Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect

[+] have/has + V3 (ed)

[- ] haven’t/hasn’t + V3 (ed)

[? ] Have/Has + V3 (ed)

Form of Present Perfect

  Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken.

Has he spoken?

We use the present perfect to talk about:

the past events, not saying exactly when things happened.

My friend has broken his arm. recent past actions (often with just)

Look! I've cut my finger! to give news

A parcel has arrived for you. with yet and already.

I've already seen this film twice.

We often use yet, just and already with the present perfect.

Use yet in [-] and [?] sentences at the end of the sentence.

Use already in [+] sentences before the main verb

Use just before the main verb.Have you done your homework yet?

I’ve already done it!Our train has just left!

simple past for action that happened in the past and is:

over, done, finished!

Sara lived in Boston for 5 years. Now she lives in New York.

present perfect for action that started in the past, but . . .

is still true today.

Sara has lived in Boston for 5 years. She lives there now.

past simple with time words like:• yesterday• last Saturday,

week, month, year, etc.

• ___ ago• when I was…• in 1990 (past

date)

present perfect

time words like:• recently/lately• Just, already, yet• since …• so far • this week, month, year, etc.

• this is the first time• ever, never

PRESENT PERFECT OR

PAST SIMPLE?

• Have you ever been to Mexico?• Yes, I have.

• When did you go?• I went last year.

PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE1. We normally start with a

general question in present perfect.

2. Then we change to past simple for more specific details (when, what, where, why…)

PRESENT PERFECT OR

PAST SIMPLE?

A. Have you been to China?B. Yes, I haveA. When did you go?B. I went last summer.C. Who did you go with? D. I went with my sonA. Where did you stay?B. I stayed in a basic hotel.

Match a sentence on the left with an explanation on the right.

SENTENCE1) They've bought

a new flat.

2) We've had it for a year.

EXPLANATIONa. We bought it a

year ago and we still have it.

b. They bought it recently. This is news.

Match a sentence on the left with an explanation on the right.

SENTENCE1) I went to

Australia last summer.

2) I've been to Australia.

EXPLANATIONa) This happened at

some time in my life

b) This happened at a specific time in the past.

Match a sentence on the left with an explanation on the right.

SENTENCE1) I've known him

since I was at school.

2) I knew him when I was at school.

EXPLANATIONa) I met him when I

was at school and we are still in touch.

b) This happened at some time in my life

Practice!Choose the past simple or present perfect and talk about why each is necessary.

1. When I was a child, I ________ (swim) a lot.2. So far this week, we ________ (study) a lot.3. Theo __________ (be) very sick recently.4. I _________ (have) a terrible headache

yesterday.5. It ________ (rain) a lot lately. 6. They _______ (get) married ten years ago.7. I ________ (be) to Balboa Park many times.8. My family ________ (take) a vacation last

year.

More practice http://

www.eltbase.com/quiz/215_03.htm http://

www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-1.html

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-2.html