present perfect-x-simple-past
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TRANSCRIPT
PRESENT PERFECTvs.
SIMPLE PAST
•We use the Present Perfect to talk about a past experience. (no definition of time)
•Ex: I have been to the United States
•The important thing is that I HAVE BEEN TO THE USA (not when I went there)
•We use the Past Simple to talk about a specific time in the past. (definition of time)
•Ex: I went to the United States last year.
•The action is finished
•Ex. I lived in Paris for a year (I don’t live in Paris now)
Right or wrong?
I’ve bought a new car last week.
I bought a new car. Do you want to see it?
I’ve had a toast this morning.
I’ve lost my key!
ANSWERS
I bought a new car last week.
I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it?
I had a toast this morning.
I’ve lost my key! (correct)
Time expressions + present perfect
• There are two time expressions that are accepted with the present perfect.
• I’ve worked here for 20 years.
• since 1995.
•
Present Perfect
• Take a look at these sentences:
• I have lived in the UK.
• I have lived here since 2007.
In the first sentence the action is finished.
In the second the action continues to be true in the present.
Typical mistakes
• Typical mistake: I live* here since 2007
• I have lived here since 2007
For or Since
• We use FOR to indicate a period of time: for seven years, for ages, for a couple of days, for a year.
• We use SINCE to indicate the moment a long action in the past started: since 1998, since I was a student, since I left university, since my husband died.
For or Since?
• Mary has lived in Barcelona _______ 20 years.
• They have loved each other _______ the day they met.
• I’ve known Alice ______ six years.
• I’ve had this coat ________ I was a student.
ANSWERS
• Mary has lived in Barcelona for 20 years.
• They have loved each other since the day they met.
• I’ve known Alice for six years.
• I’ve had this coat since I was a student.
Time expressions + past simple
• I did it in 1999
• last week/ last year…
• two months ago
• on March 22.
For can be used with both past simple and present
perfect
• Ex. I worked on that project for 3 years. (I don’t work on that project anymore)
• Ex. I’ve worked on that project for 3 years. (I’m still working on that project now)
Since can only be used with the present perfect
I’ve known him since we were little.
We divorced since 1998.
• Can you correct the second sentence?
Correction
• We’ve been divorced since 1998.
• We divorced in 1998.
What are the missing prepositions?
• I’ve known her ______ years.
• I met my wife _____ 1995.
• I last went to the cinema two weeks ______
• I haven’t been to the cinema ______ ages.
• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ 2004.
• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ four years.
ANSWERS
• I’ve known her for years.
• I met my wife in 1995.
• I last went to the cinema two weeks ago
• I haven’t been to the cinema for ages.
• I’ve lived in Barcelona since 2004.
• I’ve lived in Barcelona for five years.
Work by Graziela Peleteiro, visit http://englishlessons.com.brThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Brazil License.