Grammar: Past simple vs present perfect p. 93

A: I haven't thought about the shopping.

B: Yesterday I saw a beautiful balcony full of flowers.

C: We moved to Bristol in 1996.

D: Did they finish restoring their flat five years ago?

E: She's made this cake. It's delicious!

F: 'Have you watered the plants yet?' 'Yes, I've just done it'.

Read Rob's blog and complete the questions with the correct verbs inthe present perfect or the past simple.

Strange but beautiful
Yesterday I read an article about strange houses. One of them is Nautilus House, in Mexico City – I've never seen a house like that. It's shaped like a seashell, that's why it's also called Seashell House. The wall near the entrance is made of colourful stained glass, which gives a rainbow effect. When I first saw the photo, I thought it couldn't be real. The works of Gaudí and Frank Lloyd Wright inspired the architect Javier Senosiain. It's impressive! I've realised that I'd like to be an architect like him and be able to create strange but wonderful designs.

1 ________ the article? Yesterday.
2 ________ like the Seashell House? No, he hasn't.
3 ________ when he first saw the photo? That it couldn't be real.
4 ________ the architect Javier Senosiain? The works of Gaudí and Frank Lloyd Wright
5 ________? That he'd like to be an architect like Javier Senosiain.

Complete Rob's blog with the correct present perfect or past simple form of the verbs below. Make any changes you need and use it for your oral production.

choose ● build ● not renovate ● add ● not tell ● change ● buy ● want ● see

I ________ the house of my dreams in a TV programme. It's a detached house with a beautiful garden full of plants and colourful flowers. When they ________ it ten years ago, the owners ________ to have a big living room overlooking the garden connected to the kitchen. They say they ________ (always) the kitchen to be big and airy. In the kitchen all the appliances, like the fridge and the coffee machine, are smart – they ________ a smart microwave oven, too. It can start cooking dinner when they are away! The furnishings inside the house are modern and made of wood and steel. On the first floor there are six bedrooms, all with a balcony or a terrace. Last year they ________ the layout of the bedrooms and ________ an extra one because they often have guests. But they ________ the three bathrooms. They are beautiful, with a big shower, two sinks and two mirrors inside each. I ________ you yet that there are four garages outside. There's enough space for all their cars, motorbikes and also the objects they don't use. That's why there isn't an attic.