Past simple and present perfect

Past Simple and present perfect

What did you do and what have you done?

summary

The simple past is used to describe an action that started and finished in the past (in a definite moment). The present perfect is used to describe an action that started in the past and affects the present (the time is not specified).

past simple key words

Two days ago, one year ago, etc...

Last Monday, month, year, etc...

Yesterday

in + date

Yesterday, I bought a new pair of shoes.

We took our driving license one year ago.

Last summer Mike went to the mountains

I was born in 1995

The simple past

The past simple of regular verbs is typically formed by adding “-ed” to the end of the infinitive (e.g., “talk” becomes “talked”). !

The simple past

Irregular verbs don't follow a specific pattern: some take the same form as the infinitive (e.g., “put”), while others change completely (e.g., “go” becomes “went”).

PRESENT PERFECT

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present

For example: "I've seen that film before."

We use it when we are talking about our experience up to the present

For example: "I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys."

We use it for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:.

For example: "My last birthday was the worst I have ever had."

We can use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to a time which is not yet finished: today; this week/month/year; now that I am 18 etc...

We often use the present perfect with

Adverbials which refer to the recent past: recently, just, already, yet.

some examples

Yet

Already

Just

in questions it means "già" in negative sentences it means "ancora".

it means "già".

it means "appena".

-I've just finished my homework. -They've just eaten. -We've just watched the TV.

-She has already cut her hair. -He's already been to the cinema. -You've already read that book.

-I haven't met your sister yet. -It hasn't stopped raining yet. -Have you seen my profile picture yet?

PRESENT PERFECT WITH FOR AND SINCE

FOR

SINCE

For + periodo di tempo for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours "I have worked here for five years".

Since + momento preciso since this morning, since last week, since yesterday since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock "I have worked here since 1990".

past simple exercise. choose the correct option

Last week, we have bought two bags.

Last week, we bought two bags.

Last week, we didn't bought two bags.

Last week, we buyed two bags.

present perfect

Don’t forget to review the irregular verbs!