PRESENT

PERFECT VS.
PAST SIMPLE
 Present Perfect
The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past.
The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more
interested in the result than in the action itself.

THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE

1. An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the
present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
2. An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to
the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
3. A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have
visited Portugal several times.
4. An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by
'just'. I have just finished my work.
5. An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the
result of his reading is important)
Have/ has + base verb in the past form

REGULAR VERBS: verb + ed

IRREGULAR VERBS: see the table of

irregular verbs
We use the past tense to talk about:

1. something that happened once in the past:

I met my wife in 1983.
We went to Spain for our holidays.

2. something that happened several times in the past:

When I was a boy, I walked a mile to school every day.
We swam a lot while we were on holiday.

3. something that was true for some time in the past:

I lived abroad for ten years.
He enjoyed being a student.

4. we often use expressions with ago with the past simple:

I met my wife a long time ago.
Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

•Unfinished actions that started in the past

•Finished actions:I knew Julie for ten years
and continue to the present:I've
(but then she moved away and we lost
known Julie for ten years (and I still know
touch).
her).

•A finished action in someone's life (when •A finished action in someone's life (when
the person is still alive: life experience):My the person is dead):My great-
brother has been to Mexico three times. grandmother went to Mexico three times.

•A finished action with no result in the

•A finished action with a result in the
present:I lost my keys yesterday. It was
present:I've lost my keys! (The result is that
terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new
I can't get into my house now).
keys yesterday).

•With an unfinished time word (this week, •With a finished time word (last week, last
this month, today):I've seen John this week. month, yesterday):I saw John last week.
Remember !!!

We use the past simple for past events or actions which

have no connection to the present.

We use the present perfect for actions which started in the

past and are still happening now OR for finished actions
which have a connection to the present.

We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:

NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.
The words for and since are used in sentences where the speaker wants to talk
about something that started in the past and continues into the present.

For is used when specifying the amount of time (how long):

I've had this watch for more than 40 years.

Since is used when specifying the starting point:

I've had this watch since 1965.
Just is used with the present perfect when it means ‘a short time before’

Eg. I’ve just seen Susan coming out of the cinema.

Already used with the present perfect means ‘before now’. We use it too
emphasize that something happened before something else or earlier than
expected.

Eg. The train has already left.

We use "never" in affirmative sentences: but the meaning is negative.

Eg. I have never cheated in an exam.
My son has never been to Moscow.
My brother has never visited London before.
We use "ever" in interrogative sentences:

Eg. Have you ever been to the United States?

Have you ever traveled by train?
Have you ever failed a class?

We use "yet" in interrogative and negative sentences and it suggests a

time later than expected. (so far = până acum)

Have you done your homework? No, I haven't done it yet.

Has your father seen your report? No, he hasn't seen it yet.
Have the visitors arrived? No, they haven't arrived yet.