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English Tenses: Past Simple and Present Perfect

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Learn the difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect Tense with useful grammar rules and examples.

The present perfect can cause a lot of confusion for English learners because it is actually used in several different ways.

Past Simple and Present Perfect

Simple Past Tense

Form:  

Subject + regular verb-ed or irregular verb (V2 form, Past Simple)

Use:

  • Finished time

We lived Japan in from 1995-1998. (a time period that started and ended in the past)

  • Definite time

I saw the Eiffel Tower in 2007.

  • Series of finished actions

First, he read book and then he watched movie.

  • Repeated actions

He went to the cinema every weekend last year.

Time phrases:

  • yesterday
  • ago
  • last
  • in 1994, etc.
  • in the 20th century,etc.
  • in July, etc.
  • on Monday, etc.

Present Perfect Tense

Form:

Subject + regular verb-ed or irregular verb (V3 form, Past Participle)

Use:

  • Unfinished time

I’ve worked as a teacher since 2011. (a time period that started in the past, and continues until now)

  • Indefinite time

I have seen the Eiffel Tower.

  • Experience

Have you ever seen this movie?

  • Result

She has already watched this movie 3 times.

Time Phrases:

  • already
  • just
  • yet
  • ever
  • never
  • for
  • since

Past Simple and Present Perfect | Image

Past Simple and Present Perfect

Author

Guitar

Wednesday 31st of March 2021

Bruh

Dhamchoe

Wednesday 24th of March 2021

great learning material.Gaining lots of confidence.Thank you for your humanitarion acts.

mercedes oliart

Saturday 20th of February 2021

Great!!!

Tam

Monday 18th of January 2021

Thank you, it was very useful. However, the poster has a slip, the form for the present perfect should be S + have/has + past participle.

Abdelkarim

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Yes that's what I'm wondering about 🤔🤔

Adela

Saturday 19th of September 2020

Thanks first. It is a simple, organized and complete information. TO the point.i love that. It conviced me at once.