Past Simple vs Present Perfect

Past Simple Present Perfect

The past simple is used for:
actions finished in the past:
I worked in Valencia last year.
Series of completed actions in the past:
First I got up, then I had breakfast.
Habits in the past:
I never went to school.
They always skipped class.
We usually walked home.
Signal words: The present perfect is used for:
Ever is used for interrogative
Yesterday, last week. Actions occurred in a recent past.
A month ago, in 2002 I have just arrived home.
sentences, it means: alguna vez
always, often, usually, Past experiences Have you ever been to Paris?
never. On Sunday I have lived in Paris for two years. Yet is used for interrogative and
in May. After- When News negative sentences. It means: aún-
Scientists have discovered a cure for todavía. It is placed at the end of
cancer. the sentences.
I haven’t gone to Paris yet.

Signal words: just, already, never (these are used only for affirmative sentences)
ever, yet, for (durante) since (desde) still, recently.

Structures Structures
Aff. Subject + verb+ed/2º colum + C. Aff. Subject + Verb has/have + Verb + ed/3º colum + C
I worked at the hospital yesterday night. I have just bought a new car
I bought a new car in 2008. Neg. Subject + Verb has/have + not + Verb ed/3º colum + C
Rules: I have not bought a new car yet.
Study= studied play= played if the verb finishes in: ch, sh, s, z, x Int. Verb has/have + Subject + Verb ed/3º colum + C ?
add ED example: watched, washed, passed, buzzed, fixed. Have you bought a new car yet?
Neg. Subject + didn’t+ Verb normal form + C Wh + verb has/have + Subject + Verb ed/3º colum + C ?
I didn’t work at the hospital. Where have you bought a new car?
Int. Did + Subject + Verb normal form + C Expressions with for and since:
Did you work at hospital? For: a long time, ages, years, 4 years, all day, for an hour.
Wh + did + Subject + Verb normal form + C Since: Christmas, last week, 2008, Sunday, May, summer, 8:00 O’clock, he was 5.
Where did you work the last weekends?