Introduction
This section will help you to understand the differences between the Present Perfect Tense and the Simple Past Tense.
Has the time period finished?
| Rule | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The present perfect is used when the time period has NOT finished. | I have seen three movies this week. | (This week has not finished yet.) |
| The simple past is used when the time period HAS finished. | I saw three movies last week. | (Last week has finished.) |
Is it new information or old?
| Rule | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The present perfect is often used when giving recent news. | Martin has crashed his car again. | (This is new information.) |
| The simple past is used when giving older information. | Martin crashed his car last year. | (This is old information.) |
Is it a specific time?
| Rule | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The present perfect is used when the time is not specific. | I have seen that movie already. | (We don't know when.) |
| The simple past is used when the time is clear. | I saw that movie on Thursday. | (We know exactly when.) |
Has the action finished (sentences with “for” or “since”)?
| Rule | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The present perfect is used with for and since when the actions have not finished yet. | I have lived in Victoria for five years. | (I still live in Victoria.) |
| The simple past is used with for when the actions have already finished. | I lived in Victoria for five years. | (I don't live in Victoria now.) |
When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.