3.2.1: Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Compared
- Page ID
- 257433
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Simple Past
Usage: Finished action
The Simple Past can be used:
1. For finished actions that have no clear connections to the present.
Simple past tense is used only for finished actions. These actions do not have an effect on the present.
I bought a new car.
(Nothing in this sentence indicates that the action has a connection to the present.)
2. With time expressions that include yesterday, ago, and last+evening/week/month/year, for +hours/weeks/months/years
Some time expressions can be signal words for Simple Past. They are generally only used with Simple Past tense.
She called me yesterday.
I met my new friend last week/month/year.
I went to Dallas two days ago.
(The expressions Yesterday," "last," and "ago" refer to finished times in the past.)
The Simple Past can also be used with "for," but it is not usually used with "since."
When I went to college, I lived in Los Angeles for four years.
( The sentence discusses a specific period of time in the past when a past event occurred.)
3. When you say when an action or event occurred.
If a specific time or time period is mentioned, we usually use Simple Past.
The class started at 8 a.m./on Monday/in January/in 2025
I read my email as soon as I got home.
(These sentences indicate when something happened or in what order.)
4. Actions that were repeated at a specific time.
We ate at that restaurant three times last month.
("Last month" is a specific time.")
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. When we do this, 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.
I have already eaten, so I am not hungry.
John has fixed the car. Now I can drive to work.
(An action in the past resulted in a condition in the present.)
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 this weekend.
( This could be at any time this weekend. The expression "this weekend" tells us that the weekend is not finished.)
My brother has eaten dinner with us every weekend for the past three weeks.
(He started a repeated action three weeks ago, and he continued up to this time.)