Meaning
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Present Perfect Have/has+V3 |
Past Simple V2 |
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1. Actions in the past that have finished by now and are connected with NOW ! (when is not known/not mentioned) I’ve written the letter. She’s come home. (She’s at home)… We’ve watched the film. 2. Actions that have a result in the present. I’ve bought a good book! (I have it now) He’s won a lottery! (He has the money now) 3. States that began in the past and continue in the present (stative verbs+ work, live). I’ve lived here for 3 years (up to now). They have been together since 2015 (up to now). 4. Life experience (without mentioning the exact time) with never, ever, many times I have never jumped with a parachute. ! gone -> been (to a place) She’s been TO Paris 3 times. |
1. Single actions in the past that are NOT connected with NOW ! I wrote a letter in the morning. She came home at 7 p.m. We watched a film on Sunday. Compare! I bought a good book on Monday (It doesn’t matter/unknown if I have it now) He won a lottery last year. (It doesn’t matter/unknown if he has the money now) Compare! I lived here 3 years ago (now I don’t). They were together in 2015 (now they aren’t).
Compare! the exact time is mentioned I jumped with a parachute last summer. She went to Paris in September. |
Forms
| Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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+ I have sent an email (I’ve sent). – I haven’t sent… ? Have you sent…? Sp ? What have you sent…? + She has sent an email (She’s sent). – She hasn’t sent… ? Has she sent…? Sp ? What has she sent…? |
+ I sent an email in the morning. – I didn’t send… ? Did you send…? Sp ? What did you send…?
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Markers
| Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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Unfinished period of time: today, this week/ month/year, etc. recently , lately for (some time), since (! Present Perfect + since + Past Simple) already, yet, just never, ever, before for ages in the last two/three days/weeks/years so far how long…? (+ stative verbs) how many times..? – once, twice, three times… it’s the first/second/third time… + Expressions meaning something has just happened: Look! Listen! Oh no! |
Finished period of time: yesterday, last week/ month/year (some time) ago When..? + Particular time in the past: in 2010, in October, at 3 o’clock, in the morning, on the 17th of February, at the weekend, the other day etc. when + Pat Simple (when I was 10 years old…) |