Past simple vs present perfect vs past perfect

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

PAST SIMPLE VS PRESENT PERFECT VS PAST PERFECT

PAST SIMPLE

PAST SIMPLE: vw + ed / 2nd form irregular verb

We use the past simple to say that something happened in the past and has now ended. Usually there is a time definition in the sentence such as yesterday, last week, two years ago, in 2020 etc.

• I played video games last weekend.
  
• We moved to Australia in 2019.
  
• When did you hear about the volcanic eruption?
  
• He bought a new tennis racket last week.
  
• I saw Jim at the party yesterday, but I didn’t speak to him.

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT: have / has + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the present perfect to:

1. To say that something happened in the past and is still happening now. There are often signal words in the sentence such as for, since, yet, never, ever, etc.

• She has lived there for five years.
  
• I haven’t been to Northern Ireland yet.
  

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT: have / has + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the present perfect to:

2. To talk about experiences.

• I have been to Paris twice.
  
• We have been friends for 17 years.

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT: have / has + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the present perfect to:

3. To say that something happened in the past of which you are now noticing the results/consequences.

• They have visited their family in Australia five times.
  
• She has broken her leg, so she can't run the marathon this weekend.
  
• I have painted the wall.

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT: have / has + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the present perfect to:

4. To say that something happened in the past, but the exact moment is not known or important.

• Have you heard the news?
  
• Michael hasn’t said anything about it.

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT: have / has + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the present perfect to:

5. To say that something just happened. The sentence often says just or already.

• Our neighbour has just invited us to her beach BBQ.
  
• I have already done the dishes.
  
• The teacher has just uploaded our grades.

PAST PERFECT

PAST PERFECT: had + past participle (ww + ed or 3rd form irregular verb)

We use the past perfect when we talk about two things that happened in the past. One event happened before another event.

So it is: 'the past of the past'.

• I had been stuck in the lift for hours when a fireman finally came and rescued me.
  
• He had worked that night before he crashed his car.
  
• Had your parents already left when you came home?
  
• I hadn't talked to Paula for ages – it was good to see her last night.

IN SUMMARY

Past simple – I lost my keys yesterday.

= iets wat in het verleden is gebeurd en geëindigd.

Present perfect – I have lost my keys, so I can't enter my house.

= iets wat in het verleden is begonnen en nu nog steeds voortduurt.

Past perfect – They had left before the show ended.

= iets wat in het verleden is gebeurd vóór een bepaald moment of vóór een andere gebeurtenis in het verleden.

PAST SIMPLE VS PRESENT PERFECT VS PAST PERFECT

Put the verbs in the right tense. Choose between past simple, present perfect and past perfect.

1. Jim is so tired that he ___ (sleep) for more than ten hours.
   
2. We ___ (meet) Miriam on the corner of 8th Avenue yesterday.
   
3. By the time I ___ (arrive) to the cinema, the film ___ (nearly – finish).
   
4. ___ (you – see) my sunglasses anywhere? I think I ___ (lose) them.
   
5. Amanda couldn’t get in because she ___ (leave) her keys in the office.
   
6. Douglas ___ (know) that he (already – see) the man before.
   
7. When the police ___ (stop) Jane this morning she realized that she ___ (leave) her driving licence at home.
8. ___ (you – hear) the news today?

PAST SIMPLE VS PRESENT PERFECT VS PAST PERFECT

1. Jim is so tired that he has slept for more than ten hours.
   
2. We met Miriam on the corner of 8th Avenue yesterday.
   
3. By the time I arrived to the cinema, the film had nearly finished.
   
4. Have you seen my sunglasses anywhere? I think I have lost them.
   
5. Amanda couldn’t get in because she had left her keys in the office.
   
6. Douglas knew that he had already seen the man before.
   
7. When the police stopped Jane this morning she realized that she had left her driving licence at home.
   
8. Have you heard the news today?