p.simple-p.perfect

Present Perfect & Simple Past

7th grade - starter unit

Do you remember when we use the past simple tense?

We use the Past Simple to talk about actions and situations in the past which finished at a specific time. We usually use past time expressions such as yesterday, last week, an hour ago, etc. to show this.

Past Simple

Tom worked in Amsterdam last year. (We know exactly when Tom worked in Amsterdam, it was last year). We swam a lot while we were on holiday. I met my wife a long time ago. Where did you go for your holidays? We didn't get home until very late last night.

Now let's move on to the Present Perfect!

We use the Present Perfect to talk about past actions and experiences which began in the past and continue to thepresent without specifying the time because either it is unimportant or unknown.

I have read three books by Charles Dickens.

She has never been to Italy.

Have you ever dyed your hair a different colour?

I haven't seen anything like this before.

Let's look at some examples!

Past Simple

Present Perfect

Jane saw a movie yesterday evening.(It is obvious when she watched it, it was yesterday evening) I liked ice cream when I was a child.(When I was a child is a phrase which shows us when the action happened) Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays. (William Shakespeare lived a few centuries ago, so this action has no connection with the present.

Jane has seen this movie twenty times.(We don't know when she watched it, we know only she has seen this movie twenty times.) I have never liked ice cream.(It is difficult to specify the time in this sentence) J.K.Rowling has written the best-selling series of Harry Potter books. (Joan Rowling still lives and it is possible that she will write more books, so we have the connection with the present)

One more thing...

Click me!

We often use for and since when talking about time in the Present Perfect.

Can you find the correct answers?

4. She has worked there _____ she finished college.a. forb. since

1. Allison hasn’t been to that restaurant ______ a few months.a. forb. since

2. I've worked for EC _____ 2008.a. forb. since

5. Lisa and Jill have been at the library _____ a long time.a. forb. since

3. My family has lived here _____ last March.a. forb. since

6. My little sister has been sick _____ two days.a. forb. since

Team Up!

Bamboozle Time!

You can use your irregular verbs list in your SB :)

Thanks!