ENGLISH GUIDE

Simple Past – Present Perfect Simple

Form
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
irregular verbs: see 2nd irregular verbs: form of 'have' +
column of irregular verbs 3rd column of irregular verbs
Example: Example:
I spoke I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' +

Example: infinitive + ed
I worked Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked

Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is
quite strict. As soon as a time expression in the past is given,
you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you
must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if it's
consequence in the present is important.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain
time in the past (even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that
an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet
Example: Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.
Certain event in the past or how often so far?
Do you want to express when a certain action took place or
whether / how often an action has happened till now?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past whether / how often till now
Example: Example:
He went to Canada last Have you ever been to Canada? /
summer. I have been to Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do
you want to emphasize the result (a past action's consequence
in the present)?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action
Example:
I bought a new bike. (just
telling what I did in the past.)
Emphasis on result
Example:
I have bought a new bike. (With
this sentence I actually want to
express that I have a new bike
now.)

Signal Words
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
 yesterday  just
 ... ago  already
 in 1990  up to now
 the other day  until now / till now
 last ...  ever
 (not) yet
 so far
 lately / recently

Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present
perfect simple).
1. A: (you / play / already) ___________________________ the new
computer game?
2. B: No, not yet. I only (buy) _________________it yesterday and
I (have / not) _____________________ the time yet.
3. A: (you / go) ___________________ to the cinema last night?
4. B: Yes. I (be) ____________________ there with Sue and Louis.
(you / be) _______________________ to the cinema recently?
5. A: I last (go) _______________________ to the cinema two
weeks ago.
6. B: So you (see / not) ____________________ the new action
film yet.
7. A: No, unfortunately not. (you / enjoy)
_______________________ it?
8. B: Oh, I really (love) ________________________ it. But Sue
(like / not) __________________________ it - too much action!

Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present
perfect simple).
1. I (just / finish) ______________________ my homework.
2. Mary (already / write) ________________________ five letters.
3. Tom (move) ______________________ to this town in 1994.
4. My friend (be) _______________________ in Canada two years
ago.
5. I (not / be) _______________________ to Canada so far.
6. But I (already / travel) _____________________ to London a
couple of times.
7. Last week, Mary and Paul (go) _______________________ to the
cinema.
8. I can't take any pictures because I (not / buy)
______________________ a new film yet.

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular natural
features on earth. It is listed as one of the Seven Natural
Wonders and became a United States national park in 1919.
The park covers an area of nearly 5,000 km².
Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon slices deep
into the Colorado Plateau and forms one of the most scenic
landscapes in the world. Up to 1963, when the Glen Canyon
Dam was built, the Colorado River moved 143 million tons of
stones each year.

Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past or present
perfect).
1. My friends (visit) _________________________ the Grand
Canyon National Park last year.
2. I (be / never) __________________________ to the Grand
Canyon National Park.
3. But I (see) _________________________ lots of wonderful
pictures.
4. And yesterday I (buy) ________________________ a book about
the Grand Canyon.
5. I (read) ________________________ 30 pages already. It's really
interesting.