Simple Past and Present Perfect
Simple Past and Present Perfect
Simple Past and Present Perfect
Form
Simple Past
Example:
Example:
I spoke
I worked
Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed':
Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As
soon as a time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If
there are no signal words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the
past or if its consequence in the present is important.
Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In
American English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect.
We cannot accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions
amongst those who have to learn the differences.
Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?
Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past
(even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not
yet happened?
Simple Past
Example:
I have just phoned Mary.
Example:
Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada
twice.
Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to
emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?
Simple Past
Emphasis on action
Emphasis on result
Example:
Example:
Signal Words
Simple Past
yesterday
just
... ago
already
in 1990
up to now
last ...
ever
(not) yet
so far
lately / recently