Simple Past Tense VS Present Perfect Tense

Simple Past Tense VS Present Perfect Tense

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English Subject

X Grade

Senior High School ​/2nd Semester

By Neli Srihandayani, M.Pd

Simple Past Tense

• The simple past tense is used to talk about activities or situations that began and ended in the past [ e.g., yesterday, last night, two days ago, in 2021].

• Most simple past verbs are formed by adding -ed to a verb, as in [a],​ and [d]

• Some verbs have irregular past forms as in [b], and [c]

• The simple past forms of be are was and were​

[a] I finished my work two days ago

[b] Mina ate bread yesterday​

[c] ​I did my homework last night

[d] Bob stayed home this morning​

[e] I was busy yesterday

[f] They were at home last night​

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FORMS OF THE SIMPLE PAST : REGULAR VERBS

​STATEMENT	​ I - You - She - He - It - We - They worked yesterday
NEGATIVE​	​ I - You - She - He - It - We - They didn't work yesterday
QUESTION​	​Did I - You - She - He - It - We - They work yesterday
SHORT ANSWER​	​Yes, I - You - She - He - It - We - They worked yesterday No, I - You - She - He - It - We - They didn't work yesterday

FORMS OF THE SIMPLE PAST : REGULAR VERBS

​STATEMENT	​I - She - He - It was in class yesterday They - We - You were in class yesterday
NEGATIVE​	​I - She - He - It was not in class yesterday They - We - You were not in class yesterday
QUESTION​	​Was I - She - He - It in class yesterday? Were They - We - You in class yesterday?
SHORT ANSWER​	​Yes, I - She - He - It was Yes, They - We - You were No, I - She - He - It - wasn't No, They - We - You weren't

MEANINGS OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

[a] Jim has already eaten lunch [b] Ann hasn't eaten lunch [c] Have you ever eaten at that restaurant?	In [a] : Jim's lunch occurred before the present time. The exact time is not mentioned, it is unimportant or unknown. For the speaker, the only important information is that Jim's lunch occurred in the past, sometimes before now
[d] Pete has eaten at that restaurant many times [e] I have eaten there twice	An activity may be repeated two, several, or more times before now, at unspecified times in the past, as in [d] and [e].
[f] We've been in class since ten o'clock this morning [g] I have known Ben for ten years. I met him ten years ago. I still know him today. We are friends.	​When the present perfect is used with In [f] : Class started at ten. We are still in class Now, at the moment of speaking. Incorrect: We are in class since ten o'clock this morning

SIMPLE PAST VS PRESENT PERFECT

SIMPLE PAST [a] I finished my work two hours ago. PRESENT PERFECT [b] I have already finished my work	In [a] : I finished my work at a specific time in the past ( two hours ago). In (b) : I finished my work at an unspecified time in the past (sometime before now) THE SIMPLE PAST expresses an activity that occurred at a specific time (or times) in the past, as in (a) and (c) THE PRESENT PERFECT expresses an activity that occurred at an unspecified time (or times) in the past, as in (b) and (d)
SIMPLE PAST [c] I was in Europe last year/three years ago/in 2020/in 2019 and 2020/when I was ten years old. PRESENT PERFECT [d] I have been in Europe many times/several times/a couple of times/once (no mention of time)	​
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What are the differences in the ideas the verb tenses express?

[a] I had a wonderful bicycle last year.

[b] I've had had many wonderful bicycles.​

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​Discuss the meanings of the verb tenses, with your seatmate!

Multiple Choice

"Do you often go to restaurants?"

"No, it ... quite a long time since I went to a restaurant with my friends."

• had been

• would be

• was

• has been

• is being

Fill in the Blanks

A: "Are you going to finish your work before you go to bed?"

B: "I have already finished it. I [finish]

my work two hours ago

Multiple Choice

Which one is Correct Sentence ...

• I have been here since May

• I lived here since May

• I live here since May

• I was here since May

Fill in the Blanks

I have been here ... two months

Multiple Choice

Rina ... the letter and she will post it, but she can't find a stamp

• writes

• had written

• has written

• wrote