Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Tense

Circle or underline the correct verb form in each sentence.

1. My family and I (went / have gone) to Marrakech last weekend.

2. (Did you ever try / Have you ever tried) authentic Tanjia in Marrakech?

3. Youssef (has lived / lived) in Casablanca for five years, and he still lives there today.

4. She (didn't finish / hasn't finished) her Baccalaureate exams yet.

5. We (watched / have watched) the Moroccan national football team play in the World Cup in 2022.

6. Karim (lost / has lost) his bus ticket to Agadir, so he can't board right now.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in either the Past Simple or Present Perfect.

1. I ______________________ (never / see) the sunrise over the Sahara dunes in Merzouga.

2. Salma ______________________ (buy) a beautiful handmade rug in the Fez medina two days ago.

3. ______________________ (you / drink) mint tea with your grandparents this morning?

4. Moroccan farmers ______________________ (not / receive) much rain since last autumn.

5. The high-speed train Al Boraq ______________________ (start) operating in Morocco in 2018.

6. Amina ______________________ (already / bake) fresh Harcha for breakfast.

Exercise 3: Complete the Dialogue

Fill in the missing verb forms in this conversation between two Moroccan university students.

Omar: Hey Mehdi! 1______________________ (you / ever / visit) Ouarzazate?

Mehdi: Yes, I 2______________________ (go) there two years ago with my family. We 3______________________ (stay) at a small hotel near Kasbah Aït Benhaddou.

Omar: That sounds amazing! I 4______________________ (never / be) to the South before.

Mehdi: You really should go! In fact, my brother 5______________________ (just / return) from a trip to Zagora yesterday, and he loved it.

Exercise 4: Sentence Correction

Each sentence below contains ONE error with the Present Perfect or Past Simple. Rewrite the sentences correctly.

1. I have visited Hassan II Mosque when I was in Casablanca last year.
   ➔ _______________________________________________________________________

2. They didn't eat Couscous yet today.
   ➔________________________________________________________________________

3. Rachid has moved to Tangier in 2020.
   ➔ _______________________________________________________________________

4. Have you seen the new Hassan II Bridge in Rabat yesterday?
   ➔ _______________________________________________________________________

Exercise 5: Personal Writing

Answer the following questions in complete sentences using the correct tense.

1. Have you ever traveled to another city in Morocco? (If yes, when did you go?)
   ➔________________________________________________________________________

2. What is one traditional Moroccan dish you have eaten recently?
   ➔________________________________________________________________________

3. What did you do during the last holiday or Eid?
   ➔ _______________________________________________________________________