Past Simple or Present Perfect Flashcards
Past events or experiences
Present perfect: It’s not important when something happened. When we use this tense?
We use the present perfect to talk about recent events or about people’s experiences, when these events happened is not important and we don’t mention it.
- I’ve been to Malaysia. (When is not improtant. the important thing is that I have this experience now)
- She’s won three gold medals.
- I’ve broken my arm.
Past simple: we say or ask when sometihing happened
what is the object of this tense?, give exemples
we use past simple to talk about completed actions in the past. We often say or ask when these actions happened.
- We went to Malaysia Last year.
- She won three gold medals at the last Olympic Games.
- When did you break your arm?
In conversation
We often start a conversation about recent events or people’s experiences using the present perfect, but if we continue talking or asking about the details of that event, we use the past simple. Give expamples
John: I’ve been to the cinema.
Patrick: What did you see?
John: I saw a very good film by…
Sarah: Oh, you’ve broken your arm!
Rachel: Yes, I have.
Sarah: How did it happen?
Rachel: It happened yesterday while I was riding my bike.
I do judo and I’ve won some competitions. In fact, I’ve won two medals. I got the first one in Singapore in 2002. The second one was different. It was in Tokyo and I was older.
Duration with how long, for and since
We use the present perfect with how long, for, since to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and **still continue or are still true now**.
We use the past simple with how long, for, since to talk about actions or situations that started and finished in the past. Give examples to Compare
He‘s lived in New York for ten years. (=He lives in New York now)
He lived in New York for ten years. (=He does NOT live in New York now)
How long have you worked in the bank? (=You work in the bank now)
How long did you work in the bank? (=You do NOT work in the bank now)
Exemples and explanations
I Peter last night.
Oh really. I him since last summer. Is he OK?
What last weekend?
B: I at home all weekend.
Where’s Tom? B: He _____
-saw
*We use the past simple because we are talking about a completed past action and we say when it happened: last night.
-haven’t seen
*We use the present perfect tense with how long, for, and since to talk about situations that started in the past and are still true now.
-did you do.
*We use the past simple for past events when we mention when something happened.
-stayed
We use the past simple for past events when we mention when something happened: last weekend
-‘s just gone out
* We often use the present perfect with just to talk about actions that have happened very recently (like minutes ago).
PRESENT PERFECT FORM
- I * You * We * They –> Have seen her / ‘ve seen her.
- He * She * It –> Has seen her / ’s seen her
POSITIVE
PRESENT PERFECT FORM
- I * You * We * They –> Have not seen her / haven’t seen her.
- He * She * It –> Has not seen her / Hasn’t seen her
NEGATIVE
PRESENT PERFECT FORM
Have * I * You * We * They –> seen her.
Has *he /she/it –> seen her
QUESTION
PRESENT PERFECT FORM
Yes, I/you/we/they–>have.
Yes, he/she/it –>has
No, I/you/we/they–>have not / haven’t.
No, he/she/it –>has not / hasn’t
SHORT ANSWER
Note that short forms are not used in positive short answers.
Present Perfect Meaning
PAST RECENT EVENTS –>
We don’t say when. Or with time expressons including now.
* She’s had an accident.
* I’ve passed the exam.
- JUST, ALREADY, YET–>
Have you finished yet? Yes, I’ve already finished.
**RECENTLY –> **
Have you seen any good films recently?
TODAY, THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH, ETC. –>
I haven’t seen Ted today. Maybe he isn’t feeling well.
Please explain the key and give some examples
Past events when time is not mentioned
We use the present perfect to talk about **past actions or events when time is not mentioned,** i.e. we don’t say when these events happened.
I‘ve broken my arm.
I’ve passed the exam.
She’s found a job.
Just already, yet
We often the present perfect with just, already and yet. We can use just after the verb have to emphasise that these events are very recent.
Tony **has just called. **
We use already in positive sentences to talk about actions that we have completed sooner than we expected. Already goes after the verb have
I‘ve already finished my homework.
We use yet in negative sentences and questions to talk about things that we expect to happen soon. Yet goes at the end of the sentence.
Have you finished your homework yet?
I haven’t finished my homework yet.
Recently
We often use the present perfect with recently to talk about past recent actions.
They‘ve recently bought a new car.
Today, this week, this month, this year
We can use the present perfect with time expressions when the time we mention has not finished.
I‘ve seen John today. (=Today has not finished.)
Has she called you this week?
PAST EXPERIENCES
We don’t say when these events happened.
- NEVER, EVER, BEFORE
- Superlative + EVER
- Number of times until now
- explain the key and give some examples
We’ve been to Rome and Florence
Never, ever, before
We often use the words never, ever, or before to talk about experiences.
I‘ve never read this book.
Have you ever seen a John Wayne film.
I haven’t experienced anything like this before.
The best thing I’ve ever done
We can use the present perfect simple with a superlative adjective and ever.
This is the best meal I’ve ever had.
It’s the most amazing place we’ve ever travelled to.
How many times
We can also use the present perfect to say how many times something has happened until now.
I’ve watched this film three times.
We’ve been to Paris twice.
Have gone to or have been to?
We say someone has gone somewhere when this person is still away, and we say someone has been somewhere when this person has already come back from that place.
Tom has gone to Ireland. He’ll be there for a couple of weeks. (=He’s in Ireland now.)
We have been to Ireland three times. We love it. (=We are not in Ireland now.)
UNINISHED SITUATIONS
Situations that started in the past and have not finished
- HOW LONG, FOR SINCE
- ALL + Time expressions
- LATELY
Explain the key and give some examples
Duration from the past until now – for, since
We can use the present perfect with for, since and how long to ask or talk about **situations that started in the past and have not finished.
We‘ve been** married for 25 years.
I‘ve had this watch since I was a kid.
How long have you been friends?
Compare:
We‘ve been married for 20 years. (=We are married now)
We were married for 20 years. Then we divorced. (We are not married now)
For + period of time; since + moment in the past
We use **for **+ period of time (2 hours, 3 days, 20 years, etc.) and we use since + the moment in the past when something started.
I’ve been here for hours.
She’s been my teacher for three years.
I’ve been unemployed since May.
I’ve lived in this town since I was born.
Lately, all morning/day/year/etc.
We can also use the present perfect with lately or with **all + period of time (all day, all morning, all my life, etc.**) to talk about actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
She’s been with me all day.
I’ve been very busy lately.
Don’t use ago
We can’t use ago with the present perfect.
CONCLUSION
Past simple or present perfect?
Giving details in past simple
When did it happen?
We use the present perfect (NOT past simple) to talk about past experiences and actions when we don’t say or don’t know when they happened.
I’ve lost my keys.
We‘ve been to a very nice restaurant.
We use the past simple (NOT present perfect) when we mention or ask about when something happened, or when the time is known by the speaker and the listener. We often use a past expression (last week, yesterday, when I was a child, etc.)
We arrived yesterday. (NOT We’ve arrived yesterday.)
When did the accident happen?
Giving details in past simple
We use the present perfect to introduce a past event or experience, but if we continue talking and we give details, then we use the** past simple**.
A: I‘ve been to the cinema.
B: What did you see?
A: I saw a very good film by…
A: Oh, you‘ve broken your arm.
B: Yes, I** have.
A: How did** it happen?
