and had it at home.

Source: ego4u

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Present Perfect Simple Vs Simple Past - Practice

 

Grammar Reference

A. Underline the correct tense: (simple past or present perfect simple)

(a) The Earth existed / has existed for more than 4,000 million years.

(b) Dinosaurs have lived / lived on Earth for 160 million years.

(c) Humans have been / were on the planet for just 50,000 years.

(d) For thousands of years, people thought / have thought that the world was flat.

(e) The first Australians - the Aborigines - have lived / lived there for about 40,000 years.

(f) People in Europe have only known / only knew about Australia for about 400 years.

(g) For many years, the United States has been / was a British colony.

(h)The USA has been / was an independent country for over 200 years.

(i) The dollar has been / was the currency of the United States for just over 200 years.

Source: world-english

B. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. (you / wash) the dishes yet?

2. Daughter: I (wash) the dishes yesterday, but I (have / not) the time yet to do it today.

3. Mother: (you / do / already) your homework?

4. Daughter: No, I (come / just) home from school.

5. Mother: You (come) home from school two hours ago!

6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy (call) when I (arrive) and I (finish / just) the phone call.

7. Mother: (you / see / not) Lucy at school in the morning?

8. Daughter: Yes, but we (have / not) time to talk then.

C. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. I (just / finish) my homework.

2. Mary (already / write) five letters.

3. Tom (move) to this town in 1994.

4. My friend (be) in Canada two years ago.

5. I (not / be) to Canada so far.

6. But I (already / travel) to London a couple of times.

7. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) to the cinema.

8. I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy) a new film yet.

9. (they / spend) their holiday in New Zealand last summer?

10. (you / ever / see) a whale?

D. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. It has a beautiful old city centre and a castle that lies on a hill above the city. In the castle you can see the statues of two Scottish heroes: Robert Bruce and William Wallace (known from the film Braveheart). Several famous people were born in Edinburgh, for example Alexander Graham Bell (who invented the telephone), Tony Blair (former Prime Minister of the UK) and Arthur Conan Doyle (who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories). By the way, J. K. Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter book in an Edinburgh coffee-shop.

Photo Credit

Write the verbs in the correct tense (Simple Past or Present Perfect).

1. My friend (be) to Edinburgh three times.

2. Some years ago he (study) English there.

3. Last month he (visit) some friends in Edinburgh.

4. Unfortunately, I (can / not) go to Edinburgh with him.

5. This is a pity. They are my friends, too, and I (see / not) them for ages. 

E. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

1. A: (you / taste / ever) sushi?

2. B: Yes, I (eat) sushi at least five times so far.

3. A: When (you / eat) sushi for the first time?

4. B: I (eat) sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He (invite) the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.

5. A: (you / like) it?

6. B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be) so good that we (be) to that restaurant three times so far. And on my mum's birthday, we (order) some sushi and (have) it at home.

Source: ego4u

The ANSWER KEY to all the above exercises will be posted shortly.

 

Present Perfect Simple Vs Simple Past

A. We use the Present Perfect Simple to:

1. Talk about a past action which has a strong connection with the present

Rafaella has just gone out.

My sister hasn't been to England yet.

I've already seen that film.

2. Talk about a past action which occurred at an unstated time but which still affects the present.

I've lost my keys. (= I lost them some time in the past but I still can't find them now)

Susan has had a haircut. (= she had a haircut in the past but now you can see her hair is shorter)

I've seen wolves in that forest. (= I saw them in the past but they're still in that forest now)

3. Talk about an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. (usually with for or since)

Jane has worked in a bank for 6 years.

They have lived in London for 10 years.

Mrs Thomas has taught English since 1995.

4. Talk about past actions which occurred at an unfinished period of time.

At 11:00 am : Bill has called three times this morning.

At 4:00pm: I haven't seen Paul this afternoon.

5. Talk about past experiences whose results are obvious in the present.

Kate has put on weight. (=she is heavier now)

Dad has grown a beard. (=he has a beard now)

My cousins have painted their room.  (the room has a new colour now or maybe the paint is still wet)

Also use the Present Perfect Simple in the following sentence structure:

the first / second (etc) OR Superlatives as in the examples:

This is the first time I've driven a car.

This is the second time we've eaten snails.

This is the best film I've ever seen.

This is the coolest website I've ever visited.

Do Not Confuse:

have been to / have gone to

(a) have been to = I went somewhere but now I am back

Where have you been? - I've been to the shops.

(b) have gone to = I went somewhere and I'm still there now.

Where is Jim? - He's gone to the cinema.

B. We use the Simple Past to:

1. Talk about past actions which have no connection with the present:

Rafaella went out a minute ago.

My sister didn't visit England when she lived in Europe.

I saw that film while I was on holiday.

2. Talk about actions which occurred at a definite past time. This time may be stated directly or implied.

I lost my keys when I went out yesterday.

Susan had a haircut last week.

I once saw wolves in that forest.

3. Talk about an action that started and finished in the past.

Jane worked in a bank for 6 years. (= she doesn't work there now)

They lived in London for 10 years. (they don't live in London now)

Mrs Thomas taught English in 1995. (= she doesn't teach English now)

4. Talk about past actions which occurred at a completed period of time.

At 4:00 pm: John called three times this morning.

At 10:00 pm: I didn't see Paul this afternoon.

5. Talk about a past state or habit.

When she was a student, she lived in a small flat.

I always carried an umbrella when I lived in London.

We often went to the beach when we visited Greece last summer.