Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

Lengua Extranjera V

Simple Past

• We use the simple past when an action or situation happens and finishes in the past.

• We usually say or know when it happened.

• She called me at the office yesterday.

  I worked in London in 2010.

  Steve went to the US three times last year.

• We often use the simple past in stories, when one thing happens after another in the past.

• I stopped working in London and I looked for another job.

Present Perfect

• The present perfect is often used to talk about situations that started in the past and are continuing now. 

• We use present perfect to talk about life experiences, this means that we don't have to explain when the action happened because the specific time is unknown or is unimportant.

• We sometimes use the present perfect in a question with how long to ask about how longpresent situation has continued.

Present Perfect

• We talk about how long using the words for and since.

• How long have your mom and dad been married?

  They’ve been married for six months.

  They’ve been married since March.

• For is used with a length of time.

• For: ten minutes, one hour, two days, a week, three years, a long time

• Since is used with a specific point in the past until now.

• Since: 10 o'clock, Friday, November, 2013, Easter

Summarizing

• Present Perfect

• The present perfect is used for actions that started and continues to the present.

• Simple Past

• Simple past tense is used for actions that started and ended in the past.

Simple Past? Present Perfect? How do I choose?

Use TIME EXPRESSIONS.

Time expressions for Past Simple and Present Perfect.

Exercises

Read the following sentences and choose between simple past and present perfect.

Multiple Choice

I made coffee for breakfast twenty minutes ago.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

He has studying for the college exam for five months.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

She forgot to buy milk for her kids.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

The new videogame consoles has been released for few weeks.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

We didn't finish our Language homework until midnight.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Did you cook something for dinner?

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

Teacher Jesus and Teacher Gonzalo have worked for the BUAP for almost three years.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

I've never forgotten her birthday! We've been best friends since 2013.

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

She didn't come to work last Friday, she felt sick!

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

Multiple Choice

What did you do last summer?

• Simple Past

• Present Perfect

REMEMBER!

Simple Past and Present Perfect.

Are you talking about specific point in time? or a past time period?

• USE SIMPLE PAST.

• Examples:

• At 2 pm / noon / yesterday / last week / over the weekend / when I was a kid / when I was in junior high (secondary)

Open Ended

Write a sentence using SIMPLE PAST with a time expression.

Are you talking about an action that is still continuing? or are you talking about life experience?

• USE PRESENT PERFECT.

• Examples:

• I've been sick for a week. / I've lived here since 2017. / She has workd here her whole life. / We have been in Mexico but we have never been in Germany.

Open Ended

Write a sentence using PRESENT PERFECT with a time expression.