English Grammar: Past Simple and Present Perfect

Completed Actions

• Use Past Simple for completed actions in the past with a specific time:
  • I went to the store yesterday.
  • She finished her homework at 5 pm.
• Use Past Simple for actions that started and finished in the past:
  • I lived in Paris for 5 years.
  • They were married for 20 years.

Unfinished Actions

• Use Present Perfect for unfinished actions that started in the past and continue up to the present:
  • I have lived in this city for 3 years.
  • She has been studying English for 2 months.
• Use Present Perfect for actions that happened at an unknown time in the past:
  • I have eaten lunch already.
  • They have never been to Japan.

Time Expressions

• Use Past Simple with time expressions that indicate a specific time:
  • yesterday, last week, last month, ago, in 2010
  • I went to the party yesterday.
• Use Present Perfect with time expressions that indicate a period of time up to the present:
  • for, since, just, already, yet
  • I have been studying English for 3 years.

Signal Words

• Use Past Simple with signal words that indicate a completed action:
  • already, just, yet
  • I already ate lunch.
• Use Present Perfect with signal words that indicate an unfinished action:
  • already, just, yet
  • I have already eaten lunch.

Contrast and Combination

• Use Past Simple and Present Perfect together to show a contrast:
  • I went to the store (completed action), but I have not found what I was looking for (unfinished action).
• Use both tenses in the same sentence to show a combination of actions:
  • I have been studying English (unfinished action) and I passed the exam (completed action).

Result vs. Action

• Use Past Simple to focus on the action:
  • I cooked dinner. (focus on the action of cooking)
• Use Present Perfect to focus on the result:
  • I have cooked dinner. (focus on the result, i.e., the dinner is ready)

Using Past Simple and Present Perfect

Completed Actions

• Use Past Simple for completed actions in the past with a specific time, e.g. yesterday, last week, last month.
• Use Past Simple for actions that started and finished in the past, e.g. I lived in Paris for 5 years.

Unfinished Actions

• Use Present Perfect for unfinished actions that started in the past and continue up to the present, e.g. I have lived in this city for 3 years.
• Use Present Perfect for actions that happened at an unknown time in the past, e.g. I have eaten lunch already.

Time Expressions

• Use Past Simple with time expressions that indicate a specific time, e.g. yesterday, last week, last month, ago, in 2010.
• Use Present Perfect with time expressions that indicate a period of time up to the present, e.g. for, since, just, already, yet.

Signal Words

• Use Past Simple with signal words that indicate a completed action, e.g. already, just, yet.
• Use Present Perfect with signal words that indicate an unfinished action, e.g. already, just, yet.

Contrast and Combination

• Use Past Simple and Present Perfect together to show a contrast, e.g. I went to the store, but I have not found what I was looking for.
• Use both tenses in the same sentence to show a combination of actions, e.g. I have been studying English and I passed the exam.

Result vs Action

• Use Past Simple to focus on the action, e.g. I cooked dinner.
• Use Present Perfect to focus on the result, e.g. I have cooked dinner.

Using Past Simple and Present Perfect

• Use Past Simple to talk about:
  • Completed actions in the past
  • Actions that started and finished in the past
  • Actions with specific times mentioned
  • Single, completed events
• Examples:
  • I went to the store yesterday.
  • She graduated from university in 2010.

Using Present Perfect

• Use Present Perfect to talk about:
  • Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue up to the present
  • Actions with a connection to the present
  • Ongoing actions or actions with a result in the present
  • Actions without specific times mentioned
• Examples:
  • I have been studying English for three years.
  • They have been living in Paris since 2015.

Time Expressions

• Use Past Simple with:
  • Yesterday, last week, last month, etc.
  • Ago (e.g. three years ago)
  • Specific dates and times (e.g. July 12, 2020, 8pm)
• Use Present Perfect with:
  • Since and for (e.g. since 2010, for three years)
  • Already, yet, just (e.g. I have already eaten lunch)
  • Recently, lately (e.g. I have recently started a new job)

Signal Words

• Signal words for Past Simple:
  • Yesterday, ago, last, then, when
• Signal words for Present Perfect:
  • Since, for, already, yet, just, recently

Contrast and Combination

• Use Past Simple and Present Perfect together to:
  • Contrast completed and unfinished actions
  • Show a connection between past and present actions
• Examples:
  • I went to the store yesterday, but I have not been there since then.
  • I have been studying English for three years, and I learned a lot last year.

Result vs Action

• Use Present Perfect to focus on:
  • The result of an action (e.g. I have written three books.)
• Use Past Simple to focus on:
  • The action itself (e.g. I wrote three books last year.)
• Note: Present Perfect can also focus on the action, but implies a connection to the present.