Present Perfect &

Past Simple Tense

Prepared by Mr. Meyphalla Oudom
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Present Perfect Simple
 Form
Positive: Subj + have/has + past participle (V3) + Obj
Negative: Subj + have/has + not + past participle (V3) + Obj
Yes/No Question: Have/ has + Subj + past participle (V3) + Obj ?
WH Question: Question Word + have/ has + Subj+ past participle (V3) + Obj ?
Example:
 They have bought a new car.
 Have you seen that movie many times?
 I haven’t bought the book yet.
 Where have I left my wallet?
 Uses
1: We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions or
states or habits that started in the past and continue to the present.
Usually we use it to say 'how long' and we need 'since' or 'for'.
Example:
 I've known Karen since 1994.
 She's lived in London for three years.
 I've worked here for six months.
 Uses
'Since' and 'For'
We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year). The fixed time
can be another action, which is in the past simple (since I was at school, since I
arrived).
Example:
 I've known Sam since 1992.
 I've liked chocolate since I was a child.
 She's been here since 2pm.
 Uses
We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months).
Example:
I've known Julie for ten years.
I've been hungry for hours.
She's had a cold for a week.
They have lived here for ten years.
 Uses
2: Life experience. These are actions or events that happened sometime
during a person's life. We don't say when the experience happened, and
the person needs to be alive now. We often use the words 'ever' and
'never' here.
Example:
I have been to Tokyo.
They have visited Paris three times.
We have never seen that film.
 Uses
3: With an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today). The
period of time is still continuing.
Example:
I haven't seen her this month.
She's drunk three cups of coffee today.
I've already moved house twice this year!
 Uses
4: A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result). We often
use the present perfect to talk about something that happened in the
recent past, but that is still true or important now. Sometimes we can use
the past simple here, especially in US English.
Example:
I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house).
She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today).
They've missed the bus (so they will be late).
 Uses
5: We can also use the present perfect to talk about something that
happened recently, even if there isn't a clear result in the present. This is
common when we want to introduce news and we often use the words
'just / yet / already / recently'. However, the past simple is also correct in
these cases, especially in US English.
Example:
The Queen has given a speech.
I've just seen Lucy.
The Mayor has announced a new plan for the railways
 Uses
Been and Gone
In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go',
but in slightly different circumstances. We use 'been' (often when we talk
about life experience) to mean that the person we're talking about visited
the place and came back. I've been to Paris (in my life, but now I'm in
London, where I live).
Example:
She has been to school today (but now she's back at home).
They have never been to California.
 Uses
We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in
the present) to mean that the person went to the place and is at the place
now. Where's John? He's gone to the shops (he's at the shops now).
Example:
Julie has gone to Mexico. (now she's in Mexico).
They've gone to Japan for three weeks. (now they're in Japan).
Past Simple Tense
 Form
Positive: Subj + Verb Past (V2) + Obj
Negative: Subj + did + not + Verb Present (V1)+Obj.
Yes/No Question: Did + Subj + Verb Present (V1) + Obj ?
WH Question: Question word + did + Subj + Verb Present (V1) + Obj ?
Example:
She had a headache yesterday.
He didn't wash his car.
Did she work yesterday?
Where did she go?
 Uses
1. Show a past state or habit.
Example:
Bopha lived in a small house by the river when she was a child.
I went swimming every weekend when I was in countryside.
She spent too much money when she studied at high school.
I studied French when I was a child.
He played the violin.
They never went to school, they always skipped class.
 Uses
2. Express finish action at a definite/specific time in the past.
Example:
Phirun bought a nice watch yesterday.
I watched a film last night.
She gave me a kiss this morning.
My student didn’t do the homework last night.
3. Tell a story
Example:
Romeo and Juliet met at the party and fell deeply in love with each other…….
An old man picked up a bottle and opened the stopper; a genie appeared……
 Uses
4. Show series of actions which followed one another in the past.
Example:
The burglars arrived, broke the door, stole things, and fled in a car.
This morning I got up at 6 o’clock, took a bath, brushed my teeth, dried my self, got
dressed and went to class.
5. Form the second conditionals.
Example:
If I were you, I would not do that again.
If he knew the answers, he would tell her.
If I were rich, I would buy a castle.
If they studied hard, they would pass.
 Uses
6. Indicate two actions in the past: the first one is in the Past Continuous
and the second one is in the Past Simple.
Example:
He met his girlfriend while he was travelling a shop.
While we were playing game, someone knocked the door.
I was watching television when he arrived.
 Uses
7. Indicate two actions in the past: the first one is in the Past Perfect and
the second one is in the Past Simple.
Example:
After the family had had breakfast, they went to the zoo.
Robber had already left the scene when police arrived.
Jane had read a lot about elephants before she went to the zoo.
 Present Perfect Simple or Past Simple
Present Perfect Simple Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the past and
Finished actions:
continue to the present:
 I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved
 I've known Julie for ten years (and I still
away and we lost touch).
know her).

A finished action in someone's life (when the person is

A finished action in someone's life (when the person
dead):
is still alive: life experience):
 My great-grandmother went to Mexico three
 My brother has been to Mexico three times.
times.
 Present Perfect Simple or Past Simple
A finished action with a result in the present: A finished action with no result in the present:

 I've lost my keys! (The result is that I  I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there
can't get into my house now). is no result. I got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week, this

With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday):
month, today):
 I saw John last week.
 I've seen John this week.
Thanks for Your
Attention!  