Simple Continuance
The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that either
Present
Past The simple past is a verb tense which is used to show that a completed
action took place at a specific time in the past. The simple past is also
frequently used to talk about past habits and generalizations.
1. The simple past is used to talk about a completed action in a time
before now. Duration is not important. The time of the action can be in
the recent past or the distant past.
We often add expressions such as: last week, when I was a child,
yesterday, six weeks ago... or the other day, ages ago, a long time ago
etc.
My father died last year.
2. Duration in the Past. The simple past can be used with a duration
which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often
indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all
day, all year, etc.
I lived in Brazil for two years.
3. Habits in the Past
The simple past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the
past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we
are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always,
often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.
I studied French when I was a child.
Note: the word ago is a useful way of expressing the distance into the
past. It is placed after the period of time a week ago, three years ago, a
minute ago...
Perfect
Past continuous, function:
The past continuous describes actions or events in a time before
now, which began in the past and was still going on at the time
of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or
incomplete action in the past. It is used:
1. To describe the background in a story written in the past
tense
The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but
the elephant moved very quickly.
2. To describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by
another event or action
I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.
3. To describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by a
specific time in the past
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
4. Parallel Actions in the past
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
5. for something that happened again and again:
I was practising every day, three times a day.
6. To express a change of mind:
I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to go
on an excursion instead.
7. with 'wonder', to make a very polite request:
I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me tonight.
occurred at an indefinite time in the past or began in the past and
continued to the present time. The exact time is not important.
We use the present perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever,
never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet,
etc.
The Present Perfect is used to describe:
1. An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the
present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
2. An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She
has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over
yet.)
3. A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and
now. We have visited Portugal several times.
4. An action that was completed in the very recent past, (expressed by
'just'). I have just finished my work.
5. An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and
Peace'. (The result of his reading is important)
6. Your experience.
The past perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action
took place once or many times before another point in the past.
Past perfect functions:
The past perfect refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to
make it clear that one event happened before another in the past. It
does not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it
clear which one happened first.
1. Completed Action Before Something in the Past
The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before
another action in the past. It can also show that something happened
before a specific time in the past.
I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
2. To talk about unreal or imaginary things in the past
If I had known you were ill, I would have visited you.
I wish I hadn't gone to bed so late!
Past perfect + just
'Just' is used with the past perfect to refer to an event that was only a
short time earlier than before now
The train had just left when I arrived at the station.
I had just put the washing out when it started to rain.
The Past Perfect tense in English is composed of two parts: the past
tense of the verb to have (had) + the past participle of the main verb