In English, the past simple (also known as the preterite) is used to talk about events that happened in the past and are not connected to the present. For example, you might say, I visited Paris last year. This sentence describes a specific event that occurred in the past.
In contrast, the present perfect is used to express an action that has a connection between the past and the present. For instance, you could say, I have visited Paris. This indicates that the experience of visiting Paris is relevant to your current situation or understanding.
| Conjugation Tense | Example | Explanation 💡 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past tense | Sam worked at McDonald’s for two months. | The use of the past simple indicates a completed situation: at the time of speaking, Sam no longer works at McDonald’s. | |
| Present perfect | Sam has worked at McDonald’s for two months. | The present perfect shows a situation with a link to the present: at the time of speaking, Sam is still working at McDonald’s. |
The goal of this lesson is to help you understand the difference between the past simple and the present perfect tenses! To achieve this, you will discover a simple definition of each tense, compare the two tenses to see how they differ, and complete exercises to test your understanding.
How to use the past tense in English
Let’s first take a closer look at the past simple tense:
- a simple definition of this tense
- an explanation of how it is formed
- a list of adverbs and other common time markers with which it is used
What is the preterite?
Also known as the simple past or past simple tense, the preterite is used to express actions that happened in the past. It refers to isolated events that have no connection to the present. This tense is commonly used for descriptions and to tell stories about completed events.
| Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Hillary and Bill Clinton met in 1971 | This means that the action has been completed in the past. |
How to form the preterite in English
To create the affirmative form, simply add -ed to the base form of regular verbs. Irregular verbs have unique past forms. In the negative form, use did not or the contracted form didn’t before the base verb. In the interrogative form, use did, followed by the subject and the base verb.
| Form | Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative sentence | I kissed a girl. | Shows an action that happened in the past. | |
| Negative sentence | He did not see the car. He didn’t see the car. | Used to state that something did not happen. | |
| Interrogative sentence | Did you eat my brownie? | Used to ask if something happened. |
Words that signal the use of the past simple
In English, the past simple is often used with words and phrases such as:
- yesterday: Indicates that the action occurred the day before.
- last night (or another part of the day): Refers to the previous evening or time period.
- last Monday (or another day): Points to the Monday before the current week.
- two months ago (or another number): Specifies a time frame in the past, mostly within a year.
- four years ago (or another number): Indicates a longer time period, more than a year upwards.
- in 1256 (or another date): Refers to a specific year in the past.
How to use the present perfect in English
Now, let’s explore the present perfect tense:
- a simple definition of this tense
- an explanation of how it is formed
- a list of adverbs and other common time markers with which it is used
What is the present perfect?
The present perfect simple is a compound tense. It is formed with the auxiliary verb have and the past participle of the main verb. Unlike the past simple, it expresses an action that has a connection between the past and the present.
| Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Bill hasn’t seen Hillary since March 2022 | This sentence indicates that Bill’s lack of contact with Hillary started in the past and continues to the present. |
How to form the present perfect in English
To form the present perfect simple, use the following structure: have (or has) + the past participle of the verb (adding -ed for regular verbs, unless the verb is irregular).
| Example | Explanation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| I have cooked dinner | Shows that the action of cooking dinner is relevant to the present. |
Words that signal the use of the present perfect
In English, the present perfect tense is often used with specific words and expressions, such as:
- ever: Mostly used in questions to mean “at any time”.
- already: Indicates that something has happened sooner than expected.
- yet: Used in questions and negative sentences to talk about things expected to happen
- not yet: Shows that something hasn’t happened but is expected to happen.
- just: Refers to a recent action
- until now: Indicates that something has been true up to the present.
- again: Used to indicate repetition
Examples of past and present perfect in English
To decide between using the past simple or the present perfect, ask yourself this question: Does this past action have any impact on the present? Remember, using the wrong tense can change the meaning of your sentence!
Summary Table of Differences
| Tense | Example | Explanation💡 | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past simple | I lost my keys. | The past simple indicates the action is finished; you have either found your keys or replaced them by now. | |
| Present perfect | I have lost my keys. | The present perfect shows that losing your keys is still relevant; at the time of speaking, the keys are still missing. | |
| Past simple | I read four books last year. | The past simple and time marker show that all books were read last year, which is now over. | |
| Present perfect | I have read four books this month. | The present perfect and time marker show that the month isn’t over; you could still read more books this month. | |
| Past simple | I worked here for three years. | The past simple indicates a completed situation: at the time of speaking, you no longer work there. | |
| Present perfect | I have worked here for three years. | The present perfect shows that, at the time of speaking, you are still working there. | |
| Past simple | I met a great woman in 1989. | The past simple and time marker indicate you met someone in 1989, but did not maintain a relationship with her. | |
| Present perfect | I met a great woman when I was 25. I have been with her since. | The present perfect shows that the woman you met at 25 is still your partner at the time of speaking. | |
| Past simple | We traveled a lot when we were young. | The past simple and time marker show a past habit that is no longer ongoing; you used to travel a lot in your youth. | |
| Present perfect | We have traveled a lot, and this year, we are going to Australia. | The present perfect shows an ongoing habit of traveling; you still travel a lot, with plans for Australia this year. |
Exercise: Using the past simple and present perfect
Practice makes perfect! Translate these sentences into English by filling in the blanks with the correct verb form, choosing between the past simple and present perfect. Use time markers and hints to guide you, then check your answers at the end!
- My son ________ (not finish) his homework yet.
- I ________ (not talk) to Michelle yesterday.
- My dog ________ (not have) any food today. (Hint: the day isn’t over yet, so there’s still time for a meal)
- Janis and Andrew ________ (have) a good week, last week.
- My cat ________ (not have) any food today. (Hint: the day is almost over, and there’s no more time for a meal)
- I ________ (not talk) to Sam this week. (Hint: the week isn’t over yet)
- My nephew ________ (finish) his homework two hours ago.
- We ________ (not see) Sophia for over fifteen years.
- My husband and I ________ (have) a good week so far.
- They ________ (not see) John for more than ten years, then they ________ (bump into) him last month! (Hint: use the same tense for both verbs)
| Number | Answer | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | My son hasn’t finished his homework yet. | |
| 2. | I didn’t talk to Michelle yesterday. | |
| 3. | My dog hasn’t had any food today. | |
| 4. | Janis and Andrew had a good week, last week. | |
| 5. | My cat didn’t have any food today. | |
| 6. | I haven’t talked to Sam this week. | |
| 7. | My nephew finished his homework two hours ago. | |
| 8. | We haven’t seen Sophia for over fifteen years. | |
| 9. | My husband and I have had a good week, so far. | |
| 10. | They didn’t see John for over ten years and then they bumped into him last month! |
