1 GRAMMAR present perfect or past simple?
a Complete the dialogues with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1A Have you been_ (you/be) on holiday recently?
B Yes, we have. We
(go) to the beach in July.
2 A When
(your brother / buy) his motorbike?
B Last week. My parents
_(pay) for it
3 A
(you / meet) your sister's new boyfriend?
B Yes,
(meet) him at a party last month.
4 A
(you /be) to New York?
B Yes,
(go) there last year
5A
(your parents / ever / give) you an expensive present?
B Yes, 1
(have) a car for my last birthday.
6 A Why
(he / send) his wife some flowers yesterday?
B Because he
(forget) their anniversary.

1A Have you been (you/be) on holiday recently?
B Yes, we have. We (go) to the beach in July.

In this sentence, we need to choose between the present perfect and the past simple tense. The present perfect tense is used to talk about a past action or event that is relevant to the present. The past simple tense, on the other hand, is used to talk about a specific past action or event that is complete.

In this case, the question "Have you been on holiday recently?" is asking about a past action that is relevant to the present. Therefore, we use the present perfect tense.

The correct answer is: Have you been (you/be) on holiday recently?

The response "Yes, we have. We (go) to the beach in July" is in the past simple tense because it is talking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Yes, we have. We (go) to the beach in July.

2A When (your brother / buy) his motorbike?
B Last week. My parents (pay) for it.

In this sentence, the question "When did your brother buy his motorbike?" is asking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: When (your brother / buy) his motorbike?

The response "Last week. My parents (pay) for it" is in the past simple tense because it is talking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Last week. My parents (pay) for it.

3A (you / meet) your sister's new boyfriend?
B Yes, (meet) him at a party last month.

In this sentence, the question "Have you met your sister's new boyfriend?" is asking about a past action or event that is relevant to the present. Therefore, we use the present perfect tense.

The correct answer is: (You / meet) your sister's new boyfriend?

The response "Yes, (meet) him at a party last month" is in the past simple tense because it is talking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Yes, (meet) him at a party last month.

4A (you /be) to New York?
B Yes, (go) there last year.

In this sentence, the question "Have you been to New York?" is asking about a past action or event that is relevant to the present. Therefore, we use the present perfect tense.

The correct answer is: (You /be) to New York?

The response "Yes, (go) there last year" is in the past simple tense because it is talking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Yes, (go) there last year.

5A (your parents / ever / give) you an expensive present?
B Yes, I (have) a car for my last birthday.

In this sentence, the question "Have your parents ever given you an expensive present?" is asking about a past action or event that is relevant to the present. Therefore, we use the present perfect tense.

The correct answer is: (Your parents / ever / give) you an expensive present?

The response "Yes, I (have) a car for my last birthday" is in the present perfect tense because it is talking about a past action or event that is relevant to the present.

The correct answer is: Yes, I (have) a car for my last birthday.

6A Why (he / send) his wife some flowers yesterday?
B Because he (forget) their anniversary.

In this sentence, the question "Why did he send his wife some flowers yesterday?" is asking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Why (he / send) his wife some flowers yesterday?

The response "Because he (forget) their anniversary" is in the past simple tense because it is talking about a specific past action that is complete. Therefore, we use the past simple tense.

The correct answer is: Because he (forget) their anniversary.

I hope this explanation helps you understand when to use the present perfect and past simple tense in English grammar. Let me know if you have any further questions!