Simple PastSimple Past or or Present PerfectPresent Perfect

Adventure Travel

Adventure Travel AdAdventure Travel Ad

Are you looking for a little adventure in your life? Travel with me to beautiful Colorado. I’m an experienced river rafting and rock climbing guide. I’ve been guiding adventure travelers in this area for 10 years. In fact, last year, I took 30 trips down the Colorado River. Oh, and don’t worry about safety. I’ve also taken a number of first aid and safety courses. No one has ever broken any bones on my trips!

He’s not kayaking now.

He’s not kayaking now.

Use ago to show when something

started.

Use ago to show when something

started.

Simple Past 1Simple Past 1

past

now

future

Use the simple past to talk about things that happened and were completed in the past.

I rafted down the Nile River a year ago.

rafted

Perfect Tenses 1Perfect Tenses 1

I have guided travelers my entire career.

I have been rock climbing for 10 years.

These things continue up to the present and may continue into the future.

These things continue up to the present and may continue into the future.

have guided have been rock climbing

past

now

future

Use the present perfect and the present perfect progressive to talk about things that started in the past, but were not completed.

for six years

Perfect Tenses 2Perfect Tenses 2

We often use the present perfect and the present perfect progressive with for and since. Use for to show how long something has been true and since to show when something started.

I have trained for six years to take this trip.

He has guided trips since 2000.

since 2000

for six years

past

now

future

have trained

since 2000.

has been guiding

Simple Past 2Simple Past 2

Use the simple past with past time expressions.

We trekked through the Andes Mountains last year.

He backpacked in Peru two months ago.

past

now

future

trekked

last year.

ago.

backpacked

Be Careful!Be Careful!

Don’t use specific time expressions with the present perfect except after since.

She took skydiving lessons last year.

She has taken skydiving lessons last year.

She has taken skydiving lessons since 2004.

last year.

last year.

since 2004.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I (sit) here for hours

looking at the beautiful birds in the rain forest. This

vacation to Brazil (be) wonderful! I

(see) so many amazing animals

since I arrived here. Last week, I

(hike) through the forest to see the tree

monkeys. Our guide on that trip (tell) us

some very interesting information. I

(learned) so

much on this trip!

Love, Daniela

Practice 1Practice 1Fill in the blanks with the simple past, present perfect, or present perfect progressive forms of the verbs in parentheses.

have sat

has been have seen

hiked told

have learned

Present Perfect 1Present Perfect 1

Use the present perfect without time expressions to talk about things that happened at some indefinite time in the past.

They have canoed down the Amazon River.

past

now

future

We don’t know when they canoed down the river, or the

time is not important.

We don’t know when they canoed down the river, or the

time is not important.

time ????

Present Perfect 2Present Perfect 2

The present perfect without for or since shows that an activity is finished. We often say how many or how many times with this use of the present perfect.

He has visited Machu Picchu three times.

past

now

future

three times.

for five hours

Present Perfect ProgressivePresent Perfect Progressive

The present perfect progressive shows that an activity is unfinished. We often say how long with the present perfect progressive.

They have been climbing for five hours.

past

now

future

for five hours.

have been climbing

The activity is not finished. They’re still climbing.

The activity is not finished. They’re still climbing.

She traveled to Alaska twice this month.

She’s traveled to Alaska twice this month.

Present Perfect & Simple PastPresent Perfect & Simple Past

Use the present perfect or the simple past with unfinished time periods such as today, this week, this month, and this year. Notice the difference in meaning.

this month.

this month.

The month isn’t over, but she

probably won’t travel again this month.

The month isn’t over, but she

probably won’t travel again this month.

The month isn’t over. She

might travel again.

The month isn’t over. She

might travel again.

HAVE YOU EVER?HAVE YOU EVER?

• spoken to a famous person? • danced on a table in a public place? • been trapped in a lift? • taken an illegal drug?• sung karaoke?• appeared on television? • left a bar or restaurant without paying? • appeared in a photograph in a newspaper? • chased a criminal? • done a very dangerous sport? • won a medal or trophy? • missed a flight? • stayed in a five-star hotel? • swum naked in the sea?

NOTE:Ask for follow-up questions:

Who What WhereWhen Why