Present Perfect or Simple Past? Flashcards
We use it to talk about a period of time (situation) that continue from the past until now.
Present pefect
To refer to a period of time or a situation (whathever things are or are not) that began in the past and that “is” always when we talk.
- I’ve seen him many times recentlcy.
- I haven’t seen him for ages.
We use it with time specific expressions such as:
- yesterday
- one year ago
- last week
- when I was a child
- when I lived in Japan
- at that moment
- that day
- one day…
Simple past. Think to “when” question.
We use it with today, this morning, this year, etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking.
Present pefect (period around now in these cases)
- Have you had a vacation this year?
- I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you?
- Rob hasn’t studied very hard this semester.
We use it to talk about new or recent happenings, new information.
Present perfect. (period around now)
- I’ve lost my keys. Have you seen them?
- Is Sally here? No, she’s gone out.
- Bill and Sarah have won the lottery.
It is used when we you only want to know if you did something, not when you did it.
Present perfect.
You are interested in the information itself, not in the moment of the action.
We use it in the first time something has happened.
_Present pefect _
- Have you ever ridden a horse before? No this is a first time I’ve ridden a horse.
- Have you ever been there before?
- This is the second time this has happened.
We use it to talk about finished time with expression such yesterday, ago, when I was, from… to…
**Simple past **(finished time, think to “when”)
- It was very cold yesterday.
- I bought a new jacket las week.
- She went out 10 minutes ago.
- He worked here from 1999 to 2005.
We use it with expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
_Present perfect _
- We use it to talk about an action happened at an unspecified time before now.
We use it for things that are not recent or new.
_Simple past _ (not recent or new = finished time)
- My mother grew up in USA. (finished time)
- Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. (finished time)
We always use it with to ask “When…?” or “What time…?”.
Simple past
- When did your friends get here?
- What time did you finish work?
It _____ (not/rain) this week.
It hasn’t rained this week.(This week… Period continuous until now.)
_____ (see) Bob recently?
Have you seen Bob recently?(unspecified time)
We _____ (wait) for an hour. (We are no longer waiting)
We waited for an hour. (for = finished time)
_____ (eat) a lot of candy when you were a child?
_Did you ea_t a lot of candy when you were a child? (when = specified time)
I _____ (buy) a new car. You have to come and see it.
I’ve bought a new car. You have to come and see it. (new information/recent happening)
I _____ (buy) a new car last week.
I bought a new car last week. (last week= specified time)
Where _____ (be) last night?
Where were you last night? (specified time)
Maria _____ (graduate) from high school in 2004.
Maria graduated from high school in 2004.
(specified time)
I’m looking for Mike. _____ (see) him?
I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him?
(not interested in “when”, only in result)
I don’t know where Lisa is. _____ (you/see) her?
I don’t know where Lisa is. Have you seen her?
(not interested in “when”, only in result)
No, but we _____ (be) there twice this month.
No, but we have been there twice this month.
(this = unspecified time)
Mr. Lee _____ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he quit.
Mr. Lee worked in a bank for 15 years (for = finished time). The he quit.
Kelly lives in Toronto. She _____ (live) there all there life.
Kelly lives in Toronto. She has lived there all there life. (period continues until now)
It’s nearly lunch time. I _____ (not/see) Martin all morning.
It’s nearly lunch time. I haven’t seen Martin all morning. (period continues until now)
Where do you live? Montreal. How long _____ (live) there?
Where do you live? Montreal. How long have you lived there? (period continues until now)
Where did you live before? Montreal. How long _____ (live) there?
Where did you live before? Montreal. How long did you live there? (before = finished time)
Where _____ (you /put) my wallet?
Where have you put my wallet?
(Not interested in “when”, only in the result)
I _____ (lose) weight, but I gained it back again.
I lost weight, but I gained it back again. (finished time)
They _____ (have) a tree in the front yard, but they cut it down.
They had a tree in the front yard (finished time), but they cut it down.
Your brother and his wife _____ (just/leave).
Your brother and his wife have just left.
(recent happening)
The cost of gas _____ (go up), but it’s going down again.
The cost of gas has gone up, but it’s going down again. (finished time)
I _____ (already/do) my homework.
I have already done my homework.
(already = unspecified time)
I felt good at work all day because I _____ (eat) a good breakfast.
I felt good at work all day because I ate a good breakfast. (finished time)
_____ (you/see) any good movie recently?
Have you seen any good movie recently.
(recently unspecified time)
Christine is a well known architect. She _____ (designe) many big buildings.
Christine is a well known architect. She has designed many big buildings. (not interested in when, only in the result)
Mike is a good college student, but he _____ (have) problems in high scool.
Mike is a good college student, but he had problems in high scool. (specified time)
The Egyptians _____ (build) the first pyramids.
The Egyptians built the first pyramids. (finished time)
I know this computer works. I _____ (use) it.
I know this computer works. I’ve used it.
(not interested in “when”, only in the information)
Sally swum a lost last year, but she _____ (swim) much this year.
Sally swum a lost last yeard, but she hasn’t swum much this year. (unspecified time)
It hasn’t rained so far this week, but it _____ (rain) a lot last week.
It hasn’t rained so far this week, but it rained a lot last week. (specified time)
My parents have been to Mexico, but they _____ (not/be) one since then.
My parents have been to Mexico, but they haven’t been one since then. (Since = situation continues until now.)
I _____ (pay) the bill last month, but I _____ (not/paid) any so far this month.
I paid the bill last month (specified time), but I haven’t paid any so far this month (this = unspecified time).
My car _____ (not/break down) recently, but it _____ (break down) twice last month.
My car hasn’t broken down recently (unspecified time), but it broke down twice last month (specified time).
My father _____ (grow up) in Chicago, but my mother _____ (not grow up) there.
My father grew up in Chicago (finished time), but my mother didn’t grew up there (finished time).
This mountain _____ (be, never) climbed by anyone.
This mountain has never been climbed by anyone. (not interest in “when”, only if it is)
