present perfect-x-simple-past

PRESENT PERFECTvs.

SIMPLE PAST

•We use the Present Perfect to talk about a past experience. (no definition of time)

•Ex: I have been to the United States

•The important thing is that I HAVE BEEN TO THE USA (not when I went there)

•We use the Past Simple to talk about a specific time in the past. (definition of time)

•Ex: I went to the United States last year.

•The action is finished

•Ex. I lived in Paris for a year (I don’t live in Paris now)

Right or wrong?

I’ve bought a new car last week.

I bought a new car. Do you want to see it?

I’ve had a toast this morning.

I’ve lost my key!

ANSWERS

I bought a new car last week.

I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it?

I had a toast this morning.

I’ve lost my key! (correct)

Time expressions + present perfect

• There are two time expressions that are accepted with the present perfect.

• I’ve worked here for 20 years.

• since 1995.

•

Present Perfect

• Take a look at these sentences:

• I have lived in the UK.

• I have lived here since 2007.

In the first sentence the action is finished.

In the second the action continues to be true in the present.

Typical mistakes

• Typical mistake: I live* here since 2007

• I have lived here since 2007

For or Since

• We use FOR to indicate a period of time: for seven years, for ages, for a couple of days, for a year.

• We use SINCE to indicate the moment a long action in the past started: since 1998, since I was a student, since I left university, since my husband died.

For or Since?

• Mary has lived in Barcelona _______ 20 years.

• They have loved each other _______ the day they met.

• I’ve known Alice ______ six years.

• I’ve had this coat ________ I was a student.

ANSWERS

• Mary has lived in Barcelona for 20 years.

• They have loved each other since the day they met.

• I’ve known Alice for six years.

• I’ve had this coat since I was a student.

Time expressions + past simple

• I did it in 1999

• last week/ last year…

• two months ago

• on March 22.

For can be used with both past simple and present

perfect

• Ex. I worked on that project for 3 years. (I don’t work on that project anymore)

• Ex. I’ve worked on that project for 3 years. (I’m still working on that project now)

Since can only be used with the present perfect

I’ve known him since we were little.

We divorced since 1998.

• Can you correct the second sentence?

Correction

• We’ve been divorced since 1998.

• We divorced in 1998.

What are the missing prepositions?

• I’ve known her ______ years.

• I met my wife _____ 1995.

• I last went to the cinema two weeks ______

• I haven’t been to the cinema ______ ages.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ 2004.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ four years.

ANSWERS

• I’ve known her for years.

• I met my wife in 1995.

• I last went to the cinema two weeks ago

• I haven’t been to the cinema for ages.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona since 2004.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona for five years.

Work by Graziela Peleteiro, visit http://englishlessons.com.brThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Brazil License.