Present Perfect and Simple Past Verb Tenses

Review:

Preparation

Can you tell the difference between these two sentences?

Sentence one: I saw the movie.

Sentence two: I have seen the movie.

Sentence one uses the simple past tense. Sentence two uses the present perfect tense.

“I saw the movie” and “I have seen the movie” both refer to an action that was finished in the
past. But there is one important difference: “I saw the movie” suggests that you saw the movie
at a specific time in the past. “I have seen the movie” suggests that you saw the movie at an
unknown time in the past.

Question

What is the difference between the present perfect and the simple past? — Medshel, Saudi
Arabia

simple past = when the action started in the past, finished in the past, and is not continuing
now.
= tells us that an action happened at a certain time in the past, and is not
continuing anymore.
= It doesn't tell us anything about when an action happened, so more
information needs to be given with this verb form, such as when the action took place
  Ex. The sun rose at 6:00 am. (We know that the sun came up at a time in the past and it
is not rising now. The sun may or may not be in the sky when this statement is made.
The time is important to add.)

present perfect= You form the present perfect by using “have” or “has” followed by the past
participle form of the verb.
=when the action started in the past and is continuing now.

= tells us that an action started in the past and it is still happening now, or it is
something that happens regularly.
= It may also tell us that the time period it started in is still going on.
Forming the present perfect
Have/has + past participle verb
Ex.
1) The sun has risen. (We know that the sun already rose, and it is still in the sky now.)
2) I have proven her theory.
3)She has gotten promoted.

Common adverbs in the present perfect: before, after, already, yet, for, since, recently, still,
time

Ex.
I have already eaten.
I have already visited Angola three times.

Tip 1: Be careful of irregular verbs in the present perfect. With irregular verbs, the simple past
and the past participle form are usually different.

INCORRECT: I have already did it.

CORRECT: I have already done it.

There are four more common situations that require the present perfect.

First, it can express a repeated action. When action happened more than one time in the past.

Ex. “I have seen the movie three times”.

 Second, it is common to use the present perfect with the words “for” and “since.” “For” and
“since” are adverbs that tell about the duration of an activity. They answer the question “how
long?”

Ex. “I have studied English for a long time”.

Third, the negative adverb “never” requires the present perfect.

Ex. “I have never been to France.”

Fourth, when asking a question in the present perfect, use “ever,”

Ex. “Have you ever won the lottery?”

I wanna know have you ever seen the rain?

Here’s a tip: pay close attention to adverbs. Adverbs give hints, or clues, about which verb tense
you should use. Take a look at the reference list below.

What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple Past

unfinished actions that started in the past and Finished actions:

continue to the present:
 I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved
 I've known Julie for ten years (and I still away and we lost touch).

When action happened more than one time in A finished action in someone's life (when the
the past. person is dead):

 My brother has been to Mexico three times.  My great-grandmother went to Mexico three
times.

A finished action with a result in the present: A finished action with no result in the present:

 I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't get I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now
into my house now). there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this week, this With a finished time word (last week, last
 month, today): month, yesterday):

 I've seen John this week.  I saw John last week.

Drill 1:
Direction: Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect

1) Last night I ________ ( lose) my keys.

2) I _________________ (lose) my keys- can you help look for them?
3) I _______________ (visit) Paris three times.
4. Last year I ___________ ( visit) Paris.
5. I _________ (know) my grandmother for a few years- she died when I was eight.

Drill 2: Lights, Camera, Action!

Direction: Decide whether the dialog will use verbs in present perfect or past perfect. Fill
in the black with the correct verb and chose a partner to deliver the dialog

Rachel: Hi, Oliver. What are you up to?

Oliver: Hey, I am choosing a movie for my date. Have you watch Downsizing yet?

Rachel: Yes, I ___________ (watch) it with Una last night. But we didn’t enjoy it.

Oliver: Oh, that sucks. How about The Glass Castle? It looks intriguing!

Rachel: I ________________ not ( watch) it yet, but I ___________ (see) many positive reviews!

Oliver: Sounds promising. I’ll go with it then. Thanks!

Dialog 2: Decide whether the dialog will use verbs in present perfect or past perfect. Fill in the
black with the correct verb and chose a partner to deliver the dialog.

Rick: I ________ (go) to dinner with Frank last night.

Stacy: You ________ (eat) with Frank? I ____________ (think) you liked Greg.

Rick: I _________ (like) Greg when I ____________ (work) at the restaurant with him.
Stacy: Did Frank Call you to plan your date last night?

Rick: Yes, he ____________ (call) me and _____________ (ask) me very nicely. I had fun!

Stacy: I hope he _____________ (talk) interested topics!

Rick: He did. I __________(enjoy) dinner.

1. went 2. Ate 3. Thought 4. Liked 5. Worked 6. Called 7. Asked

8. talked 9. enjoyed

1. I _________ (know) Julie for three years-we still meet once a month
2. I _________ ( play) basketball since I was a child.
3. She ________(play) Tennis at school but she didn’t like it.
4. Sorry, I _________ (miss) the bus- I’m going to be late.
5. I _________ (miss) the bus and then I ________ (miss) the airplane as well!

Check
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12) I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He

has gone
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(go) to the shops.

[.]
13) We

finished
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(finish) this room last week.

[.]
14) I Check
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 have finishe

(finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy!

[.]
15) Yesterday, I

saw
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(see) all of my friends. It was great.

[.]
16) I

have seen
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(see) Julie three times this week.

[.]
17) She

has lived
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(live) in London since 1994.

[.]
18) She

lived
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(live) in London when she was a child.

[.]
19) I

have drunk
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(drink) three cups of coffee today.

[.]
20) I

drank

(drink) three cups of coffee yesterday.

[.]