Present and past perfect

Present and Past Perfect

The complete guide

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Contents

past simple

past simple continuous

Present perfect

Present perfect continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

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Past simple

Positive sentence

Subject + verb ending in -ed/irregular verb (2nd column)

I played with my best friend yesterday.I saw my best friend yesterday.

Negative sentence

Subject + didn't + infinitive

I didn't play with my best friend yesterday.I didn't see my best friend yesterday.

Questions

Did + subject + verb ?

Did you play with your friend yesterday?Did you see my best friend yesterday?

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When do we use it?

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To talk about things that happened and finished in the past. Normally, we mention when. We can mention a number of actions.

I played with my best friend yesterday.

I put my shoes on and went for a run.

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Past continuous

Positive sentence

Subject + was/were + verb in -ing form

I was reading when my brother arrived.

Negative sentence

Subject + wasn't/weren't + verb in -ing form

I wasn't reading when my brother arrived.

Questions

Was/were + subject + verb in -ing form

Was I reading when my brother arrived?

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When do we use it?

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To set the scene or talk about longer actions in the past interrupted by shorter actions.

I was playing with my best friend when I found a lost wallet.

While we were studying at the library, someone called me on the phone.

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Present perfect

Subject + have/has + participle

Positive sentence

I have slept for 8 hours.

Negative sentence

Subject + haven't/hasn't + participle

I haven't been to London.

Questions

Have/has+ subject + participle?

Have you seen my charger?

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When do we use it?

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To talk about something which started in the past and continues in the present. Use for or since!

I have known my best friend for a long time. I have known my best friend since I was three.

Use "for" para periodos de tiempo

Use "since" para indicar cuándo empezó una situación

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When do we use it?

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To talk about things that happened before now but have a connection with the present. Use already, yet or just!

Examples in next page

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When do we use it?

Negative sentences

Positive sentences

I haven't eaten yet.

I have just eaten a pizza.

Usa "just" para hablar de algo que pasó hace poco ("acabar de").> Se usa en posición media.

Usa "yet" para indicar que algo aun no se ha hecho ("aún")> Se usa al final.

I have already eaten a pizza.

Usa "already" para indicar que algo ya se ha hecho ("ya").> Se usa en posición media.

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Already and Yet in questions

• Has the doctor arrived yet? (I'm waiting) - No, not yet, but you can wait for him. He will arrive in a few minutes. > Simplemente preguntamos si algo ha pasado ya.
• Have you already finished? (I'm surprised)- Yes, I have! It was easy. > Preguntamos porque ha ocurrido antes de lo esperado.

• Is your father here already?! I thought the train arrived at 10:30 and it's only 9:45! (I want to emphasise it) > Preguntamos porque queremos enfatizar nuestra que estamos muy sorprendidos.

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When do we use it?

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To talk or ask about things that happened but we don't say when (experiences). You don't say when.

Someone has stolen my laptop!

Have you watched "The Lord of the Rings"?

She has studied English and Spanish.

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Present perfect vs. past simple

So... what's the difference between present perfect and past simple?

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Present perfect vs. past simple

Present perfect

Past simple

Para acciones más cercanas al presente y experiencias. Podemos NO decir cuándo.

Para acciones finalizadas. Decimos CUÁNDO.

I ate a sandwich yesterday.

I have just eaten a sandwich .

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Present perfect vs. past simple

Present perfect time expressions

Past simple time expressions

• last ...
• ... ago
• in 1990
• yesterday
• after the party
• when I was ...
• Before
• After

• up to now
• since
• for
• recently
• today*
• this morning*

• just
• yet
• never
• ever
• already
• so far

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Present perfect continuous

Positive sentence

Subject + have/has + been + verb in -ing

I have been going to French classes.

Negative sentence

Subject + haven't/hasn't + been + verb in -ing

I haven't been studying French this week.

Question

Have/Has + subject + been + verb in -ing?

Have you been studying last weekend?

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When do we use it?

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To talk about an action which has just stopped and has present results. We don’t have to give a specific time.

I have just been cleaning the car.

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When do we use it?

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To talk about a single activity that began at a point in the past and is still continuing.

I’ve been reading your book; it’s great. (I’m still reading it.)

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When do we use it?

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To talk about repeated activities which started at a particular time in the past and are still continuing up until now.

I’ve been going to Spain on holiday every year since 1987.

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Past perfect

Subject + had + participle

Positive sentence

I had seen Tom before the meeting.

Negative sentence

Subject + hadn't+ participle

They hadn't seen Rachel since 2009.

Questions

had + subject + participle?

Had he finished his homework before he went to see his girfriend?

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When do we use it?

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To talk about an action that started in the past before another action or moment (past perfect + past simple)

I had watched the movie before I read the book (Vi la película antes de leer el libro).

I had fallen asleep when the clock rang at 11 p.m. (Ya me había dormido cuando la alarma sonó a las 11).

I had been happy in all my jobs until I got this one.(Había sido feliz en todos mis trabajos hasta que conseguí este).

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When do we use it?

WATCH OUT!A veces no usamos el pasado simple para indicar cuándo comenzó la segunda acción:

My father had visited China several times, so that's why he knows it so well. They had not understood the movie because they had not read the comic.

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When do we use it?

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In reported speech and some conditional sentences.

Third conditional

Reported speech

I have started a new degree → She said she had started a new degree.(Empecé una nueva carrera → Ella dijo que había empezado una nueva carrera).

If you had told me before, I would have helped you.(Si me lo hubieras dicho antes, yo te hubiera ayudado).

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Past perfect continuous

Positive sentence

Subject + had + been + verb in -ing

I had been going to French classes by that time.

Negative sentence

Subject + hadn't/+ been + verb in -ing

I hadn't been studying French by that time.

Question

Had+ subject + been + verb in -ing?

Had you been studying?

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When do we use it?

✍️

To talk about actions or events which started before a particular time in the past and were still in progress up to that time in the past.

We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key. (The past perfect continuous focuses on the activity of trying to open the door to a particular time in the past.)

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You made it!

That was a lot of information, so now it's time for you to practice