Unit 4: Past Simple or Present Perfect

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

        I do it                I did it                 I have done it
                    

     


        Present                           Past Simple                                               Present Perfect

>   I walk                                  He walked                                                   They have walked
>      I am                                  He was                                                         They ________
>      I talk                                 He talked                                                    They __________
>     I listen                               I listened                                                     They __________

Past simple

The past simple is used to say that something that started in the past has now finished!

In het Nederlands verander je ook de stam zodat het past bij de tijd waarover je schrijft - Ik lees nu....Ik las gisteren.  Dat is dus ook zo in het Engels!

Examples of the Past Simple

- I was in London last year.  (be)

- They bought the same dress yesterday. (buy)

- Did they buy the same dress yesterday? (buy)

They didn't buy the same dress yesterday.

   (buy)

 Was I in London last year? (be)

We didn't see this film last night. (see)

PRESENT PERFECT Simple

Use the present perfect simple for

1. When there is a connection between the past and the present. The connection can either be implied or obvious.  The exact timing is not important.

The astronauts have just reached the space station.

She has lost a lot of weight in the past few months.

present perfect simple ......

2. for things that have just happened or when the event is still relevant or is still in the 'news'

Oh no! The wheel has fallen off!

You must use the present perfect simple form when you mention the number of times

My car has broken down three times so far this week. 

present perfect simple

3. To give more news or general information. This is followed by more detail using the past simple.

A previously undiscovered species of fish has been discovered living deep in The ocean. It took five years to build the robot that sent back the photographs.

Examples of the PRESENT PERFECT as a positive sentence

- My father has lived in Rome for two years. (live)

- I have been in New York for a week. (be)

- They have known each other since 2013. (know)

Examples of the PRESENT PERFECT as a negative sentence

- My father has not lived in Rome for two years. (live)

- I have not been in New York for a week. (be)

- They have not known each other since 2013. (know)

Examples of the PRESENT PERFECT as a question sentence

- Has my father lived in Rome for two years? (live)

- Have I  been in New York for a week? (be)

- Have they known each other since 2013? (know)

Remember -  the present perfect

• often has for  or since  in the sentence.
• use have (I, you, we, they) or has (he,she, it) .

short summary

The  Past Simple is used when the event is finished and the Present Perfect is used when the event is still continuing or has relevance now.

 Now test yourself to see if you can spot the difference...

The police ____ (arrest) two people early this morning.

1. arrested
2. have arrested
3. has arrested
4. arrest

She____(go) to Japan but now she____ (come) back.

1. go / come
2. went / came
3. went / has come
4. has gone / came

Dan ____ already ____(buy) two tablets this year.

1. did bought
2. have bought
3. has buyed
4. has bought

How many games ____your team____ (win) this season?

1. did won
2. has won
3. has win
4. has winned

____you____ (visit) the CN Tower when you ____ (stay) in Toronto

1. Did you visit / stay
2. Did you visit / stayed
3. Have you visited / stayed
4. Have you visit / stayed

____ you ____(do) your homework yet? Yes I ____(finish) it an hour ago!

1. Did you do / finish
2. Did you do/ finished
3. Have you done / finished
4. Have you done / finish

There____(be) an accident in High Street, so we have to use King Street to get to your school.

1. has been
2. was
3. were
4. have been

I ____(not see) Peter since I ____(arrive) last Tuesday.

1. did not see / have arrived
2. have not seen / arrived
3. did not saw / arrived
4. have not seed / arrived

Frank ____ (get) his bike last May. So he ____ (have) it for 4 months.

1. getted / had
2. had got / had
3. got / has had
4. got / has have

I'm sorry, I ____ (not write) earlier, but I ____ (be) busy recently.

1. haven't written / have be
2. didn't write / did be
3. hasn't written / have been
4. haven't written / have been

Did you get it?  Well done!

Still find it difficult?  Look back at the information on pages 166 and 167 in your text book