Hello! Have
you ever
read one of
my stories?
PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST
SIMPLE
by Cristina Lacambra
FORM
• Positive: HAVE /
HAS + PAST
PARTICIPLE
• Negative: HAVE
NOT / HAS NOT
+ PAST
PARTICIPLE
• Interrogative:
HAVE / HAS +
Subject + PAST
PARTICIPLE?
• We have seen
that film / She
has seen that film
• I haven’t seen
that film / She
hasn’t seen that
film
• Have you seen
that film? / Has
he seen that
film?
USES
We use the PRESENT
PERFECT for:
FINISHED EVENTS CONNECTED
WITH THE PRESENT
Look at the
two
Thompsons!!
Two hours later.
At hospital.
What has
happened to
them?
EXPLANATION
The event or action is completed in the past BUT
the exact time of the action is unknown or unimportant.
We are interested in the RESULTS or EFFECTS of that
event or action on us NOW.
PAST EVENTS WITH EXPRESSIONS
OF “time up to now”
How long have you
known Snowy?
Let me think…
I’ve known Snowy
for 7 years.
EXPLANATION
Here, the event
or action
began in the
past BUT
continues up
to the present
FOR / SINCE (prepositions)
FOR
SINCE
• When we
mention the
length of a
period of time.
• When we
mention the
starting point of
time.
• Ex: How long have
you been a
doctor? For 10
years.
• Ex: How long have
you known each
other? Since
1997 or Since we
were 27.
EXPERIENCES
Have you ever been
to China?
EXPLANATION
• We talk about things or experiences we have
or haven’t done at some / any time in our
lives up to now.
• Here, we are thinking of a period of “time up
to now” even if we do not mention it.
EVER / NEVER
EVER
• It indicates at some / any time in your
live up to now.
• It is used in questions.
• POSITION: Have / has + subject +
EVER + past participle.
NEVER
• It is used in affirmative sentences.
• POSITION: Have / has + NEVER +
past participle.
We use the PRESENT
PERFECT with the
following TIME ADVERBS:
JUST
Look!! The
car has just
broken
down!!
• Just indicates a very short time before
now.
• The event or action has just finished.
ALREADY / YET
ALREADY
• It indicates at some time before now.
• The action or event may has happened
sooner than expected.
• It is used in affirmative sentences.
• POSITION: have / has + ALREADY + past
participle.
YET
• It indicates that the action or event
expected hasn’t happened, not until now.
• It is used in negative and interrogative
sentences.
• POSITION: at the end of the sentence.
Hello! Have you
packed your
things yet?
Yes, yes… don’t
worry Tintin. We
have already
packed our things
up!!
We also use the PRESENT
PERFECT with the
following EXPRESSIONS:
TIME EXPRESSIONS that indicate
an unfinished time period.
Early this
morning
Still this
morning
Outside
Where is Snowy?... I have heard
enough bad news this morning!...
Snowy!... Snowy!... Oh, he has
gone out …
•
•
•
•
•
•
today
this week
this month
this year
this morning
etc
Compare the previous
example with this one:
I didn’t hear any
good news this
morning!!
This morning
This evening
• When the time period we are referring is
finished, then we use the Past Simple.
CONTRAST BETWEEN THE PRESENT
PERFECT AND THE PAST SIMPLE
PAST SIMPLE
• We are interested in
a fact that happened
in the past.
• We often use specific
time expressions such
as yesterday, two
weeks ago, lat year,
etc.
• Ex: Mike didn’t go
skiing because he
broke his arm last
week.
PRESENT PERFECT
• We are not
interested in the time
of the action but in
the results of that
action which is
connected to the
present.
• Ex: Mike can’t go
skiing because he
has broken his
arm.