Why do Korean students say 'I ate lunch' when they mean 'I've eaten lunch'?

Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Practice Sheet

The Basic Difference

Simple Past = finished action, finished time Present Perfect = past action connected to NOW

Part 1: Choose the correct tense

Circle the correct form.

1. I ( ate / have eaten ) lunch already. I'm not hungry now.
2. I ( ate / have eaten ) lunch at 12:30 today.
3. ( Did you ever go / Have you ever been ) to Busan?
4. ( Did you go / Have you been ) to Busan last summer?
5. She ( lost / has lost ) her phone. She can't find it.
6. She ( lost / has lost ) her phone last month, but she bought a new one.
7. I ( lived / have lived ) in Seoul for five years. (I still live here)
8. I ( lived / have lived ) in Seoul for five years. (I don't live there now)
9. ( Did you finish / Have you finished ) your homework yet?
10. When ( did you finish / have you finished ) your homework?

Part 2: Fill in the blank with the correct form

Use the verb in parentheses. Choose simple past or present perfect.

1. A: Where's Tom?

B: He ________________ (go) to the bathroom.

1. A: Where's Tom?

B: He ________________ (go) home an hour ago.

1. I ________________ (see) that movie three times. I love it!

1. I ________________ (see) that movie last weekend.

1. We ________________ (not / meet) the new teacher yet.

1. We ________________ (not / meet) the new teacher yesterday because she was sick.

1. ________________ (you / ever / eat) Vietnamese food?

1. What time ________________ (you / eat) breakfast this morning?

1. My brother ________________ (study) English for ten years. He's still studying.

1. My brother ________________ (study) English for ten years, but he stopped.

Part 3: Correct the mistakes

Each sentence has one mistake. Find it and correct it.

1. I have seen him yesterday.

Correction: _______________________________________

1. Did you ever been to Japan?

Correction: _______________________________________

1. She has lived here five years.

Correction: _______________________________________

1. I have bought this phone last year.

Correction: _______________________________________

1. We didn't finish yet.

Correction: _______________________________________

Remember:

• Specific past time (yesterday, last week, in 2020) = simple past
• Unfinished time or no time (today, this week, ever, already, yet) = present perfect
• for + period of time (for three years)
• since + starting point (since 2020)