PRESENT PERFECT VS.

PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECTWE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT TO TALK ABOUT EVENTS IN THE PAST THAT

ARE CONNECTED TO THE PRESENT. IT IS SIMILAR TO SPANISH.

I HAVE STUDIED A DEGREE IN TOURISM. (I HAVE A DEGREE IN TOURISM)I HAVE CLEANED THE GARAGE. (THE GARAGE IS CLEAN NOW)I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE FOR FIVE YEARS. (I STILL LIVE IN TENERIFE)I HAVE VISITED LA GOMERA. (LIFE EXPERIENCES UP TO NOW)

THESE EVENTS STARTED IN THE PAST AND ARE CONNECTED TO NOW, TO THE PRESENT.

PAST SIMPLEWE USE THE PAST SIMPLE TO TALK ABOUT PAST EVENTS THAT ARE

CONNECTED TO A FINISHED TIME IN THE PAST.

I FINISHED UNIVERSITY IN 2002.KENNEDY DIED IN 1963.I VISITED MY SISTER YESTERDAY.LAST WEEK WE BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE.ON THEIR HONEYMOON, THEY WENT TO PARIS.SPAIN LOST THE FOOTBALL MATCH AGAINST GERMANY.GERMANY LOST THE WAR.FLEMMING DISCOVERED PENNICILLIN.

MISTAKESNEVER USE THE PRESENT PERFECT IF THERE IS A CLEAR

REFERENCE TO A FINISHED TIME IN THE PAST.

WRONG: I HAVE FINISHED UNIVERSITY IN 2002.WRONG: THEY HAVE VISITED PARIS ON THEIR HONEYMOON.WRONG: LAST WEEK WE HAVE BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE.

FINISHED TIME: USE THE PAST SIMPLEAcabé la carrera en 2002 :Visitaron París en su luna de miel :La semana pasada compramos un árbol de navidad :

FOR AND SINCE

OK: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE FOR FIVE YEARS. (The amount of time)OK: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE SINCE 2008. (The beginning of the time

period)

WRONG: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE SINCE FIVE YEARS AGO.

OK: I MOVED TO TENERIFE FIVE YEARS AGO. (With simple past)

JUST, ALREADY, YETI have just... Acabo de…

Acabo de llegar de La Laguna

I have already… Ya he…Ya he comprado los libros

I haven’t ______ yet Todavía no he…Todavía no he preparado la cena

OPEN or CLOSED TIMEPRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST

SO FARYESTERDAY

TODAYLAST WEEK

THIS WEEKLAST MONTH

THIS MONTHLAST YEAR

THIS YEARIN 1998

IN MY LIFEMY WEDDING DAY

AFTER CHRISTMASOPEN TIME CLOSED TIMEPERIOD WHEN WE MET PERIOD

THIS MORNING

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VS. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

USE THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TO EMPHASIZE THE COMPLETION.

I HAVE CLEANED THE KITCHEN. (THE KITCHEN IS CLEAN NOW)I HAVE CALLED THE SCHOOL. (AND TALKED TO THE TEACHER)I HAVE GONE TO THE DOCTOR. (NOW I AM BEING TREATED)

I HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK. (HOMEWORK DONE)I HAVE PREPARED THE LUGGAGE. (LUGGAGE PREPARED)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

USE THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TO EMPHASIZE THE DURATION.

I HAVE BEEN CLEANING THE GARAGE. (ALL MORNING)I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SCHOOL. (REPEATEDLY)I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU. (A LONG TIME)

I HAVE BEEN DOING MY HOMEWORK. (HOMEWORK DONE?)I HAVE BEEN PREPARING MY LUGGAGE. (LUGGAGE PREPARED?)