ESL WORKSHEET - Present perfect vs Past simple

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

GRAMMAR A2-B1: PRESENT PERFECT 

VERSUS PAST SIMPLE

LinguaHouse

Jul. 6, 2026

Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Routines and Activities; Animals and Plants; Grammar Practice; Present Perfect; Past Tenses; Speaking; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 07/06/2026

Students work with the theme of food experiences to contextualize the language point of present perfect versus past simple, and the use of ever and never. A brief explanation of this point is provided as well as practice exercises and speaking and writing tasks. The optional extension allows students to revisit the original text as a listening exercise. (by Stephanie Hirschman)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Violet: Welcome to Violet’s Veg. Do you need any help?
Customer: Yes, please. I’m looking for something for a special dinner. What would you recommend?
Violet: Have you ever eaten purple sweet potatoes?
Customer: No, I haven’t. What are they like?
Violet: They’re really delicious and creamy. I love them.
Customer: Ok, maybe I’ll get some sweet potatoes, but what else have you got?
Violet: Well, have you ever tried purple carrots?
Customer: Yes, I have. I grew them in my garden last year. They were such a beautiful color.
Violet: And when you ate them, what did you think?
Customer: Actually, they tasted just like orange carrots. What about these peppers?
Violet: Do you mean these purple peppers?
Customer: Yes. I’ve never seen these before.
Violet: No, they’re very unusual. They look beautiful in a salad.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/grammar-a2-b1-present-perfect-vs-past-simple. Accessed on August 3, 2026. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2026. All rights reserved.