PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

1 The present perfect always connects the past and the present; the past simple tells us only about the
past:
a We use the present perfect to talk about something We use the past simple to talk about
which started in the past and continues up to the something which started and finished in the
present. past.
I’ve lived in London for ten years. (= I still live in I lived in Manchester for ten years. (= I do
London now.) not live in Manchester now.)
More examples:
He has worked in a shop for five years. (= He still He worked in a factory for ten years. (= He
works in the shop now.) does not work in the factory now.)
How long have you been here? (= You are still How long were you there? (= You are not
here there now.)
now.
We use the past simple when the result of a
b We also use the present perfect when the result of past action is not connected to the present.
a I lost my wallet, but I’ve got it back again
past action is connected to the present. now.
I’ve lost my wallet. (= I have not got the wallet
now.) We use the past simple or past continuous to
give more details about it.
c We often use the present perfect to announce I left the bike outside for a few minutes and
‘news’. when I came back, it wasn’t there.
Someone has stolen my motorbike. I was talking to Carol on the phone when he
came in.
I’ve just seen the new boss.

2 When we say a definite past time eg yesterday, last week, six weeks ago, we always use the past
simple, never the present perfect.
I lost my wallet yesterday. (Not: I’ve lost my wallet yesterday.)
Someone stole my bicycle last week. (Not: Someone has stolen my bicycle last week.)

We use the present perfect to talk about an indefinite time up to the present eg ever, never, recently,
lately.

Compare:

PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

Have you ever seen a ghost?
I’ve never been to New York.
I’ve started taking driving lessons recently.
A: Have you seen any good films lately?
Did you see your friend yesterday?
I went to London last week.
I started taking driving lessons six weeks ago.
B: Yes, I saw the film Titanic last night and I
liked it very much.

Expressions such as so far, up to now and all my life are commonly used with the present perfect.

She has been to the movies three times so far this month.
I have lived in this neighbourhood all my life.
Up to now, we have had very mild weather this winter.
 In conversations, we often begin indefinitely, with the present perfect, then we use the past simple
when we think about the definite time that something happened.
‘Have you ever been to the United States?’ ‘Yes, I went there in 1985’. ‘Did you go to New York
(= when you were there in 1985)?’
I’ve seen that film. I enjoyed it (= when I saw it) very much.

3 We can use today, this morning, this afternoon, etc:

with the present perfect when these periods with the past when these periods of time are
of time are not finished. finished.
I’ve seen Peter this morning. (It is still I saw Peter this morning. (It is now afternoon,
morning.) evening, or night time.)

4 We normally use a past tense, not the present perfect, to ask when something happened.
When did you arrive home last night? (Not: When have you arrived home last night?)

5 The present perfect can be used only for events or actions that are connected with the present. With
events, people or actions that are known to be connected with the past (e.g. historical events, people
who are dead), the past simple is used.

PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

I’ve met Madonna. (I may meet her again; she
is still alive. – period of time not finished yet.)
Stephen King has written a lot of books.
Michael Jackson has appeared all over the
world.
I saw Elvis Presley. (I won’t see him again; he is
dead. – period of time now finished)
Agatha Christie wrote detective stories.
How many songs did the Beatles write?