What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple
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| Present Perfect Simple | Past Simple |
Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue to the present:
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Finished actions:
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A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience):
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A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead):
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A finished action with a result in the present:
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A finished action with no result in the present:
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With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today):
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With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday):
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Click here to download this explanation as a PDF.
Click here for more information about the present perfect tense.
Click here for more information about the past simple tense.
Remember:
- We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present.
- We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present.
- We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word:
- NOT: I've been to the museum yesterday.
Present perfect or past simple exercise 2
Present perfect or past simple exercise 3
Present perfect or past simple exercise 4
Click here for our complete programme to perfect your English grammar.