Present Perfect vs Past Simple

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• Secundair onderwijs

Your neighbour's achievements

Talk about your neighbour's achievements.

Ask them what they've accomplished in life and how that went.

Present Perfect

How do you conjugate the present perfect?

When do we use the present perfect? (3 uses)

today

yesterday

last week

a month ago

the moment I woke up

1990

a day

a month

a week

a month

a moment

a year

for

since

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

After this lesson you're able to

- use the present perfect in the correct context

- use the past simple in the correct context

- tell whether time indicators are finished or unfinished

- Use the past simple in a sentence

- use the present perfect in a sentence

- read a review

The past simple

The past simple

Finished

Unfinished

Today

Yesterday

last week

this month

this year

lately

1990

in 2008

a while ago

the Middle Ages

Unfinished                                                              finished

Today, this month, this year, lately, just, recently...

yesterday, last month, a year ago, in 2008, a while ago...

Present Perfect   vs.  Past Simple

Unfinished                                                              finished

Today, this month, this year, lately, just, recently...

yesterday, last month, a year ago, in 2008, a while ago...

I have lived here for two years.

I lived here for two years.

I have lived here for two years.

--> I still live here.

I lived here for two years.

I have lived here for two years.

--> I still live here.

I lived here for two years.

--> I don't live here anymore.

I have lived here for two years.

--> actions that started in the past and continue now = unfinished = present perfect

I lived here for two years.

--> actions in the past = finished = past simple

I have bought a new bike.

Yesterday, I bought a new bike.

I have bought a new bike.

--> Emphasis on that I have a new bike now.

Yesterday, I bought a new bike.

I have bought a new bike.

--> Emphasis on that I have a new bike now.

Yesterday, I bought a new bike.

--> Emphasis on what I did yesterday.

I have bought a new bike.

--> Exact time isn't important or known.

Yesterday, I bought a new bike.

--> Emphasis on timing.

I have visited Spain.

I have visited Spain.

--> When did you go?

I have visited Spain.

--> When did you go?

--> I went during the holidays.

I have broken my leg.

I have broken my leg.

I have broken my leg.

--> What happened?

I have broken my leg.

--> What happened?

--> I fell.

When the focus is on the result, we use the Past simple

1. True
2. False

The present perfect is formed with to have + past participle

1. True
2. False

The past simple is formed with did + infinitive

1. True
2. False

The Present perfect and Past simple are often interchangeable

1. True
2. False

We can always use both tenses.

1. True
2. False

Correct or false?

When the focus is on the result, we use the PS

The present perfect is formed with to have + PP

The past simple is formed with did + infinitive

The PP and PS are often interchangeable

We can always use both tenses.