Past simple or present perfect? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
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We can also use the present perfect with lately or with all + period of time (all day, all morning, all my life, etc.) to talk about actions that started in the past and continue in the present. She’s been with me all day. I’ve been very busy lately. Don’t use ago. We can’t use ago with the present perfect.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE & SIMPLE PAST TENSE 1. Present Perfect Tense is used to express unfinished events that started in the past and continue to the present. The events are still continuing. Examples: I have lived in Paris for five years. ( I still live in Paris ) My son has been sick since Monday. ( My son is still sick ) He has worked in Berlin since he graduated from the university. ( He ...
Perfect tenses can appear in any of the three forms: the past perfect tense, the present perfect tense, and the future perfect tense. As is the case with every tense in English, each perfect tense has a unique formula. In this lesson, we are going to discuss in detail the functions of each of the three perfect tenses in English. ...
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple; irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs. Example: I spoke: irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs. Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken: regular verbs: infinitive + ed. Example: I worked:
Difference Between Simple and Past and Present Perfect Tense. The main difference between the simple present and past simple tenses are the time reference. One verb tense shows the completion of an action at an unknown time, while the other is known. One may also show action in the past at an unfinished time. When to Use Present Perfect Tense
Fill in the blanks with Present Perfect or Past Perfect Tenses. 1. John (visit) me that day before you called. 2. Her wounds (heal) almost completely. She can start exercising as early as tomorrow. 3. Did you hear that Ben was fired last ...
Present Perfect. The present perfect consists of a past participle (the third principal part) with "has" or "have." It designates action which began in the past but which continues into the present or the effect of which still continues. 1. Simple Past: “Betty taught for ten years.” This means that Betty taught in the past; she is no longer ...
Present Perfect vs Past Simple. Present Perfect Tense. Present perfect tense is used when we have to describe an action that has been completed in the immediate past or that occurred at an indefinite time in the past, or that began in the past but continues in the present.. Past Simple Tense. Simple past tense refers to an action that was done in the past. . Use this tense to show an event or ...
Aspect Present Perfect Tense Past Perfect Tense; Definition: Describes an action that happened at an unspecified time before now or started in the past and continues.: Describes an action that was completed before another action in the past.: Structure: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3)
Past Simple: “Scientists discovered a new species last month.” 3. Discussing Achievements Present Perfect: “She has won three awards.” Past Simple: “She won the award in 2022.” Quick Reference Guide Use Present Perfect When: Action continues to present; Recent past affects present; Talking about life experiences
The main difference between present perfect and past perfect is that present perfect focuses on actions that are linked to the present, whereas the past perfect refers to actions that happened before another action in the past. Furthermore, present perfect uses "have" or "has" plus the past participle, while past perfect uses "had" plus the past participle.
(a time period that started in the past and continues until now) (present perfect) The past simple tense refers to definite time, while the present perfect tense refers to indefinite time. I saw the Eiffel Tower in 2007. (past simple) I have seen the Eiffel Tower. (present perfect) The past simple tense indicates a series of finished actions or ...
Review: Present perfect vs. Past simple. Present perfect for an unfinished time period and unspecified time in the past. Past simple for finished time and specific time in the past. I hope I’ve made it crystal clear when to use present perfect vs. simple past. Thanks for putting it into practice by making your own example sentences!
A common difficulty for English learners is distinguishing between the present perfect tense and the simple past tense. While both tenses describe past actions, their use is contingent on contextual and temporal relevance. The simple past tense is employed when specifying the exact time of a completed action, as in “He visited Rome last year.”
The perfect verb tenses show that an action was completed before a certain time. They consist of the present perfect, the past perfect, and the future perfect, and they are formed by placing a conjugation of the auxiliary verb to have before the past participle of the main verb.
Remember that the past tense and present perfect tense can both be used to talk about things that happened in the past. The only difference is that we can use a specific time with the past tense, but we cannot use a specific time with the present perfect tense. I did it yesterday. I have done it. If there is no specific time, then we can use both.
