2.3: Simple Past vs Present Perfect

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect                                                 

SIMPLE PAST
A verb in the simple past tense expresses that an activity, event or state began and ended in the past. Adverbs such as last year, a year ago and in 2017 make clear that the activity is pinned to a time in the past. See Past Adverbs.
COMPLETED IN PAST
Construction on the Tower of Pisa started in 1173. Builders added a third story in 1185. Then, it began to lean.
It leaned 5.5º before the renovation. It leaned only 3.99º after the renovation.
The soil foundation failed under the tower in 1185.
Officials closed the tower during the 1990s.
The tower was reopened in 2001.

PRESENT PERFECT "UP TO NOW"
A verb in the present perfect may express that an activity began in the past and continued up to the present (and may extend into the future.) Adverbs so far, up to now and to date make clear this past-to-present timing.
FROM PAST TO PRESENT MOMENT
The Tower of Pisa has leaned to the south since its third story was added in 1178. It has continued to lean up to now.
Its lean has remained unchanged up to now.
Engineers have gradually reduced the lean by 14 centimeters so far.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has not leaned any farther so far.
The project has received $30,000,000 to date.

fail (V) – lose strength, become weak

lean (V) – to be at an angle that is not upright at 90º; lean (N) the difference in degrees from the upright 90º angle.

foundation (N) – the base upon which something sits

"The Leaning Tower of Pisa." towerofpisa.org/tower-of-pisa-historical-facts/

Exercise 1: Correct or Incorrect

Decide whether the tense use is correct or incorrect

Select your response correct or incorrect. If it is incorrect, write the correct sentence below or next to your answer.

1. The Tower of Pisa was the center of attention since a long time.

        Correct     Incorrect

2. For the people of Pisa, the tower has been a slightly imperfect bell tower to their cathedral.

        Correct     Incorrect

3. For the Germans during World War II, the tower have been an observation tower and a landmark that deserved protection from bombing.

        Correct     Incorrect

4. For architects over the past 600 years, the tower is an example of excellent 11th century design, which unfortunately was placed on a bad foundation.

        Correct     Incorrect

5. For tourists today, the tower has been a reminder that people make mistakes and that some are very beautiful!

       Correct      Incorrect

 Simple Past vs Present Perfect is derived from Grammar Quizzes by Julie Sevastopoulos, licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International

Contrasting Present Perfect and Simple Past

Read the sentences below. In which sentence is the action finished?

• I have called two senators about climate change so far.
• I called two senators about climate change last week.

Answers

The action is finished in the second sentence. "Called" is simple past. In the first sentence, the tense is present perfect, "has called." The author might call another senator in the future.

Read the sentences below. In which sentence is the time definite (known)?

• Have you ever studied geology?
• I studied geology in college.

Answers

The time is definite (known) in the second sentence. "Studied" is simple past. In the first sentence, the tense is present perfect. The speaker wants to know about your studies of geology at any time in the past

The simple past is used for finished actions at a definite time...

• He wrote three articles about climate change last year.
• I read one article last night.

The present perfect is used for unfinished actions or actions that take place in the indefinite past.

• He has written letters to his senators every month (and he will continue this month).
• I have already read the article (the time when this happened is not important).

Simple Past and Present Perfect Usage

Past and Present Reference

One way of thinking about the difference in use is to think of the names of the tenses themselves: Simple Past is used for something which is past and finished with, while Present Perfect is used when we are talking about a past event which has some sort of connection with, or effect on, the present.

If I say - I went to Paris last year, I am referring to a specific visit which is finished and done with, when certain things may have happened.

But if I simply say - I've been to Paris, the time is not important. What is important is that I have experienced Paris to some extent. I now know how crowded the Louvre can be; what the view from Montmartre is like, how smart the street cleaning trucks are, and so on.

If I say - I locked myself out of the house yesterday, it sounds as though that's all in the past, and that everything is OK now, and I can get back in.

But if I say - I've locked myself out of the house, it means I still haven't found my keys, with the very real present result that, for the time being at least, I can't get into my house.

Summary of Present Perfect and Simple Past Uses

The main uses of Present Perfect

To talk about single or repeated events which have or haven't happened:

• at an unspecified time in the past - the fact that something has happened is more important than when it happened - The human race has come a long way
• in the (very) recent past - especially with adverbs like just, yet, already etc
• in the current time period - today, this year etc
• during our lifetime up until now - especially with words like ever and never.
• during a specified period up until now - especially with for and since

The main uses of Simple Past

To talk about single or repeated events which happened or didn't happen:

• at a specified time in the past - yesterday, last year, when he was a child etc
• about people who are no longer alive or situations which are obviously in the past - Dickens wrote a lot of novels. The Romans built a lot of roads.
• during a period which is finished - especially with for.

Time reference

When we use Simple Past, we usually given a specific past time reference. We sometimes do this with Present Perfect as well, so the first thing we need to do is to sort out what are past time references and what are present time references. Some expressions may refer to both past and present.

Exercise 2: In the chart below, identify each expression as a past time reference of a present time reference. Sometimes both are correct.

Time Expression	Past	Present
1. two days ago
2. this morning (it is now 11am)
3. this morning (it is now 3pm)
4. yesterday
5. today
6. last year / month / week
7. in the last year / month / week
8. during the summer (It is December now.)
9. lately
10. since last year
11. last night
12. when he was a child
13. in 2008
14. since 2008
15. five minutes ago
16. in the last five minutes

A note on past and current time periods

Expressions like yesterday, last week and the year before are sometimes referred to as past time periods, while today and this week are referred to as current time periods. We usually use Simple Past with past time periods and Present Perfect with present time periods.

But these are flexible. For example, if it's one o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet, I might consider that it's still morning, so I might use Present Perfect and say - I haven't had any coffee this morning, even though technically 'this morning' has finished.

Conversely when I get home, although it's still 'today', I probably consider my working day to be over and I might use Simple Past and say - I had so much work to do today.

So far

We use so far to mean up until now in a period that is not yet finished. It is often used with numbers or amounts, which we could reasonably expect to increase by the end of the given period; or with situations that could change later.

• We've sold ten contracts so far this week. (and we hope to sell some more)
• So far today, I've had 50 emails. (and no doubt I'll get more)
• We've had no replies so far. (but there's still time)
• How much have you done so far? (I don't expect you to have finished yet)
• Have you enjoyed it so far? (you might change your mind later)

Last week/month/year etc... and the last week/month/year  etc...

Be careful with time expressions like last week / month / year etc and the last week / month / year etc. They sound similar, but have different meanings and take different tenses:

• last week - the previous Monday to Sunday (or however you define your week)
  - I read three books last week. - Simple Past
• the last week - the seven days up until and including today
  - I've read four books in the last week. - Present Perfect

The expression the past week has the same meaning as the last week - I've read four books in the past week. Plural expressions such as in the last / past few weeks are also used with Present Perfect.

Exercise 3 - Simple Past or Present Perfect? Use the verbs in the box in the correct tense to fill the gaps. Use contractions after pronouns. Use all of the verbs in the list. You will use some verbs more than once.

make       chat        see       sell        ring       stay      visit       see       drive       go        be

1. We ____________________ to the zoo last Tuesday.

2. The automobile salesman____________________ six cars this week.

3. ____________________ Jack in the last hour or so? (you)

4. Yes. I think I ____________________ him before lunch.

5. So far, the concert ____________________ really good.

6. Last week I____________________ about 600 miles.

7. In the last few years, the company____________________ a million dollars in profit.

8. Your telephone ____________________ a minute or so ago.

9. I ____________________ three model airplanes this morning and it isn't even noon yet.

10. We ____________________ the beach almost every day this summer so far.

11. They____________________ with us for Christmas and left after New Year's Day.

12. I ____________________ to him in the gym a couple of times in the last year or so.

Recent Past - things you've done or haven't done recently

We use Present Perfect to talk about things we've done or haven't done recently, usually with a result in the present. We often use these adverbs:

just, already, yet, still, at last

Exercise 4 - Fill the gaps by entering the adverbs in the box. Each one is used twice.

yet · already · still · just · at last (finally)

1. I've ____________ finished that book you lent me. It was really great!

2. Have you seen that new film ____________ . Everyone's talking about it.

3. You ____________ haven't answered my question. When is your exam?

4. You don't need to do the dishes; I've ____________ done them.

5. She's finished with the computer ____________ . I've been waiting for hours.

6. I'm sorry but I haven't spoken to Davis about your project ____________ .

7. Well, that's that done. ____________ I can go home.

8. I've ____________ told you a hundred times. Don't do that to the cat!

9. Your Dad's ____________ been on the phone. He wants you to meet him at the station.

10. It's 9am and you ____________haven't got up! Come on, rise and shine.

Recently, Lately

The adverbs recently and lately have very similar meanings. To my mind, recently is a bit more immediate than lately. And we seem to use lately especially for longer actions - I've been reading a lot of her books lately. We don't usually use lately after a verb in Simple Past.

Note - just, recently

Although recently is usually used with Present Perfect, it can also be used with Simple Past. And the same is true of just, although sometimes the meaning can change slightly.

Exercise 5 - Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets, in either Present Perfect or Simple Past. Include any other words given in the brackets. use contractions for negatives.

1. I ___________ him leaving just as I arrived. (see)

2. Look who ___________ into the room. (just / come)

3. I _______________ her quite recently at a friend's party. (meet)

4. There ________________ a lot about it in the news lately. (be)

5. We ________________ much of them recently. (not see)

6. I ________________ to him about it just the other day. (speak)

7. He _____________ to see us lately. (not be)

8. She ________________ at the cookie factory until fairly recently. (work)

In Your Lifetime up until Now

We often use Present Perfect without specifying a time - Have you seen 'The Rocky Horror Show'? - and when asking how often somebody has done something - How many times has your mother seen 'The Sound of Music'? - meaning during their lifetime up till now. We often use these adverbs:

ever, never, before, often, once etc...

Exercise 6 - Paul and Jenny are at a party on a boat on the River Thames in London. Complete their conversation by entering one word in each gap. The answers include not only the adverbs above, but some other words such as verbs (have/has) and quantity expressions.

P: Hello, my name's Paul. Haven't we met __________ , somewhere?

J: I think we __________ , yes. What a noise that helicopter's making.

P: Have you __________ flown in a helicopter?

J: Only __________ . It was a birthday present. How about you?

P: No,__________ . But I have been in a glider. That was fun.

J: Now that is one of those many things I've__________ done. Ever.

P: And how __________ have you flown on commercial flights?

J: Oh, lots of __________ . But only on vacation.

P: And have you__________ had a bad experience when flying?

J: No. At least not__________ , knock on wood. ( The expression "knock on wood" is said after a confident or positive statement, to express a hope for one's good luck to continue.)

P: Neither have I, thankfully.

J: And have you been on this boat __________ ?

P: Yes, I __________ , in fact. I came to a party here last year.

J: This is my first time. I've __________ been on any of these Thames boats until now.

P: Oh, isn't that Mary Johnson. I've seen her on TV ___________.

J: Yes, that's right. Have you __________ seen her show 'Cook It Rght'?

P: Yes, I have, but not very __________ . I'm usually working then.

J: I think I've probably __________ seen every episode. I'm a big fan.

P: I've never actually seen a TV personality in the flesh __________ ("in the flesh" means "in person")

J: Well you have __________ . And she's coming over to speak to us.

Note - never

Note that although we usually use never with Present Perfect, it can also be used with Simple Past : All the time he lived here, he never came to see us.

Discussing Experiences with Present Perfect and Simple Past.

We often use Present Perfect to ask somebody generally about an experience, and then switch to Simple Past when we start talking about specifics.

Exercise 7 - Complete these conversations with the verb given in brackets in Present Perfect or Simple Past. If no verb is given, enter a short answer or question tag. Use contractions in negatives and after pronouns.

Conversation 1

A: ___________________ (you meet) my friend Candy?

B: Yes I ________ . We (meet) at a party back in August.

B. Oh, I think I ________________ (be) at that party, too.

Conversation 2

A: Oh, no. I ________________ (lose) my car keys.

B: Are you sure? When ________________ (you see) them last?

A: I just remember that I ________________ (put) them down somewhere.

B: It's OK, I ________________ (find) them. Here you are. They (be) on that table over there.

Conversation 3

A: You ________________ (just come) back from Mexico, you?

B: Yes, we ________________ (get) back a couple of days ago. It________________ (be) absolutely wonderful.

A: Where ________________ (you go)?

B: We ________________ most of the time in the South, near Oaxaca.

A: What________________ (you like) most about Mexico?

B: It ______________ (be) the natural history that______________ (impress) us most. We __________ (not be) anywhere with such diversity of flora and fauna before.

Conversation 4

A: ________________ (you ever visit) the Czech Republic?

B: No, but we________________ (go) to Slovakia last year. That's just next door.

A: Oh I ________________ (never be) in Slovakia. What ________________ (be) your vacation like?

B: Great. We ________________ (stay) most of the time in the High Tatras, it's really beautiful, and the people________________ (be) really friendly. In fact, we ___________________(decide) to go back again, next year.

Past and Present Reference adapted from Random Idea English is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.