present perfect vs past simple presentation

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

present perfect vs past simple presentation

Download lesson PDF + Quiz

What’s the difference? When do we use each of these English verb tenses?

Today I’m going to explain two simple rules so that it will become clear to you!

Not only will I give you example sentences, but I’ll also ask you to make your own. Are you ready? For more review and practice, make sure to download the lesson PDF and try the quiz inside.

Rule #1 – Unfinished vs. Finished Time

Use the present perfect tense to talk about an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

Use the simple past tense to talk about an action that started and finished in the past.

Use the present perfect for “unfinished” time:

  • “I’ve lived in Brazil for three years.” (and I live in Brazil now – that time period is not yet finished)

Use the simple past for “finished” time:

  • “I lived in Brazil for three years.” (and I DON’T live in Brazil now)

Present perfect vs. Past simple

Try it right now: How long have you lived in your current home/city? Use the present perfect. In my case, I’ve lived in this house since 2017.

Now talk about a place you lived in the past, but you don’t live there anymore, using the simple past. In my case, I lived in the city of Salvador in Brazil for about seven years – from 2009-2016.

When we’re talking about actions that started in the past and continue to the present, we can actually use the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous:

  • I’ve taught English for 13 years.
  • = I’ve been teaching English for 13 years.

How about you? How long have you been studying English? Answer using the present perfect continuous.

More examples of the present perfect tense

For an “unfinished” time period – started in the past and continue to the present.

  • I have known her since elementary school.
  • They have been married for 20 years.
  • We ‘ve owned this car since 2010, and it’s still running well.
  • He has coached the soccer team for the past decade.
  • She has felt depressed ever since her cat died.
  • I ‘ve been practicing yoga regularly for the past few months.
  • She ‘s been doing an excellent job lately.
  • We ‘ve been thinking about renovating our house.
  • He hasn’t been sleeping well since his son was born.
  • My colleagues and I have been working late every day this week.

Need help forming these tenses?

Take this lesson on the present perfect and also review these irregular verbs in the past tense and past participle.

More examples of the simple past tense

For “finished” time – started and ended in the past.

  • I shared an apartment with three roommates when I lived in New York City.
  • They were married for only a year before their divorce.
  • We bought our car in 2010.
  • He graduated from college last year.
  • She was really tired last night – but now she feels better.
  • I practiced the piano for two hours last night.
  • She did me a favor a few weeks ago.
  • We thought we’d be late, but we actually arrived right on time.
  • He slept until noon on Saturday.
  • They worked hard on the presentation for the client.

present perfect vs past simple presentation

Rule #2 – Unspecified vs. Specified Time

Use the present perfect to talk about unspecified time in the past, and the past simple to talk about specific times in the past. Compare these sentences:

  • I’ve seen that movie. (I’ve seen it sometime in the past, but I don’t say when – present perfect)
  • I saw that movie last week. (I say specifically when I saw it – past simple)

When we’re talking about single events at an unspecified time in the past, then we only use the present perfect simple, not the present perfect continuous form.

Another example:

  • She has changed jobs several times during her career. (single events at unspecified times in the past)
  • She changed jobs in 2006, 2012, and 2021. (single events at specific times in the past)

Now it’s your turn – first, use the present perfect to talk about something you’ve done sometime in your life, but don’t say when. In my case, I’ve taken figure skating lessons.

Now use the simple past to say specifically when you did it: In my case, I took figure skating lessons when I was in high school… about 20 years ago.

Present perfect vs past simple

More examples of present perfect

For “unspecified” time:

  • I’ve been to Europe twice.
  • She ’s interviewed a number of celebrities.
  • He ’s finished his homework.
  • They ’ve sold their house.
  • Have you ever eaten sushi?

More examples of simple past

For “specified” time:

  • I went to Europe in 2006 and 2010.
  • She interviewed Paris Hilton last week.
  • He finished his homework a few minutes ago.
  • They sold their house in June.
  • Did you eat sushi when you went to Japan?

Review: Present perfect vs. Past simple

  • Present perfect for an unfinished time period and unspecified time in the past.
  • Past simple for finished time and specific time in the past.

I hope I’ve made it crystal clear when to use present perfect vs. simple past. Thanks for putting it into practice by making your own example sentences! Now make sure to download the PDF and try the quiz.

That’s the type of thing I do throughout the lessons in my Advanced English Grammar Course – I’m always helping you put it into practice and use the grammar yourself. This active practice is what will really help it stick in your mind and become a natural part of your English! Join the course to learn English grammar easily and effectively.

Learn more:

  • Irregular verbs in the simple past tense and past participle
  • All English verb tenses

Master the details of English grammar:

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present perfect vs past simple presentation

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple in English

As a language learner, you may be quite confused about the difference between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

After all, they both refer to events that already happened and are now in the past.

Essentially, the simple past refers to actions that have already finished. The present perfect is used when referring to actions that have happened recently, or when a time isn’t specified.

I hope by the time you finish reading this post, the differences between present perfect vs. past simple are clear in your head and you’ll never be confused about the two again!

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple: The Key Differences

The english tenses: a brief introduction, the past simple, what is it, when do we use it, verb forms to use with the past simple, the present perfect, verb forms to use with the present perfect, practice what you’ve learned.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Here’s a quick overview of the key differences between the present perfect tense and the past simple tense:

We use the simple past to refer to an event/action that has already finished or happened, and the time is usually certain and specified. It always refers to finished time. We also use the simple past when we’re more interested in the “telling” of an action and not on the results of the action.

On the other hand, the present perfect is used when the event/action took place very recently or the time isn’t specified. The present perfect is also used when we’re more interested in the results or consequences of the action/event, as the result is usually linked to the present.

The simple past uses a single verb (the simple past form of the verb) while the present perfect uses two verbs (has/have + participle form of the verb).

Here are some examples:

I have finished my homeworkI finished my homework
She has visited ParisShe visited Paris
They have eaten lunchThey ate lunch

Tenses are a way of measuring time . They tell us whether a particular action has already happened, is happening or will happen. Every sentence we speak or write in English is in one of these tenses.

The verbs we use tell us which tense is being used. If the verb form changes, the tense changes (and vice versa).

In English, there are three main tenses: past, present and future. When we talk about any event or action (let’s say, eating a cookie), it can only happen in one of these three times:

It happened yesterday or even earlier ( Past ):   I talked to Mary yesterday.

It happened today or right now ( Present ):  I am talking to Mary on the phone.

It will happen tomorrow or even later ( Future ):  I will talk tho Mary at work tomorrow.

Now, each of these three tenses can be further divided into four “sub” tenses. These are simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.

Focus on how the verb (“to read”) is changing in each sentence below.

Past Tense:

Simple Past: I talked to Mary yesterday.

Past Continuous:  I was talking to Mary when you came in.

Past Perfect: I had talked to Mary before eating dinner.

Past Perfect Continuous:  I had been talking to Mary for two hours before we finally hung up.

Present Tense:

Simple Present: I talk to Mary at least once a day.

Present Continuous:  I am talking to Mary right now.

Present Perfect:   I have talked to Mary before.

Present Perfect Continuous:  I have been talking to Mary for three hours now.

Future Tense:

Simple Future: I will talk to Mary tomorrow.

Future Continuous:  I will be talking to Mary on the train ride tomorrow.

Future Perfect: I will have talked to Mary by next week.

Future Perfect Continuous:  I will have been talking to Mary for two hours at 3:00.

Now that you’ve reviewed the basics of tenses, let’s move on to the difference between past simple and present perfect. If you still aren’t feeling confident, consider brushing up on your knowledge of how to use tenses before continuing.

The past simple (also called the simple past) is the tense we use to talk about any action or event that has already happened.

We use this tense when we know the exact or specific details of the time of the event (such as yesterday, the previous winter, last year, five hours ago and so on). In other words, the event is already over and finished.

I wrote a few lines of the story in my notebook last week.

He went on an exchange program two years ago.

She ate the entire pie yesterday.

I talked to Maria on the phone five minutes ago.

We may also use this tense when we want to focus on telling people about the action.

Here are two examples:

We danced a lot at the party.

I walked home from school.

In both cases, the focus is on telling of the action (“dancing a lot,” “walking home”) that took place in the past and not on the results or consequences of the action. We’re just talking about an event in the past and aren’t discussing the possible effects of it.

To sum up, we use the simple past to refer to an event or an action that took place in “finished time” or to simply focus on talking about the action itself.

To write a sentence in the simple past, we have to convert the verb to its simple past form.

But verb conjugation can be tricky to get a hang of.

For regular verbs, there are a few rules regarding how to convert them. But for irregular verbs , you need to memorize the verb forms .

Let’s take a regular verb like to walk and an irregular verb like to eat, for example.

She walked home from the party.  (We added an “-ed” to “walk”)

He ate a pizza for dinner. (“Eat” changes to “ate”)

If you’re feeling intimidated or confused about verb conjugations, don’t worry! All it takes is a bit of practice and soon it’ll become second nature. Here are some more example of past simple conjugations:

To cook —  cooked

To study —  studied

To play —  played

To break — broke

To catch — caught

We normally use the present perfect tense to talk about events that have already happened. These events may be ongoing or completed but usually, the events took place recently and the time is unspecified.

Present perfect is listed under the present tense because the event usually took place just now or recently. Therefore, it’s still “connected” to the present.

Take a look at these two examples:

I have written a few lines already. (It took place recently.)

My husband and I have known each other for five years now. (Even though the time is mentioned here, the action is still ongoing or continuing into the present—we still know each other.)

But in most cases of the present perfect, the time of the action is “unfinished” or unspecified, like in this example:

He has been on an exchange program to Sweden. (The time isn’t specified)

We also use this tense when the focus is more on the “result” of the action instead of the “telling” of the action. For example:

She has eaten the pie all by herself.  (The focus is on the result of the action—the pie is now finished by her!)

Have you done your homework? (A yes/no answer is wanted.)

In the simple past, we use just one verb and it’s used in the “past” form.

In the present perfect, we use the helping verbs has or have along with the “participle” form of the main verb (which is the verb that indicates the action).

In other words, to convert a verb to the present perfect, we can use this simple formula:

has/have + participle form of the verb

So if the verb is to fly, then the present perfect form would be: has/have + flown, as in the following examples:

The birds have flown away.

My pet parrot has flown away.

For regular verbs, the participle and simple past forms are the same. For irregular verbs, the participle forms must be memorized. 

The past tense vs. past participle is one of the most difficult aspects of English grammar. If you’re still trying to grasp the English preterite, never fear. Read this…

Now that you know the differences, it’s time to put your knowledge to test.

Here are a few simple and short quizzes and exercises that test your understanding of these two tenses.

  • English-hilfen.de : This is a simple fill-in-the-blanks quiz where you have to choose the right word or phrase from a drop-down list. It’s a pretty good way to know if you’ve grasped the basics or not.
  • English Page : Another simple one, in this quiz you have to fill-in-the-blanks for a paragraph by using the right form of the verb. To make it easier, they also offer hints.
  • English Grammar Online : This site also summarizes the differences between the two tenses, followed by several in-depth exercises and three practice tests. Try these out once you’re confident enough.
  • AgendaWeb : Finally, if you’re feeling brave enough, you can try the exercises listed here. There are plenty of them so you can try solving them from time to time as revision or for extra practice.

You can also check out this YouTube video from Learn English With Rebecca to learn more about the differences:

Besides this list, you can also try to practice by watching these tenses in action. In other words, you should get a lot of exposure to English conversations and sentences. Carefully study phrases for when the tenses are used and see how the verbs are working with the other words around it.

This kind of practice is also pretty easy to do. You can read English books or magazines, listen to English music or watch English videos, TV shows and movies. Basically, you can consume any English media that would show natural-sounding sentences!

For a more guided approach, the language learning program FluentU can help show the present perfect and the past simple in context.

I hope this post has cleared the confusion between the present perfect and the past simple tenses. Now you know how you can still use present tense to talk about a past event.

The good news is, the more you practice the better you’ll be. So be consistent and motivated about learning and you’ll be fluent in English before you know it!c

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present perfect vs past simple presentation

Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Perfect english grammar.

present perfect vs past simple presentation

What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue to the present: Julie for ten years (and I still know her). Finished actions: Julie for ten years (but then she moved away and we lost touch).
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience): to Mexico three times. A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead): to Mexico three times.
A finished action with a result in the present: my keys! (The result is that I can't get into my house now). A finished action with no result in the present: my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).
With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today): John this week. With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday): John last week.

Click here to download this explanation as a pdf Click here for more information about the present perfect tense Click here for more information about the past simple tense

  • We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present.
  • We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present.
  • NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.
  • Present perfect or past simple exercise 1
  • Present perfect or past simple exercise 2
  • Present perfect or past simple exercise 3
  • Present perfect or past simple exercise 4

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Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

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PAST SIMPLE vs PRESENT PERFECT

The differences between Past Simple and Present Perfect

TASK 1. Choose the right TENSE for each Picture

He's run 20 km.

She worked at the bank for 5 years.

He lived in Hong Kong for a long time.

She's won the tournament.

TASK 2. Analyse the table and write down the main differences between Past Simple and Present Perfect.

TIME EXPRESSIONS Past Simple and Present Perfect

PRESENT PERFECT

PAST SIMPLE

3 days ago yesterday since 2009 ever last summer this year in my life already yet today never from 1997 to 1999 in 2019 for 3 months lately recently JUST

TASK 3. Look at the time expressions from the box. Try to match them with the right tense.

EXERCISES Past Simple and Present Perfect

  • John .................................... (LIVE) in Hong Kong since 2000.
  • John .................................. (LIVE) in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2000. Then he moved to London.

TASK 4. Complete sentences with the right form of the verbs in the brackets. Use PAST SIMPLE or PRESENT PERFECT.

  • Winnie the Pooh ............................ (just / MAKE) dinner.
  • Winnie the Pooh had his birthday yesterday and he .................................. (MAKE) huge dinner for everybody.
  • He .................................... (EAT) a huge hamburger last week.
  • He .................................. (EAT) a huge hamburger. He's full now.
  • They .................................... (just / HAVE) an accident.
  • They .................................. (HAVE) an accident a month ago, but they are okay now.
  • .................................... (you/ever/TRY) bungee jumping in your life?
  • ...................................... (you / TRY) bungee jumping when you were on holiday in France last summer?
  • Mark .................................... (not / DO) his homework yet.
  • Mark .................................. (not / DO) his homework last week.
  • Paul .................................... (TEACH) English in 2019. A year later he was fired.
  • Paul .................................. (TEACH) English for 2 years. He's doing great!
  • The company ......................................... (not / DESIGN) a human-like robot yet.
  • The company .......................................... (not / DESIGN) a human-like robot last year, but they're planning to do it this year.
  • Jane ..................................... (BUY) a nice denim shirt last month.
  • Jane ....................................... (BUY) a nice denim shirt this month.

Do you know the difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect now?

extra tasks

EXTRA SPEAKING EXERCISES Past Simple and Present Perfect

LIFE EXPERIECES

STRANGE EXPERIENCES

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

ENGLISH IS THE BEST

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple Presentation

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present perfect vs past simple presentation

Past Simple vs Present Perfect: A Clear Comparison Guide

Published by

Olivia Drake

Learning English grammar can be challenging, especially when it comes to differentiating between verb tenses. Two such tenses you may encounter are the  past simple  and  present perfect . Both tenses express actions that have taken place in the past but differ in the way they’re used, which can sometimes lead to confusion. By understanding the nuances of these forms, you can improve your ability to communicate effectively in English.

On this page:

Past simple  deals with completed actions or events in the past, while  present perfect  is used to express past actions that have a connection to the present. The choice of tense not only affects sentence structure but also shapes the meaning and interpretation of any statement. It’s essential to grasp the underlying distinctions in order to convey your message accurately.

To delve further into the intricacies of  past simple  and  present perfect , you may want to explore the various usage contexts, time expressions, and verb conjugations associated with each tense. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect, and with continued exposure and usage of these tenses, you’ll soon become more confident in distinguishing and utilizing them, enhancing your overall English language proficiency.

Understanding Past Simple and Present Perfect

When learning English grammar, it’s essential to understand the differences between the  past simple  and  present perfect  tenses. These two tenses are quite distinct and convey different meanings, so using them accurately will improve your overall communication skills.

Past Simple  is used to describe actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past and are now completed. To form the past simple tense, you add ‘-ed’ to regular verbs and use the irregular form for irregular verbs. Some examples of past simple sentences are:

  • You watched a movie last night.
  • They visited Paris last year.
  • She didn’t finish her homework.

Present Perfect  is used to describe actions or events that started in the past but continue to the present or have a connection to the present. The present perfect is formed by using ‘have’ or ‘has’ with the past participle of the verb (regular verbs add ‘-ed’ while irregular verbs have different forms). Some examples of present perfect sentences are:

  • You have watched three movies this week.
  • They have visited Paris twice.
  • She hasn’t finished her homework yet.

To better understand the differences between past simple and present perfect, consider the following:

AspectPast SimplePresent Perfect
Time ReferenceSpecific time in the pastUnspecified time or connection to now
Verb FormRegular verbs add ‘-ed’, irregulars vary‘have’/’has’ + past participle
ExamplesI lived in Rome.I have lived in Rome.
You walked to school yesterday.You have walked to school this week.

When using past simple, remember that you’re referring to a complete action in the past, often with a specific time reference. With present perfect, focus on the idea that the action has relevance or connection to the present, and the exact time of the action is not important. By understanding these distinctions and practicing their usage, your English grammar skills will significantly improve, allowing you to communicate more effectively.

Formation of Past Simple and Present Perfect

Simple past formation.

The Simple Past tense is used to describe events that occurred in the past. To form the Simple Past of regular verbs, you simply add the suffix  -ed  to the base form of the verb. Here’s a table showing some examples:

Base VerbSimple Past
walkwalked
studystudied
playplayed

However, irregular verbs have different forms in the Simple Past, and you’ll need to memorize them as there’s no specific rule. Here are a few examples:

Base VerbSimple Past
gowent
seesaw
eatate

Present Perfect Formation

The Present Perfect tense is used to express events that happened at an unspecified time before now or to show the connection between past events and the present. To form the Present Perfect, you need to use the auxiliary verb  have  (or  has  for third-person singular) followed by the past participle of the verb.

For regular verbs, the past participle is the same as the Simple Past form. Here are a few examples:

Base VerbPresent Perfect
walkhave/has walked
studyhave/has studied
playhave/has played

As for irregular verbs, the past participle is often different from the Simple Past. Here’s a table showing some examples:

Base VerbPresent Perfect
gohave/has gone
seehave/has seen
eathave/has eaten

When forming sentences, just keep in mind these rules for regular and irregular verbs, and make sure to follow the appropriate structure for the Simple Past and Present Perfect tenses. This will help you convey your message clearly and accurately.

Usage of Past Simple and Present Perfect

Time Expressions

Past Simple  is used with specific time expressions that refer to a definite time in the past. Examples of such time expressions are yesterday, last year, an hour ago, and at the beginning of the week. When using past simple, the action happened at a specific time and has already ended. For example:

  • You  visited Paris  last year.
  • They  had lunch  an hour ago.

Present Perfect  is used with time expressions that are more indefinite, like ever, already, up to now, so far, and recently. It connects past actions to the present, often focusing on life experiences or recently finished actions. For example:

  • Have you  ever visited Paris ?
  • She has  just finished her lunch .

Specific and Unspecific Events

The  Past Simple  focuses on specific events or actions that occurred in the past:

  • You  met  them last week.
  • She  called  me yesterday.

On the other hand, the  Present Perfect  highlights unspecific events or actions that don’t focus on a certain time in the past:

  • You  have met  them before.
  • She  has called  recently.

Finished and Unfinished Actions

The  Past Simple  is used to express finished actions:

  • They  cleaned  their house last week.
  • You  practiced  your grammar exercises this morning.

In contrast, the  Present Perfect  emphasizes unfinished actions or actions that are still true today:

  • They  have cleaned  their house (meaning: it’s still clean now).
  • You  have practiced  your grammar exercises (meaning: the effects of practicing are still present).

Examples and Exercises

Past simple examples.

Here are a few examples of  past simple  sentences, which show actions completed in the past:

  • You  visited  the museum last summer.
  • They  worked  on a project together.
  • She  watched  the movie yesterday evening.

Notice how the past simple uses the past form of the verb to indicate an action fully completed in the past.

Present Perfect Examples

Now, observe these sentences using the  present perfect , which highlights actions that have happened in the past and are still connected to the present:

  • You  have visited  the museum three times this year.
  • They  have worked  on that project since last month.
  • She  has watched  that movie already.

The present perfect combines “have/has” with the past participle of the verb, emphasizing the connection between the past action and the present situation.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When learning the differences between  past simple  and  present perfect , you might come across some common mistakes. To help you avoid these errors, here’s a concise guide:

1. Misusing time expressions:  Remember, past simple is used for specific past actions while present perfect links the past to the present. Avoid using past time expressions (e.g., yesterday, last week) with present perfect.

Incorrect: I have seen that movie last night. Correct: I saw that movie last night.

2. Confusion with finished and unfinished actions:  Past simple is used for finished actions, whereas present perfect is used for actions continuing into the present or have an effect on the present.

Incorrect: We lived here for ten years. (If you still live there) Correct: We have lived here for ten years.

3. Experiences and specific events:  Use past simple for specific events and present perfect for general experiences up until now.

Incorrect: She has visited Paris in 2015. Correct: She visited Paris in 2015.

4. Incomplete versus complete actions:  When discussing a past action that has not been completed, use present perfect. Alternatively, use past simple for completed actions.

Incorrect: They read the book. Correct: They have read the book. (If it’s not finished)

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can confidently use past simple and present perfect in the appropriate contexts. Practicing and paying close attention to these guidelines will help to ensure that your usage becomes second nature.

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One response to “past simple vs present perfect: a clear comparison guide”.

Gloria Avatar

Hi Olivia, I think perhaps your last example could be explained a little more clearly. ‘They have read the book’ would in fact be talking about an action that is finished, not unfinished as you seemed to indicate. ‘They have read the book’ would be an example of an action that doesn’t focus on a certain time in the past, right? (Or, as some explain it, it would fall into the category of ‘life experiences’.)

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present perfect vs past simple presentation

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PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE - basketball game

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present perfect vs simple past

PRESENT PERFECT vs. SIMPLE PAST

Jul 09, 2014

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PRESENT PERFECT vs. SIMPLE PAST. What is the difference?. I’ ve been to London. ( present perfect ) I went to London last week. ( simple past ). TIME FINISHED UNFINISHED SIMPLE PAST PRESENT PERFECT I went to London I’ve been to London. last week.

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  • general experience
  • present perfect
  • simple past
  • last summer

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What is the difference? I’ve been to London. (present perfect) I went to London last week. (simple past)

TIME FINISHED UNFINISHED SIMPLE PAST PRESENT PERFECT I went to London I’ve been to London. last week. Specific time: • yesterday General experience. • last summer • 2 months ago

When do we use Simple Past? 1) Actions that are not connected with present. The Titanic sank in 1912. 2) Actions in the past that are chronologically ordered. He came in, sat on the sofa and started waiting. 3) Repeated actions in the past (= used to). I took English courses when I was twelve (= I used to take English courses). 4) When after talking about general experience we give details (when we have to be SPECIFIC and answer questions like WHEN? WHERE? WHY? HOW?). I’ve been to London this month. I stayed in a big hotel. I visited Trafalgar Square and bought some souvenirs.

When do we use Present Perfect? 1) When we talk about GENERAL EXPERIENCE without giving specific information (we don’t have to know WHEN you did something, we want to know IF you did it or not). Tarantino has directed lots of blockbusters. (BUT: Tarantino directed “Kill Bill” in 2003). I have never seen the Eiffel Tower. (BUT: I didn’t see the Eiffel Tower when I was in France). Jack has written a script. (BUT: He wrote the script last week).

When do we use Present Perfect? 2) Actions that are finished in the past but connected with present (actions in the past affected the present – you can see the result). X Past Present I’ve eaten a banana. A plane has landed.

When do we use Present Perfect? 3) When we want to express an unfinished period of time (that started in the past but continues now). I have taken three tests this semester (this semester is not finished, it’s still going on). Helen has been to London once in her life (her life is not finished, it’s still going on). My grandparents have seen “Hamlet” this week(this week is not finished, it’s still going on).

How do we make Present Perfect form? Affirmative sentences:

How do we make Present Perfect form? Negative sentences:

How do we make Present Perfect form? Interrogative sentences: Yes, I have. No, we haven’t. Yes, he has. No, she hasn’t.

Past Participle Form of Verbs

Let’s practice a little! • I ……… (see) that film before. • We ……….(read) three English books in class. • My mother ………..(be) to London twice this year. • John ………… (borrow) four CDs from me. • The children ………… (eat) breakfast. • You ………… (drink) all the coffee. • Be quiet! The film ………….. (start).

Let’s practice a little! • I have seen that film before. • We have read three English books in class. • My mother has been to London twice this year. • John has borrowed four CDs from me. • The children have eaten breakfast. • You have drunk all the coffee. • Be quiet! The film has started.

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Carolina Arteaga

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IMAGES

  1. The Difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect

    present perfect vs past simple presentation

  2. Present Perfect vs. Past Simple Presentation

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  3. Present perfect vs simple past

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  4. Mind Map

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  5. Present Perfect Tense vs Past Simple Tense

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  6. Present Perfect vs Past Simple: Useful Differences • 7ESL

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VIDEO

  1. present perfect vs past simple

  2. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

  3. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

  4. When to Use PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE in Context

  5. Present perfect vs Past simple

  6. Unit 14 "present perfect and past 2" مقارنة بين زمن المضارع التام و الماضي البسيط

COMMENTS

  1. 32 Present perfect or past simple tense English ES…

    Present Perfect contrasted with Past Simple and Present Simple. This presentation focuses on the differences in use between Present Perfect and Past Simple (active verbs) as well as Present Perfect and Present Simple (stative verbs)... 1862 uses. A selection of English ESL present perfect or past simple tense ppt slides.

  2. 26 Present perfect vs Past simple English ESL powerpoints

    The Present, Past and Past Participle Form of Verbs - ... In a series of highly engaging ppts, students are shown the present, past and past participle forms of various regular and irregular verbs and assisted in distinguis... 91 uses. A selection of English ESL present perfect vs past simple ppt slides.

  3. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

    Present perfect for an unfinished time period and unspecified time in the past. Past simple for finished time and specific time in the past. I hope I've made it crystal clear when to use present perfect vs. simple past. Thanks for putting it into practice by making your own example sentences! Now make sure to download the PDF and try the quiz.

  4. 2.3: Simple Past vs Present Perfect

    SIMPLE PAST; A verb in the simple past tense expresses that an activity, event or state began and ended in the past. Adverbs such as last year, a year ago and in 2017 make clear that the activity is pinned to a time in the past. See Past Adverbs.. COMPLETED IN PAST: Construction on the Tower of Pisa started in 1173.. Builders added a third story in 1185. Then, it began to lean.

  5. Present Perfect vs. Past Simple in English

    The simple past uses a single verb (the simple past form of the verb) while the present perfect uses two verbs (has/have + participle form of the verb). Curated authentic video library for all levels. Thousands of learner friendly videos (especially beginners) Handpicked, organized, and annotated by FluentU's experts.

  6. Present Perfect vs Past Simple

    Powepoint presentation I use to explain the Present Perfect vs the Past Simple to my students with the help of Tintin! Donate a coffee. Log in / Register. English ESL Powerpoints. Grammar Practice. Grammar guide. Present perfect or past simple tense. Present Perfect vs Past Simple. coras. 8392. 83. 15. 0.

  7. Present Perfect or Past Simple Tense?

    We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word: NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday ...

  8. Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

    TIME EXPRESSIONS Past Simple and Present Perfect. PRESENT PERFECT. PAST SIMPLE. 3 days ago yesterday since 2009 ever last summer this year in my life already yet today never from 1997 to 1999 in 2019 for 3 months lately recently JUST +info. TASK 3. Look at the time expressions from the box. Try to match them with the right tense. +info. VS ...

  9. Present Perfect vs. Past Simple Presentation

    It's a powerpoint presentation that gives a general idea in distinguishing Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses followed up by 2 small exercises in Past Participle form of verbs and practising Present Perfect form. Ask your students to make up their own examples in each given case for more efficiency.

  10. Past Simple vs Present Perfect: A Clear Comparison Guide

    2. Confusion with finished and unfinished actions: Past simple is used for finished actions, whereas present perfect is used for actions continuing into the present or have an effect on the present. Incorrect: We lived here for ten years. (If you still live there) Correct: We have lived here for ten years.

  11. Present Perfect vs. Past Simple by Maria K on Prezi

    Present Perfect vs Past Simple author: Maria Kafel MAIN DIFFERENCE Past Simple Present Perfect It's vital that action is finished and when situation happened. It's not important when it happened, but the experience and result. ... Sales pitch presentation: creating impact with Prezi; July 22, 2024. Make every lesson count with these student ...

  12. contrast: present perfect vs past simple b1

    In British English, we use the present perfect to talk about an action or situation in the past when we don't know the exact time or it isn't important. I've invited Dave and Sue for dinner. We use the past simple to talk about a specific time in the past. I phoned my brother yesterday.

  13. THE PRESENT PERFECT VS THE PAST SIMPLE

    THE PRESENT PERFECT. The Past Simple refers to an action that happened at a definite time in the past: • He wrote his first book in 1882. The Present Perfect refers to an action that happened at an indefinite time in the past: • He has written many books. Chose the correct tense: 1.

  14. Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

    The document discusses the present perfect tense in English. It explains that the present perfect is used for actions that began in the past but are still ongoing or relevant to the present. It provides examples of using the present perfect with time phrases like "for" and "since" as well as with words like "just", "yet", and "already". It then compares the present perfect and past simple ...

  15. present perfect vs past simple by Guillermo Aguillón García on Prezi

    Present Perfect vs past simple Present Perfect Use the present perfect: 1. to talk about an action in the past when you don't know (say) when the action happened. ... Simple presentation background ideas: elevate your visuals with minimalistic designs; Aug. 29, 2024. How to memorize a speech: tips for all timeframes;

  16. PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE

    Present perfect or past simple tense. PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE - basketball game. loveteaching. 37799. 380. 157. 0. 1/10 ...

  17. PRESENT PERFECT vs. SIMPLE PAST

    1) Actions that are not connected with present. The Titanic sank in 1912. 2) Actions in the past that are chronologically ordered. He came in, sat on the sofa and started waiting. 3) Repeated actions in the past (= used to). I took English courses when I was twelve (= I used to take English courses).

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    1. Present Perfect vs Simple Past Grammar Lesson 2018-2019 2. Present Perfect Past Tense have/has + verb 3 (participle) Verb 2 Happened in the past until present (effect or event) Happened in the past, ended in the past He has drunk all of the milk. We need He drank all of the milk this morning. to buy some more for tomorrow Thus, he often went to toilet. He has waited for your for a long time.

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