Tenses (Past Simple & Present Perfect)

We use tenses to talk about time. Tenses play an important role in languages that grammaticalise time reference as past,

present and future.

Past Simple Present Perfect• used to talk about finished

actions.• Eg. It rained yesterday. She went to London in 1992.

• refers to a definite time in the past.

• The action doesn’t continue.• Eg. Roald Dahl wrote the story• The BFG in 1982.

.

• used for an action in the past.• The action has a result in the

present.• Eg. I’ve lost my passport.• result = ( I can’t find it now.)• He has washed his car.• result = (It is clean now.)

• used for past actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past.

• Eg. I have met the President.• He has travelled all over the • world.

Past Simple Present Perfect

• Used for past habits.• Eg. I studied many hours

everyday. .

• The action can continue to the present. (time expressions since/for are used)

• Eg. I have known him for a long

• time.(I still know him.)• My father has worked here

since 1990. • (and he still does)

Time Expressions (Past Simple)

• last week

• 2 months ago

• on April 1st

• in 1991

• for 5 years

• yesterday morning

• Note : for can be used with both Past simple and Present perfect tenses.

Time Expressions (Present perfect)

for since(+a period of time) (+ a point in time)

• a long time yesterday

• half an hour last Wednesday

• a week eight o’clock

• two months lunch time

• five minutes 1987

Present perfect (Form)

Have/has + past participle

Positive and Negative

I/ We/ You/ They ‘ve (have) haven’t lived abroad. He/She/ It ‘s (has) hasn’t

Question

Have I/ we / you / they been to Africa ?Has he/she / it

Past simple (Form)• The form or structure of the Past simple is the same for all persons.

Positive and Negative

I arrivedHe wentShe yesterdayIt We didn’t goYou didn’t arriveThey

QuestionWhen did she /you/they etc. arrive ?

Underline the correct answer

1. I have never been / never went to Africa.

2. India was / has been an independent country since 1947.

3. She broke / has broken her leg last year.

4. Lal has been / was in hospital since Monday.

5. They haven’t seen / never saw each other since 2000.

Answers

1. I have never been / never went to Africa.

2. India was / has been an independent country since 1947.

3. She broke / has broken her leg last year.

4. Lal has been / was in hospital since Monday.

5. They haven’t seen / never saw each other since 2000.