Past simple vs. Present perfect

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2

Past simple  - Present perfect

By the end of the lesson you can...

• Work in pairs to complete present perfect and past simple sentences
• Recognise the signal words for both the present perfect and the past simple
• Write about a past memory using the past simple
• Change this memory so it is in the present perfect tense
• Recall the rules for the past simple and the present perfect.

Work in groups of 2.  

You have 2 pieces of paper - draw this timeline on 1 of the pieces of paper. 

On the other piece of paper, create 4 columns like you see below.

List the numbers 1 - 10 and leave a space in between each number

1. She ______ (live) here all her life.

2. I ______ (see) a scary movie last month.

1. She ______ (live) here all her life.

2. I ______ (see) a scary movie last month.

has lived

PP

all her life.

PS

last month.

saw

Present perfect or Past Simple?  

Fill in the timeline and the columns

1. Last year we ____ (go) to Italy. 
2. He ....... (never, take) anything without asking.
3. She ___ (see) that film three times already.
4. "... she ... (to eat) pizza yesterday?"
5.  ____you____ (visit) the CN Tower when you ____ (stay) in Toronto
6. I ____(not see) Peter since I ____(arrive) last Tuesday.  
7.  ____ you ____(do) your homework yet? Yes I ____(finish) it an hour ago!
8. Frank ____ (get) his bike last May. So he ____ (have) it for 4 months. 
9. I'm sorry, I ____ (not write) earlier, but I ____ (be) busy recently. 
10. There____(be) an accident in High Street, so we have to use King Street to get to your school.  

Compare your answers for questions 1-10 with another group.

You have 2 minutes to do this.

How many answers did you get correct?

How many answers did you and your partner get correct?

By the end of the lesson you can...

• Work in pairs to complete present perfect and past simple sentences
• Recognise the signal words for both the present perfect and the past simple
• Write about a past memory using the past simple
• Change this memory so it is in the present perfect tense
• Recall the rules for the past simple and the present perfect.

Write about a past memory

• Work on your own.
• Write 3-4 past simple sentences about a past memory of your own (topic can be on anything - football - experiences - hobbies - family etc. - as long as written in the past simple)
• Your memory must contain 1 irregular verb
• Write the story on your ipad or in your notebook
• You have 4 minutes
• Be prepared to share your story

My family had an alsatian dog.  Betty was her name and she had a beautiful soft coat. Once she bit the postman.  The postman refused to deliver our mail after that.

Swap your past memory with your partner

• Now rewrite your partners past simple story/memory so that it reads in the present perfect time
• You can add to or take away elements of the memory if it helps to write it in the present perfect
• You have 4 minutes
• Be prepared to share your work (both versions PP & PS)

My family has an alsatian dog. Betty has a beautiful soft coat. Betty has bitten the postman. Since then, the postman has refused to deliver our mail.

By the end of the lesson you can...

• Work in pairs to complete present perfect and past simple sentences
• Recognise the signal words for both the present perfect and the past simple
• Write about a past memory using the past simple
• Change this memory so it is in the present perfect tense
• Recall the rules for the past simple and the present perfect.

What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?

What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?

Briefly.....

The Past Simple: has started and ended in the past.

The Present Perfect: has started in the past and is still in progress, relevant today or the result is visible today.

What is the rule for
the past simple? (positive, negative and questions)

What is the rule for 

the past simple? (positive, negative and questions)

Rule for the past simple

Verb + ed

? did + infinitive

:-(  didn't + infinitive

                    

Example signal words

Yesterday

Last month

last week

this morning

two weeks ago

last night

last year

during World War II

on Sunday

back then

Regular verbs (verb + ed)

• carry - carried
• grab  -  grabbed
• stop   -  stopped
• travel  -  travelled

Irregular verbs (use V2 - past simple)

• go - went 
• do - did 
• write - wrote 

The past simple tells you something is finished in the past.  A past time (signal word) will indicate the past.  

What is the rule for
the present perfect?

What is the rule for 

the present perfect?

Signal words - Fyne jas! 

- For            Just                    

- Yet            Already / Always         

- Never      Since                 

- Ever                 

Past participle

- verb+ed (worked/talked)

or

- V3 of the irregular verb 

(e.g. do-did-DONE, teach-taught-TAUGHT)                       

Rule for the present perfect

Have / has + past participle 

                     (verb + ed)

:-( Haven't / hasn't + past participle

By the end of the lesson you can...

• Work in pairs to complete present perfect and past simple sentences
• Recognise the signal words for both the present perfect and the past simple
• Write about a past memory using the past simple
• Change this memory so it is in the present perfect tense
• Recall the rules for the past simple and the present perfect.

Well done!!!

Questions