Scribd
Upload
8 views2 pages

present perfect and past simple info & examples

The document explains the differences between the present perfect and simple past tenses in English. The simple past is used for actions that started and finished in the past, while the present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have relevance to the present. Examples illustrate how each tense conveys different meanings based on the timing and continuity of actions.

Uploaded by

andrespineda1998m
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views2 pages

present perfect and past simple info & examples

The document explains the differences between the present perfect and simple past tenses in English. The simple past is used for actions that started and finished in the past, while the present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have relevance to the present. Examples illustrate how each tense conveys different meanings based on the timing and continuity of actions.

Uploaded by

andrespineda1998m
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Question

What is the difference between the present perfect and the simple past?
Answer
Use the simple past when the action started in the past, finished in the past, and is not continuing
now. Use the present perfect when the action started in the past and is continuing now.
The simple past tells us that an action happened at a certain time in the past, and is not
continuing anymore. It tells us when an action happened, so more information is given with this
verb form, such as when the action took place.
The present perfect tells us that an action started in the past and it is still happening now, or it is
something that happens regularly. We may need more information to tell us how long it has been
going on. It may also tell us that the time period it started in is still going on.
The following example sentences show the different meanings when using the two verb tenses.

 The sun rose at 6:00 am. (Simple Past: We know that the sun came up at a time in the
past and it is not rising now. The sun may or may not be in the sky when this statement is
made. The time is important to add.)
 The sun has risen. (Present perfect: We know that the sun already rose, and it is still in
the sky now.)

 Jackson ate lunch early. (Simple Past: Eating lunch has started and ended in the past.
Someone might say this when the time for eating lunch has also ended. Lunch happened
early, and it is over now.)
 Jackson has eaten lunch. (Present Perfect: Jackson started and finished eating lunch in
the past, but lunch time is still going on. Someone might say this when others are
preparing to eat lunch, and they want to know whether Jackson will join them.)

 Jeff was friends with Kelly when he was a kid. (Simple Past: This tells us that Jeff is not
friends with Kelly anymore, and the additional information tells us when he was friends
with her in the past.)
 Jeff has been friends with Kelly since he was a kid. (Present perfect: This tells us that Jeff
was friends with Kelly before now and is still friends with her now. The friendship is
continuing, and the additional information tells us how long it has been going on.)

 She lived in Paris for a year. (Simple Past: This action started and finished in the past. She
no longer lives in Paris. It is important to know the action lasted for a year.)
 She has lived in Paris for a year. (Present perfect: This action started in the past and is
still going on now; it has not finished. She lives in Paris now, and additional information
tells us how long she has lived there.)

 Meg ran two marathons last year. (Simple Past: We know Meg ran two marathons in the
past, and the time period the action started in and finished in—last year—has ended.)
 Meg has run two marathons this year. (Present perfect: We know Meg started running
marathons this year. However, this year has not ended and she may run more marathons
before the end of the year.)

What's the difference? Present Perfect and


Past Simple
Present Perfect Simple Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started
in the past and continue to the Finished actions:
present:
I knew Julie for ten years (but then she
I've known Julie for ten years moved away and we lost touch).
(and I still know her).

A finished action in someone's


A finished action in someone's life
life (when the person is still
(when the person is dead):
alive: life experience):
My great-grandmother went to Mexico
My brother has been to
three times.
Mexico three times.

A finished action with a result A finished action with no result in the


in the present: present:

I've lost my keys! (The result I lost my keys yesterday. It was


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

With an unfinished time word With a finished time word (last week,
(this week, this month, today): last month, yesterday):

I've seen John this week. I saw John last week.

Click here for more information about the present perfect tense
Click here for more information about the past simple tense

Remember:

1. We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no
connection to the present.
2. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are
still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to
the present.
3. We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
o NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday. What’s the mistake here?

You might also like