One of the most difficult tenses to understand in English is Present Perfect Tense(present perfect tense). Almost every person who learns English finds it difficult.
Very often this tense is confused with the past simple. After all, sentences in these tenses are translated similarly, and sometimes even identically.
In this article I will talk in detail about the Present Perfect: when it is used, how it is formed and how it differs from the past simple.
From the article you will learn:
- Rules for using the Present Perfect tense in English
- Formation of negation in Present Perfect time in English
- Formation of questions in the Present Perfect tense in English
Difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple
To help you understand when to use the Present Perfect tense, we will compare it with the Past Simple tense, with which it is often confused.
Past Simple Tense
Past Simple is translated as “past simple” tense.
When to use:We use it when we talk about events that happened in the past.
What we show: The very fact of an action that once happened.
For example:
I lost my keys.
I was losing your keys.
You lost your keys sometime in the past and now talk about it as a fact that once happened to you. For example, over lunch you told a friend that you lost your keys last week.
Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect is translated as “present perfect (completed)” tense.
When to use: We use the present perfect when we talk about an action that happened in the past, but it has meaning now.
What we show: The result of an action done in the past.
Let's look at an example:
I have lost my keys.
I lost your keys.
For example, you call your wife and ask her when she will come home from work so that she can open the apartment. She asks you why you don’t do it yourself. And then you answer that you lost your keys (this has already happened) and therefore you cannot enter the apartment (the result of you losing your keys).
We see the result of this action right now : I am now without keys and cannot get into the apartment.
How to distinguish present perfect from past simple
Look at the following pictures:
For example, you were cooking dinner yesterday. And now you say it as a fact. This action has nothing to do with the present moment.
For example, you call your family for dinner. You say that you cooked dinner (action in the past). But you focus on the result - now you have dinner ready.
Look at the table comparing Past Simple and Present Perfect:
| Past Simple Tense | Present Perfect Tense |
|
We use: We show: |
We use: We show: |
|
Example: I bought a bag. For example, I say |
Example: I have bought the bag. For example meshowing |
Let's look at another example.
Past Simple:
I ate.
I ate.
For example, to the question: “Did you eat yesterday?”, I say that yes, I ate. This is simply the fact of the action itself in the past: I ate yesterday, but during this time I had already become hungry and now I can eat more.
Present Perfect:
I have eaten.
I ate.
I want to say with this sentence that I ate and, as a result, now I am full. This is important to me at the moment, because now I don’t want to eat anymore.
Now let's take a closer look at the uses of Present Perfect Tense.
Rules for using the Present Perfect tense in English
Let's see in what cases we use completed time:
1. The end/result of the action is visible right now
This means that the action you are talking about has just ended. And the result of this action is visible right now.
For example:
I cleaned the room (just finished cleaning, everything is still clean).
She cooked dinner (you can see the finished dinner right now).
2. We care about the result, not the time when something was done
We only care about the result - what we did. The time it was done is not important.
For example:
She did her homework (she has a notebook with her homework ready at the moment (result), it doesn’t matter to us exactly when she did it).
He prepared the presentation (right now the presentation is ready, when he prepared it is not important to us).
3. Talk about your life experiences
That is, you are talking about what has or has not happened to you to date. The words often used are: ever, never, several (one, two, three, etc.) times.
For example:
He had never jumped with a parachute (he hadn't by now).
She has been to New York twice (by now, this is her life experience).
4. We talk about an unfinished period of time
That is, the time period you are talking about (week, month, year) has not ended, and you have the opportunity to perform the action a certain number of times.
For example:
I fed the cat twice today (the day is not over yet and you can feed her again).
He has gone ice skating three times this winter (winter is not over yet and he can do more).
Rules for forming Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is formed with have/has and a verb in the past form.
IN English language There are regular and irregular verbs. Depending on the verb, this form is formed as follows:
- if the verb is correct, then we add the ending -ed to it: cook - cooked, finish - finished.
- if the verb is irregular, then we put it in the 3rd form: do - done, eat - eaten.
There is no rule by which we can determine the correct or irregular verb in front of us. You can only find out by looking it up in a dictionary or memorizing it. The same goes for forms. irregular verbs. You need to memorize them or look them up in the dictionary.
Now let's look at the diagram of such a proposal:
Actor + has/have + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of irregular verb
When we talk about someone in the singular (he - he, she - she, it - it), we use has. In all other cases - have.
| I | ||
| You | ||
| We | have | done |
| They | cooked | |
| She | bought | |
| He | has | |
| It |
They have bought a new flat.
They bought a new apartment.
She has broken her arm.
She broke her arm.
Abbreviations
We can shorten has and have in sentences. It will look like this:
has = 's
have='ve
The rule for adding the ending -ed
When we add the -ed ending to a verb, there are a few things to keep in mind.
1. If the verb ends in -e, then it is added to the verb -d only
chang e- chang ed- change
clos e- clos ed- close
2. If the verb ends to a consonant, in front of which stands stressed vowel, then the consonant is doubled
sto p-sto pped- stop
ba n-ba nned- forbid
Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and -w:
fi x- fi xed- fix
flo w-flo wed- leak
Note: V British English, when a verb ends in -l, it is doubled regardless of where the stress falls
travel l- travel lled- travel
American version:
travel l- travel led- travel
3. If the verb ends in -y and there is a consonant before it, then y changes to i+ed
cr y-cr ied- cry
tr y- tr ied- sample
Important: If there is a vowel before -u, then the ending -ed is added without change letters
sta y-sta yed- stay
pla y- pla yed- play
Tense indicators Present Perfect Tense
There are words in the English language that are very often used in the present perfect tense. Here are the main ones:
- never - never
- just - just now
- yet - not yet / already
- already - already
- lately/of late - recently
- recently - recently
- ever - ever
- this week/month/year - this week/this month/this year
They have moved recently.
They moved recently.
She has just finished.
She just finished.
But we never use the following words in the Present Perfect tense:
- yesterday - yesterday
- last week/year/month - on (in) last week/year/month
Why aren't they used?
After all, these words focus on when we performed the action, and not on the news/result of the action itself. We use them in the Past Simple.
Formation of negation in Present Perfect time
A negative sentence is constructed in the same way as an affirmative one. Only after the auxiliary verb have/has do we put the negative particle not.
The outline of such a proposal would be as follows:
Actor + has/have + not + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of irregular verb
| I | |||
| You | |||
| We | have | done | |
| They | not | cooked | |
| She | bought | ||
| He | has | ||
| It |
We have not done my homework.
We haven't done our homework.
She has not cooked dinner yet.
She hasn't cooked dinner yet.
Reduction
We can shorten have/has and the particle not like this:
have + not = haven’t
has + not = hasn’t
Formation of questions in Present Perfect tense
To ask a question in this tense, we need to put have/has in the first place in the sentence. Let's look at the diagram:
Have/has + character + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb?
| I | ||
| you | ||
| Have | we | done? |
| they | cooked? | |
| she | bought? | |
| Has | he | |
| it |
Have they finished?
Are they finished?
Has he met his friend?
Did he meet his friend?
The answer to the question can be positive or negative.
We can also give:
- short answer
- full answer
Short positive answer contains the word yes, an actor and an auxiliary verb:
Have they done it? Yes, they have.
They did it? Yes.
Has he read it? Yes, he has.
Did he read this? Yes.
Short negative answer starts with no, and to auxiliary verb we add the particle not.
Have they done it? No, they have not.
They did it? No.
Has he read it? No, he has not.
Did she read this? No.
Complete positive answer looks like an affirmative sentence, only at the very beginning we put yes.
Have they wrote a letter? Yes, they have written a letter.
Did they write a letter? Yes, they wrote a letter.
Has did she buy the dress? Yes, she has bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? Yes, she bought this dress.
Complete negative answer looks like negative sentence, only at the very beginning we put no.
Have they wrote a letter? No, they haven't written a letter.
Did they write a letter? No, they didn't write a letter.
Has did she buy the dress? No, she hasn't bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? No, she didn't buy this dress.
So, we got acquainted with the Present Perfect tense. If you still have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article. Now, to consolidate the theoretical part, let's move on to the practical task.
Reinforcement task
Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments.
1. He bought a car.
2. She finished her work.
3. They haven't cleaned the room yet.
4. Have you read these books?
5. He hasn't started yet.
6. We fixed the car.
7. They went to the cinema yesterday.
For English language learners, the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple has been and remains one of the most common difficulties in mastering English verb tenses. Let's discuss the difference between these two crucial times.
In Russian grammar, for example, such opposition does not exist. Using Present Perfect instead of Past Simple conversely, students make mistakes due to the fact that both tenses express a past action that ended before the present moment. In Russian, in such situations they use the past tense of the verb perfect form. For example:
Vasya was born in 1990.
Vasya was born in a local hospital.
Vasya went to school in 1996.
Vasya went to school.
Yesterday Vasya ate the whole cake.
Vasya ate the whole cake.
For our brother, all verbs are in the past tense. After all, in the Russian language the emphasis is on the fact that the action has already happened!
In English, it is very important to indicate the completion or incompleteness of an action, as well as the relation of the action to the present moment (whether the result of the action exists or not).
Let's take another look at our examples from the point of view of an English-speaking interlocutor:
Vasya was born in 1990. = Completed action in the past, indicating exactly when the action took place (1990).
Vasya was born in a local hospital. = Result: maybe Vasya is only 2 days old and is being taken home today.
Vasya went to school in 1996.= A completed action in the past, indicating exactly when the action occurred (1996).
Vasya went to school.= Result: Vasya is a schoolboy.
Yesterday Vasya ate the whole cake. = Completed action in the past, where exactly when the action occurred (yesterday) is indicated.
Vasya ate the whole cake. = Result: No cake!
Or another example:
What do we get in such cases?
The result is important in the present: We use the Present Perfect.
The action is cut off from the present by indicating a moment in the past: Past Simple or Past Indefinite is used.
The Present Perfect indicates an action from the past that is connected to the present through a result that exists in the present.
Past Simple expresses an action that took place in the past, and also states the fact that an event occurred in the past. Past Simple is widely used when describing events that took place in the past, or in conversations about past events.
Here is a cheat sheet and a reminder at the same time:
1) Present Perfect is never used with such designations of past moments as yesterday, last week, an hour ago, at five o'clock, etc. Past Simple is used with them.
2) If these adverbs are present, then they are used rather with the Present Perfect:
Ever (ever)
- already (already)
- before (before)
- never (never)
- yet (yet)
- not yet (not yet)
- since (since)
- for (during)
- just (just now)
- recently (recently)
- rarely (rarely)
- lately (lately)
- so far (for now)
3) If the question begins with when, use the Past Simple rather than the Present Perfect. When indicates that the question is about a past moment.
Now let's pay attention to the formation of these two times:
Have you read the guard? Don't go away, here are two video lessons on how to distinguish between Present Perfect and Past Simple and vice versa. Pay attention to the examples:
At the end of the story I offer you look at this text and work with English times. All times are highlighted in a different color.
By the way, here is a translation of the examples with Vasya:
Vasya was born in 1990.
Vasya has been born at a local hospital.
Vasya started school in 1996.
Vasya has started school.
Vasya ate the whole cake yesterday.
Vasya has eaten the whole cake.
Students often make mistakes by using the Present Perfect instead of the Past Simple and vice versa, since both tenses express a past action that ended before the present moment and correspond in Russian to the past tense of a perfective verb. However, Past Simple and Present Perfect are fundamentally different from each other. Past Simple expresses action, happened in the past period of time, states the fact of an event occurring in the past. Therefore, Past Simple is used in narration, i.e. when recounting events that took place in the past, or when talking about past events. With
| Present Perfect | Past Simple |
I . Therefore, the Present Perfect is used not in narration, but in a conversation or message concerning the state of affairs at the present time. have finished my work and I am going home now. I finished my work and am now going home. The manager has signed - Has The manager signed the letter. Can't you send it immediately? the steamer?
| I finished- No. my work and went home. I finished my work and am now going home. I finished my work and went home. signed - The manager signed the letter and I sent it immediately. The manager signed the letter. Can't you send it immediately? Did arrive |
- Did the ship arrive yesterday?
and so on. The Past Simple is used with them. In questions starting with when, Past Simple is always used
, not the Present Perfect, because the question is about a past moment or period of time.
Source:
HER. Izrailevich, K.N. Kachalova. Practical English grammar. M.: Vneshtorgizdat, 1952.
See also Differences between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous
Jun 09 2011 10:57:35
What does "elapsed period of time" mean? If the action of the Present Perfect, according to you, is finished, then doesn’t it also fall into the “elapsed period of time”?
As for “having a result in the present tense,” the result is perfectly present in the present tense in the case of the Past Simple:
His leg was amputated two years ago, and today (as a result) he has no leg.
In none of these cases will you put the Present Perfect, because the markers won’t allow it.
The Present Perfect cannot be defined as “a completed action bound by a present moment result” (if references to “authorities” are needed, look at what Randolph Quirk says about this. This is, in fact, his phrase verbatim). Present Perfect has completely different differences from Past Simple, namely:
2) Present Perfect allows us to see the type of verb, unlike, again, Past Simple
Jan 26 2012 21:47:29
rinoceronte What does "elapsed period of time" mean? If the action of the Present Perfect, according to you, is finished, then doesn’t it also fall into the “elapsed period of time”?It does, but with one significant difference: Present Perfect expresses an action, although it happened in the past, but With related to the present due to the presence of its result in the present tense.
For example:
- I have broken is broken.
- Has the secretary come? The speaker is interested in the result of the action has come, i.e. he wants to find out if the secretary is here. He could therefore express his question also with a sentence: Is the secretary here?
- I have opened the window. The speaker draws the interlocutor's attention to the result of the action have opened, i.e. that the window is open. He could also express this with the sentence: The window is open.
- I have not read the book. The speaker wants to say that he has not read the book, i.e. he does not know its contents. He could also express this with the sentence: I don't know the contents of this book.
rinoceronte His leg was amputated two years ago, and today (as a result) he has no leg.Right. The original message had exactly the same meaning:
He died last year, and today (as a result) he is dead.
I read the book as a child, and today (as a result) I know its contents.In none of these cases will you put the Present Perfect, because the markers won’t allow it.
Past Simple is used in narration, i.e. when recounting events that took place in the past, or when talking about past events. - What, in fact, was discussed in your examples.
The Present Perfect is never used with such designations of past moments as yesterday, last week, an hour ago, at five o"clock and so on.(Your “two years ago,” “last year,” and “as a child” markers also go here.) The Past Simple is used with them.
rinoceronte 1) the action of the Present Perfect was committed recently, in contrast to the Past Simple;In my opinion and personally, this is a very vague and confusing explanation. What exactly falls under the “long ago” category? Last century, year, week, morning? If the Past Simple expresses an action committed “a long time ago,” then the following sentences must be recognized as incorrect:
I got up early today.
I met him this morning.
I don’t know about you, but for me “today” and “this morning” are not “long ago.”
Jan 28 2012 13:58:32
rinoceronte 2) Present Perfect allows us to see the type of verb, unlike, again, Past SimpleRight. However, this is a purely technical difference that has nothing to do with the semantic load of the two times in question. The purpose of my original message was to show the difference in the semantic load of Past Simple and Present Perfect.
Jan 28 2012 14:04:19
It is you who read carefully what they write to you:
Please read the original post more carefully.
Didn't you see that I wrote that the result of Past Simple can be exactly the same? connected with the present due to the presence of its result in the present tense? Who did I write this to?
Present Perfect expresses an action, although it happened in the past, but With related to the present due to the presence of its result in the present tense.
And in the same way this can be expressed by the sentence “I broke my pencil” (for example, two days ago). AND THE PENCIL IS EXACTLY BROKEN NOW!
I have broken my pencil. The speaker means to report a specific result of the action have broken, namely, that the pencil is broken. He could also express this with the sentence: My pencil is broken.
By the way, you replaced the Present Perfect in the active with the passive PRESENT SIMPLE! Do you even understand this? You didn't say "My pencil has been broken". You said "is broken". That is, for you there is no difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple! Although you immediately say that the difference between them is the “result of the action.” They BOTH have the result of action, and you have now unwittingly proven it YOURSELF!
But the Present Perfect is also “events that took place in the past.” And you ALSO use it in “talking about past events.”
Past Simple is used in narration, i.e. when recounting events that took place in the past, or when talking about past events.
It’s very good that this is just “in your personal opinion.” Because this EXTREMELY CLEAR DESCRIPTION (a recently performed action, the concept of “recently” is given to the speaker) is the essence of this tense.
In my opinion and personally, this is a very vague and confusing explanation.
It is not at all necessary to recognize them as incorrect, because the Past Simple has the right to replace ANY past actions, which is why it is called “simple”. And it is for this reason that in a country like the USA, the Past Simple more than widely (and legitimately!) replaces the Present Perfect, ask your American friends.
If the Past Simple expresses an action committed “a long time ago,” then the following sentences must be recognized as incorrect:
I once again STRONGLY repeat my request to publish the invitation to my non-profit blog, which you deleted. I think visitors to this sub-forum of yours now understand WHY it wouldn’t hurt for them to look there. But preventing them from looking there is precisely harming their interests. You don’t want to harm the interests of your visitors, do you?
“similar” times using examples from TV series and movies. This time we’ll take a rather complex pair: Present Perfect and Past Simple. And the legendary “Friends” will act as a provider of examples.
I’ll Be There For You: difference between past simple and present perfect
The difficulty with these tenses for us is that often both tenses are translated into Russian the same way. For example:
I’ve already seen that film – I have already saw This movie.
I saw him yesterday – I saw him yesterday.
Well why then different time?! What is the difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect?! There are several ways to understand it forever.
1. Understand logic. I suggest two assistants. First: . As a second assistant, I highly recommend watching a video that clearly explains the logic of using the Present Perfect in comparison with the Past Simple.
You can start watching from 3:59. Personally, I liked the analogy with the curtain and examples from the Russian language: verbs went And left.
2. Practice! At one time, when I was struggling with these times, older comrades said: if you start using the Present Perfect, the understanding will come to your mind - you will “feel” this time. So keep the exercises on and (free workouts available after registration).
3. Remember the cases of using both tenses. This article will help you. The fact is that, despite all the difficulties, the Present Perfect has a list of cases of obligatory use, which is quite memorable. Use the Present Perfect in this number of cases, and the Past Simple in the rest, and everyone will understand you.
Now let's find examples for the main use cases of both tenses.
We Were On a Break! The first difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple
The Past Simple is used to express a completed past action when a specific time is indicated, for example: yesterday, last week, on Sunday, an hour ago, long ago, the other day, in 1990.
Season 1 episode 7. Chandler is stuck in the ATM lobby with model Jill Goodacre. IN telephone conversation Jill tells her mom that she's stuck with "some guy" and Chandler begins to fantasize and say to himself:
Chandler: Oh! Some guy. Some guy. 'Hey Jill, I saw you with some guy last night. (Oh, some guy. Some guy. ‘Hey, Jill, I saw you with some guy last night.’)
Chandler imagines Jill being told that they saw her with some guy last night. The exact time is given - the Past Simple is used.
Now let's find the same verb, but in the Present Perfect. Let's jump to season 10, episode 7 and take Chandler's line again. A call rings in his and Monica's apartment, Chandler picks up the phone and then asks Monica if she has seen Joe's bat:
Chandler: Have you seen Joey's bat? (Have you seen Joe's bat?)
This time the time is not indicated, and it is not important - the main result is: did Monica see the bat, and therefore, does she know where the desired object is.
SUMMARY:
How do you do? Second difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect
We said that if time is indicated, then we use the Past Simple. BUT! Please note: this must be a complete period of time.
Let's look at examples. Season 1 episode 4. Rachel, Monica and Phoebe reminisce about their past misdeeds. Monica remembers Rachel's 7th grade:
Monica: Well, at least ‘big girls’ don’t pee in their pants in seventh grade! (Well, at least 'big girls' don't pee their pants in 7th grade!)
Rachel: I was laughing! You made me laugh! (I laughed! You made me laugh!)
The girls talk about a long-past period of life: 7th grade. Past Simple is used.
The Present Perfect is used if the time has not yet ended: this week / month/ year, two months / years, since Monday / 2000 / 5 a.m. Also with words like: ever, never, in my life, keeping in mind that life is also a period of time that has not ended. 🙂
The very first episode. Rachel ran away from her fiancé and is rejoicing at the beginning of a new, independent life, an indicator of which, as it seems to her, is that she made the coffee herself:
Rachel: Isn't this amazing? I mean, I have never made coffee before in my entire life. (Isn't that amazing? I mean, I've never made coffee in my life).
Remember these markers for the Present Perfect: just, already, yet, ever, never, this week / month / year, two months / years, since Monday / 2000 / 5 a.m. etc.
SUMMARY:
Oh...My...God! How to distinguish Present Perfect from Past Simple
Let's name another difference, which, this time, focuses on logic rather than on some time markers. When we use the Past Simple, we talk about the past, which is not related to the present tense. The situation may have changed since then, for example: I lost my key, but I found it the next day(I lost my keys, but found them the next day).
When we use the Present Perfect we are talking about something that happened in the past but is relevant now. For example, if you were explaining why you can’t get into the house now: I have lost my key(that is, you don’t have the key now, the situation has not changed, the key is lost).
Let's find examples in the series. Season 1, episode 19. Ross leaves his monkey Marcel in the care of Rachel, who loses him. All his friends are looking for him, and in the end, not without difficulty, they find him. Rachel still feels guilty about this incident:
Rachel: Oh, Ross, c'mon. It’s my fault, I almost lost your... (Ross, stop it. It's only my fault, I almost lost yours...)
Ross: Yeah, but you were the one who got him back, y’know? You were great. (Yeah, but you were the one who brought him back, you know? You were great.)
The monkey has already been found. The fact that Rachel lost her is already history and has nothing to do with now.
Reverse example. Season 9, episode 20. Ross meets his new colleagues - Professor Wheeler (it turned out that this is a charming girl - Charlie) and Professor Spafford. The second one turns out to be an incredible bore and constantly talks about his many allergies. They sit together in a cafe, and when Spafford goes to the restroom, Ross states:
Ross: I've lost the will to live. (I lost the desire to live).
Ross’s phrase is still relevant: right now he’s so bored that he doesn’t want to live...
SUMMARY:
Va fa a Napoli: what is the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple
I’ll add about 2 more cases of using the Present Perfect.
First: when we talk about an action that began in the past and is still ongoing in the present.
“But for this case it is used !!!», – you will object.
And you'll be right. But the Present Perfect Continuous is replaced by the Present Perfect if the verb cannot have Continuous form. These are verbs like to like, to love, to wish, to sound, to need, to believe and etc.
Let's return to episode 7 of season 1 to Chandler stuck in the lobby. He makes friends with his famous partner in misfortune, and she teaches him to rotate a pen around his head. But Chandler just can't do it.
Jill: Chandler, we've been here for an hour doing this! Now watch, it's easy. (Chandler, we've been doing this here for an hour! Look, it's so easy!)
Jill couldn't say: We've been being here... Therefore, the Perfect form was used instead of the Perfect Continuous.
SUMMARY:
Second: to describe actions that were repeated several times.
We will find an example again in the first season, this time in episode 14. Joe persuades Chandler to go on a double date with him, because his companion will come with her friend. This friend turns out to be (Oh my God!) Janice - the girl Chandler is constantly trying to get rid of.
Joey: Just calm down. (Just calm down)
Chandler: Calm down? You set me up with the woman that I've been dumped twice in the last five months! (Calm down? You set me up with a woman I've dumped twice in the last 5 months!)
BUT! Do not confuse this with listing DIFFERENT sequential actions in the past. In this case we will use the Past Simple.
Season 3. The same Chandler, oddly enough, already in love with Janice, tells his friends how his meeting with his beloved went:
Chandler: …. And then I... threw the bag of barley at her, and ran out of the store. (And then I... threw a bag of barley at her and ran out of the store).
Chandler lists sequential actions he has taken in the past.
SUMMARY:
Present Perfect and Past Simple: comparison table
Let's summarize and put all use cases in one table.
| Past Simple | Present Perfect |
| To express a completed past action, if the time is specified. | time not specified. Time is not important. |
| To express a past action, if the time period has already ended: yesterday, last week, on Sunday, an hour ago, long ago, the other day, in 1990. | To express a completed action if the time period has not yet ended: today, this week/month/year, ever, never, etc. |
| If something happened in the past, but in the present the situation has already changed. Action is not connected to the present. | If something happened in the past, but the result of this action is still valid present. |
| To describe a series consecutive actions in the past. | To describe the actions that repeated repeatedly. |
| To describe an action that began in the past and has not yet ended. Instead of the Present Perfect Continuous with verbs that are not used in the Continuous form. |
It's time to practice: Present Perfect vs Past Simple
For English language learners, the difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple has been and remains one of the most common difficulties in mastering English verb tenses. Let's discuss the difference between these two crucial times.
In Russian grammar, for example, such opposition does not exist. Using Present Perfect instead of Past Simple conversely, students make mistakes due to the fact that both tenses express a past action that ended before the present moment. In Russian, in such situations, the past tense of the perfect verb is used. For example:
Vasya was born in 1990.
Vasya was born in a local hospital.
Vasya went to school in 1996.
Vasya went to school.
Yesterday Vasya ate the whole cake.
Vasya ate the whole cake.
For our brother, all verbs are in the past tense. After all, in the Russian language the emphasis is on the fact that the action has already happened!
In English, it is very important to indicate the completion or incompleteness of an action, as well as the relation of the action to the present moment (whether the result of the action exists or not).
Let's take another look at our examples from the point of view of an English-speaking interlocutor:
Vasya was born in 1990. = Completed action in the past, indicating exactly when the action took place (1990).
Vasya was born in a local hospital. = Result: maybe Vasya is only 2 days old and is being taken home today.
Vasya went to school in 1996.= A completed action in the past, indicating exactly when the action occurred (1996).
Vasya went to school.= Result: Vasya is a schoolboy.
Yesterday Vasya ate the whole cake. = Completed action in the past, where exactly when the action occurred (yesterday) is indicated.
Vasya ate the whole cake. = Result: No cake!
Or another example:
What do we get in such cases?
The result is important in the present: We use the Present Perfect.
The action is cut off from the present by indicating a moment in the past: Past Simple or Past Indefinite is used.
The Present Perfect indicates an action from the past that is connected to the present through a result that exists in the present.
Past Simple expresses an action that took place in the past, and also states the fact that an event occurred in the past. Past Simple is widely used when describing events that took place in the past, or in conversations about past events.
Here is a cheat sheet and a reminder at the same time:
1) Present Perfect is never used with such designations of past moments as yesterday, last week, an hour ago, at five o'clock, etc. Past Simple is used with them.
2) If these adverbs are present, then they are used rather with the Present Perfect:
Ever (ever)
- already (already)
- before (before)
- never (never)
- yet (yet)
- not yet (not yet)
- since (since)
- for (during)
- just (just now)
- recently (recently)
- rarely (rarely)
- lately (lately)
- so far (for now)
3) If the question begins with when, use the Past Simple rather than the Present Perfect. When indicates that the question is about a past moment.
Now let's pay attention to the formation of these two times:
Have you read the guard? Don't go away, here are two video lessons on how to distinguish between Present Perfect and Past Simple and vice versa. Pay attention to the examples:
At the end of the story I offer you look at this text and work with English tenses. All times are highlighted in a different color.
By the way, here is a translation of the examples with Vasya:
Vasya was born in 1990.
Vasya has been born at a local hospital.
Vasya started school in 1996.
Vasya has started school.
Vasya ate the whole cake yesterday.
Vasya has eaten the whole cake.
