SIMPLE PAST

OR
PRESENT
PERFECT ?

(I have done and I did)

SIMPLE PAST
The past simpleis used to
talk about actions in the past
that have finished. It talks
about 'then' and definitely
excludes 'now'.

We use it when the action in the

PAST is DEFINITE.
Last Monday, I had a diffi cult test.
When I was a child, I studied at
that school.

PRESENT PERFECT

The present
perfectsimple to look
back on actions in the past
from the present. It always
includes 'now'.

YOU CAN USE THE PRESENT PERFECT WITH JUST,

ALREADY AND YET.
Just = a short time ago
Hello. Have you just arrived?
We use already to say that
happened sooner than expected.
Hes already gone.

something

Yet = until now and shows that the speaker is

expecting something to happen. Use yet only
in questions and negative sentences.
Ive written the letter but I havent posted it
yet.

Do not use the present perfect if there is

no connection with the present (for
example, things that happened a long
time ago):
The Chinese invented printing.
How many plays did Shakespeare
write?

Do not use the present

perfect when you talk
about a fi nished time
(for example, yesterday
/ in 1985 / ten minutes
ago). Use a past tense:

I went to bed early last night.

They arrived an hour ago.

COMPARE:
Shakespeare wrote many plays.
My sister is a writer. She has
written many books.

CONVERSATION
A: Ann and Ihave seensawthe new Spielberg
movie yesterday.
B: Was it good?
A: Yes, but the book is better. I have readreadit
on holiday.
B: Youve been to thecinemaa lot recently.
A: Yes, Iwashave beenthere three times so far
this month.
B: I know! You went with melastweek

PAST SIMPLE
PRESENT
For actions which started in the
PERFECT
past and continue in the present

To talk about past states that

cannot happen again

Shakespeare was a writer. He

wrote plays and poems. (from
156 4 to 1616)

For actions which fi nished in

the past, one after the other.

She lived in this house for

ten years and then moved to
a nother one. (sequence of pa st
a ctions)

She has lived in this fl a t since

2005.
She has lived there for three
years.
(She still lives there!)

To describe experiences in our

lifetime.
Have you ever eaten Chinese
food?
(in your life until now)
Did you eat Chinese food
when you were in China? Yes, I
did.
(specifi c time in the past)

Heres a simple 3 question checklist to decide

when you need to use the Present Perfect or
the Past Simple:
Is the time-period referred to ongoing? Still
happening?
PRESENT PERFECT
Are you referring to a specific moment in the past?
PAST SIMPLE
Are you referring to something that is no longer true
or ongoing?
PAST SIMPLE

PAST SIMPLE / PRESENT

PERFECT
Time expressions:

Yesterday
last week (...)
six months ago
in 1975, at 3
oclock

Time expressions:

Just, recently
ever, never
already, yet
since, for
so far
how long

EXERCISES

http://
web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpa
st1.htm
Key Answer http://
www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/answers.php?quiz_id=
228