The ultimate fight

What’s the difference?

I went to Mexico last year.

I have been to Mexico in the last year.

 What’s the difference?
I went to Mexico last year.
I went to Mexico in the calendar year before
this one.

I have been to Mexico in the last year.

I have been to Mexico at least once at some
point between 365 days ago and now.
 What’s the difference?
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very
different in meaning.
"Last year" means the year before now, and it is
considered a specific time which requires Past
Simple.
"In the last year" means from 365 days ago until
now. It is not considered a specific time, so it
requires Present Perfect.
 What’s the difference?

I have seen three movies this

week.

I saw three movies last week.

 What’s the difference?
Present Perfect is used when the time
period has NOT finished:
I have seen three movies this week.
(This week has not finished yet.)

Past Simple is used when the time

period HAS finished:
I saw three movies last week.
(Last week is finished.)
 What’s the difference?

Martin has crashed his car again.

Martin crashed his car last year.

 What’s the difference?
The Present Perfect is often used when giving
recent news:
Martin has crashed his car again.
(This is new information.)

The Past Simple is used when giving older

information:
Martin crashed his car last year.
(This is old information.)
 What’s the difference?

I have seen that movie

already.

I saw that movie on Thursday.

 What’s the difference?
The Present Perfect is used when the
time is not specific:
I have seen that movie already.
(We don't know when.)

The Past Simple is used when the time is

clear:
I saw that movie on Thursday.
(We know exactly when.)
 What’s the difference?

I have lived in London for five

years.

I lived in London for five years.

 What’s the difference?
The Present Perfect is used with for and
since, when the actions have not finished
yet:
I have lived in London for five years.
(I still live in London.)

The Past Simple is used with for and since,

when the actions have already finished:
I lived in London for five years.
(I don't live in London now.)
 Present Perfect or Past Simple???
1. Ryan _______ (LIVE) in Tokyo for five years, but he left
in 1993.
2. The Titanic ________ (SINK) in 1912.
3. Somebody ________ (STEAL) my bicycle! Now I'll have
to walk home.
4.Gerry ______(FALL) off his bike three times this month.
5. Chika ________ (GRADUATE) from university last July.
6.I ________ (SEE) the movie Twilight three times. I'm
going to see it again tonight.
7. I _____ (WALK) to work every day for the last six weeks!
8.When Nina was a child, she ________ (LIVE) in Seoul.
9.Ouch! I ________ (CUT) my finger!
10. I ________ (LOSE) my key yesterday, so I couldn't get
into the house. Eventually, I ________ (FIND) it in my
jacket pocket.
1. Ryan LIVED in Tokyo for 5 years, but left in 1993.
2.The Titanic SANK in 1912.
3.Somebody HAS STOLEN my bicycle! Now I'll have
to walk home.
4.Gerry HAS FALLEN off his bike 3 times this month
5.Chika GRADUATED from university last July.
6.I HAVE SEEN the movie Twilight 3 times. I'm going
to see it again tonight.
7.I WALKED to work every day for the last six weeks!
8.When Nina was a child, she LIVED in Seoul.
9.Ouch! I HAVE CUT my finger!
10. I LOST my key yesterday, so I couldn't get into the
house. Eventually, I FOUND it in my jacket pocket.
 Present Perfect OR Past Simple???
____ you ever (have) malaria? If you have, the chances are that
you ________ (get) the disease in a hot country. Malaria is most
common in tropical countries, especially those with wet and
humid climates, where the mosquitos which carry the disease
can flourish. However, recently, malaria _____________
(become) more common in Canada. According to a recent report,
over 1000 people _________ (contract) the disease in Canada in
1997, and the number ________(rise) every year since 1994. This is
an alarming trend. Why is the incidence of malaria rising here?
The answer is travel. More and more Canadians travel abroad
every year, and some of them catch malaria. However, when a
Toronto Woman ______ (become) sick last year, her doctor
_______(discover) that she _______ (never travel) abroad in her
life. She must have been bitten by a mosquito which _____ (get)
the disease from another sick Canadian.
 Present Perfect OR Past Simple???
HAVE you ever HAD malaria? If you have, the chances are that
you GOT the disease in a hot country. Malaria is most common in
tropical countries, especially those with wet and humid climates,
where the mosquitos which carry the disease can flourish.
However, recently, malaria HAS BECOME more common in
Canada. According to a recent report, over 1000 people
CONTRACTED the disease in Canada in 1997, and the number
HAS RISEN every year since 1994. This is an alarming trend.
Why is the incidence of malaria rising here? The answer is travel.
More and more Canadians travel abroad every year, and some of
them catch malaria. However, when a Toronto woman BECAME
sick last year, her doctor DISCOVERED that she HAS NEVER
TRAVELLED abroad in her life. She must have been bitten
by a mosquito which GOT the disease from another sick
Canadian.
And to finish…