Past Simple vs Present Perfect
For/Since/Ago
Modal Verbs
Conditionals and Hypotheticals
Past Perfect with Past Simple
100

I __________ in Paris for 5 years (live, present perfect)

I have lived in Paris for 5 years.

100

I have lived here _______ five years.

I have lived here for 5 years.

100

You _______ be tired after that long trip!

You must be tired after that long trip!

100

If I _______time, I will call you.

If I have time, I will call you.

100

I didn't eat breakfast today because I ____  ______to buy bread yesterday.

I didn't eat breakfast today because I had forgotten to buy bread yesterday.

200

I ______ in Paris for 5 years. (live, past simple)

I lived in Paris for 5 years.

200

I have lived here _________2020.

I have lived here since 2020.

200

You ____________ go now or your mom will be worried.

You should go now or your mom will be worried.

200

If I _______you, I would apologize.

If I were you, I would apologize.

200

She was tired this morning because she ____  _____  __________ well last night.

She was tired today because she had not slept well last night.

300

I _________ at the bank since 2020. (work, present perfect)

I have worked at the bank since 2020.

300

I saw him two days _______.

I saw him two days ago.

300

He ________ get sick if he eats that rotten apple.

He might get sick if he eats that rotten apple.

300

If she had studied, she _____  _______ ________the exam.

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.

300

They missed the train because they _____ _______ the house too late.

They missed the train because they had left the house too late.

400

Explain the difference:

I lived in London for 5 years vs.  I have lived in London for 5 years.

The first is past simple because it is a completed action in the past.  The second is present perfect because it is still true now.  

400

Explain the difference:

"For" vs "Since"

"For" explains a duration.  "Since" includes a starting point.

400

Explain the difference:

You must go vs. You should go.

You  must go means you have no choice; you HAVE to do it.

You should go means it would be the best choice.

400

Explain the difference:

If I were rich vs If I had been rich

If I were rich is a present hypothetical.  If I had been rich is a past hypothetical.

400

Explain the difference:

I didn't eat breakfast because I forgot to buy eggs vs

I didn't eat breakfast because I had forgotten to buy eggs.

The first sentence is the wrong tense because it doesn't describe the EARLIER action of having forgotten to buy the eggs.

500

Correct and explain:

I know him for ten years.

Either, I knew him for 10 years which means you don't know him now (past simple).  Or, I have known him for 10 years which means you still know him now (present perfect).

500

Correct and explain:

I am here since two hours.

I am here for two hours.  Use "for" to express the duration of time you are here.

500

Correct and explain:

You should to have told me earlier.

You should have told me earlier.  The correct structure or formula is 

"modal verb + have + past participle"

500

Correct and explain:

If I knew Spanish, I live in Spain.

If I knew Spanish, I would live in Spain or 

If I knew Spanish, I could live in Spain.

If I knew Spanish is a present hypothetical so it takes a present conditional, I could live in Spain.

500

Correct and explain:


When I arrived, she already left.

When I arrived, she had already left.

The second clause should indicate the EARLIER action that the girl had ALREADY left.