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3.2.1: Review Information - Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect

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    SIMPLE PAST

    Usage: Finished action

    • She called me yesterday.
    • I met you last week/month/year.
    • I went to S.F. 2 days ago.
    • When did you move here?
    • When I moved here, I lived in Oakland.

    PRESENT PERFECT

    Usage: Finished or Unfinished Action

    The present perfect tense is common in English. It is used for many different functions. This page will explain the most important uses of the present perfect tense.

    1. Actions which started in the past and are still continuing

    The present perfect is often used for an action that started at some time in the past and is still continuing now. Often, the words for (with a length of time) and since (with a starting time) are used along with the present perfect.

    He has lived in Canada for five years.
    (He started living in Canada five years ago, and he's still living there now.)

    She has worked at the University since 1994.
    (She started working at the University in 1994, and she's still working there now.)

    2. Actions which happened at some unknown time in the past

    Sometimes, it's important to say that something happened (or didn't happen), but it's not important (or not known) when it happened. In this case, we can use the present perfect too. In this case, we often use the words already, yet, ever or never along with the present perfect. These words usually go before the past participle in the sentence.

    I've already seen that film. I don't want to see it again.
    (It doesn't matter when I saw it.)

    Have you ever been to Germany?
    (It doesn't matter when you went — I just want to know whether you have been there or not.)

    3. Actions which happened in the past, but have an effect in the present

    This use is a little more difficult than the other two. In this case, the action happened at some time in the past, but the effect of the action is still important now. It's easiest to understand this use if we compare present perfect sentences with simple past sentences.

    2. Actions that were repeated at no specific time in the past

    Sometimes you want to talk about a repeated experience but the time is unimportant. (Note: If you focus on the time, you will use simple past,)

    I have visited Dallas three times.

    (This could be at any time in the past)

    She has called her mother twice today.

    (This could be at any time today.)

     

    Compare the Uses of Simple Past and Present Perfect in this chart:

    Tense

    Sentence

    Meaning

    Present perfect

    I've lost my keys.

    I don't have the keys. They are still missing.

    Simple past

    I lost my keys yesterday.

    I didn't have them yesterday, but maybe today I found them.

    Present perfect

    She's broken her arm.

    The arm is still injured.

    Simple past

    She broke her arm.

    The arm is probably OK now.

     

    This section will help you to understand the differences between the Present Perfect Tense and the Simple Past Tense.

    Has the time period finished?

    Rule

    Example

    Explanation

    The present perfect is used when the time period has NOT finished.

    I have seen three movies this week.

    (This week has not finished yet.)

    The simple past is used when the time period HAS finished.

    I saw three movies last week.

    (Last week has finished.)

    Is it new information or old?

    Rule

    Example

    Explanation

    The present perfect is often used when giving recent news.

    Martin has crashed his car again.

    (This is new information.)

    The simple past is used when giving older information.

    Martin crashed his car last year.

    (This is old information.)

    Is it a specific time?

    Rule

    Example

     Explanation

    The present perfect is used when the time is not specific.

    I have seen that movie already.

    (We don't know when.)

    The simple past is used when the time is clear.

    I saw that movie on Thursday.

    (We know exactly when.)

    Has the action finished (sentences with “for” or “since”)?

    Rule

    Example

    Explanation

    The present perfect is used with for and since when the actions have not finished yet.

    I have lived in Victoria for five years.

    (I still live in Victoria.)

    The simple past is used with for when the actions have already finished.

    I lived in Victoria for five years.

    (I don't live in Victoria now.)

    Charts, examples and information from: UVIC Study Zone  licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International.

    This page titled 3.2.1: Review Information - Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.