Alessandro Rodriguez Concepcion

3-742-1725
ELC- 400
Group P
 The Past
Simple
The past simple, or past simple, is one of the most
important verbal tenses in the English language
and, unlike Spanish, where verbs in the past have
very different conjugations, in English there are
verbs that retain their form both in the present as
past, and the most irregular ones have only up to
three forms
 The Present Perfect

The present perfect simple is used in the following

situations:
• When there is a connection with the present. The action
in the past has a result now: I’ve lost my key (I haven’t got
it now).
• For completed actions where no time si given: We’ve
bought a new house.
• To give new information or to announce recent
happenings: Ow! I’ve burnt myself.
 The Present Perfect
With the adverbs just, already, yet, ever/never.
Just is used when something finished a short time
ago: Would you like something to eat? No, thanks, I’ve
just had lunch.
Already is used when something has happened
sooner than expected: When is he going to start his
new job? He has already started.
Yet means until now, that is, the speaker is expecting
something to happen: Has it stopped raining yet? No,
it’s still raining.
Ever/never: Have you ever eaten in a Chinese
restaurant? No, I’ve never eaten in one.
 The Present Perfect
• With adverbs of time that refer to a present
situation such as, today, this morning, recently, in
the last few days, so far, that is, periods of time not
finished at the time of speaking.
• After a superlative form: This is the most interesting
book (that) I have ever read.
 The Present
Perfect
In subordinate clauses when the verb in the main
clause is in the future: I’ll start studying as soon as
I’ve had dinner.
With the prepositions for and since to say how long
something has been happening:
She has lived in New York for two years. She
has stayed here since 8 o’clock.
See that when we use all morning, all week, al my life
the preposition for is not used: She has worked in the
same company all her life.
The Present Perfect vs The Past
Simple
• With the expression: It’s /This is the first/second
time he has driven a car, which is the same as He
has never driven a car before. Whereas we use the
simple past with It’s two years since I (last) saw
you, which is similar ot I haven’t seen you for two
years.
• With the interrogative words How long?: How long
have you lived here? Although it can also be used
with the past simple tense: How long is it since
you last saw him?
 The Present Perfect vs The Past
Simple
The present perfect is not used when we are talking
about a finished time in the past (yesterday, two years
ago, when I was a child). Compare:
• Tom has lost his key (it expresses a present result of
the action, which means that Tom si without his key
now).
• Tom lost his key (it is an action in the past, we do not
know if he is without his key
 Conclusion

The difference between the simple past and the present

perfect is mainly one of aspect. If we use the simple
past, the action is regarded as over, situated in the past,
whereas with the present perfect, the action is seen as
being related in some way to the present:

• I saw him this morning (the morning has ended).

• I’ve seen him this morning (the morning hasn’t
ended yet).