The past simple is used to talk about actions in the past
that have finished. It talks about 'then' and definitely
excludes 'now'.
SIMPLE PAST
We use it when the action in the PAST is DEFINITE.
Last Monday, I had a difficult test.
When I was a child, I studied at that school.
The present perfect simple to look
back on actions in the past from the present. It always
includes 'now'.
PRESENT PERFECT
YOU CAN USE THE PRESENT PERFECT WITH JUST, ALREADY AND YET.
Just = ‘a short time ago’‘Hello. Have you just arrived?’
We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected.
‘He’s already gone.’
Yet = ‘until now’ and shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences.
‘I’ve written the letter but I haven’t posted it yet.’
Do not use the present perfect if there is no connection with the present (for
example, things that happened a long time ago):
The Chinese invented printing.
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (for example, yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago). Use a past tense:
I went to bed early last night.
They arrived an hour ago.
A: Ann and I have seen saw the new Spielberg
movie yesterday.
B: Was it good?
A: Yes, but the book is better. I have read read it
on holiday.
B: You’ve been to the cinema a lot recently.
A: Yes, I was have been there three times so far
this month.
B: I know! You went with me last week
CONVERSATION
• To talk about past states that
cannot happen again Shakespeare was a writer. He
wrote plays and poems. (from 1564 to 1616)
• For actions which fi nished in
the past, one after the other. She lived in this house for
ten years and then moved to another one. (sequence of past actions)
• For actions which started in the past and continue in the present
She has lived in this fl at since
2005. She has lived there for three
years. (She stil l l ives there!)
• To describe experiences in our
l ifetime.
Have you ever eaten Chinese food?
(in your life until now)
≠ Did you eat Chinese food when you were in China? Yes, I
did. (specifi c time in the past)
PAST SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT
Here’s a simple 3 question checklist to decide
when you need to use the Present Perfect or
the Past Simple:
Is the time-period referred to ongoing? Still
happening? →
PRESENT PERFECT
Are you referring to a specific moment in the past? →
PAST SIMPLE
Are you referring to something that is no longer true
or ongoing? →
PAST SIMPLE
PAST SIMPLE / PRESENT PERFECT
Time expressions:
• Yesterday• last week (...)• six months ago• in 1975, at 3
o’clock
Time expressions:
• Just, recently• ever, never• already, yet• since, for• so far • how long
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast1.htm
Key Answer http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/answers.php?quiz_id=228
EXERCISES
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