Mastering the Present Perfect and Past Simple Tenses

Mastering the Present Perfect and Past Simple Tenses

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to distinguish the use of Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses.

Introduce the objective of the lesson to the students.

What do you already know about using the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses?

Introduction

Present Perfect and Past Simple are two important tenses in English language.

Briefly introduce the two tenses to the students.

Structure of Present Perfect Tense

Subject + has/have + past participle

Explain the structure of Present Perfect Tense to the students.

Structure of Past Simple Tense

Subject + verb in past tense

Explain the structure of Past Simple Tense to the students.

When to use Present Perfect Tense

To describe an action that started in the past and continues in the present or to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

Explain the situations where Present Perfect Tense is used.

When to use Past Simple Tense

To describe a completed action in the past.

Explain the situations where Past Simple Tense is used.

Examples of Present Perfect Tense

I have completed my homework. They have visited the museum.

Provide some examples of Present Perfect Tense.

Examples of Past Simple Tense

I completed my homework. They visited the museum.

Provide some examples of Past Simple Tense.

Key Words for Present Perfect Tense

already, yet, just, ever, never, before, recently, lately

Provide some key words that are used with Present Perfect Tense.

Key Words for Past Simple Tense

yesterday, last night, last week, ago, in 2010, when I was younger

Provide some key words that are used with Past Simple Tense.

Practice Exercise 1

Choose the correct tense: Tom ___ (eat) breakfast an hour ago. (Ate / has eaten)

Provide an exercise to the students to practice using Present Perfect and Past Simple Tenses.

Practice Exercise 2

Complete the sentence using the correct tense: I ___ (never / be) to Australia. (has never been / never was)

Provide another exercise to the students to practice using Present Perfect and Past Simple Tenses.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.