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Contrast between
Present Perfect
and Simple Past

Presentation / Objective


 

In English, we can use the Simple Past to talk about experiences at a definite time in the past. We can say when that happened. Whereas, we can use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences that happened at an indefinite time in the past.

In this unit, you are going to read about Catherine, a girl who loves Mexico. You are going to listen to a conversation between her and her friend Stephen deciding what to eat in a restaurant. You are also going to write about Stephen’s visit to Italy. Finally, you are going to talk about your experiences while visiting another city or country. So, let us get started!

Objective

By the end of this topic you will:
• Use the Simple Past and the Present Perfect to talk about past experiences through the use of regular and irregular verbs.

Content


Simple Past

Since Present Perfect and Simple Past tenses have already been covered, in this section you are going to do a quick review from them.

We use Simple Past to talk about an action that is completed. That is, an action that happened at a definite time in the past.

Look at these examples:

Sonya had a child

last year.

I didn’t meet my wife

twelve years ago.

Did David do his homework

yesterday

?

In the previous examples, the time expressions make reference to that definite time in the past.

Let us review the three formulas to write sentences in Simple Past:

Affirmative

Subject + Verb in simple past + Complement
Jennifer   went   to a concert last night.
We   studied   German at college.
Cindy   prepared   dinner yesterday.
I   took   a train to London this morning.

Negative

Subject + did not + Verb in simple form + Complement
I   did not   pay   attention in the class.
Jerry   did not   come   to classes last Friday.
Karla   did not   make   her bed yesterday.
They   did not   smell   their house last September.

 

Interrogative.

Did + Subject + Verb in simple form + Complement?
Did   Mark   like   pasta when he was little?
Did   Douglas   write   novels in high school?
Did   you   open   the window before I arrived?
Did   they   go   to the museum last month?

Wh-questions

Wh-questions are used in the past continuous in order to ask for specific information:

Place

Example:   Where was (I, He, She, It) going?
  (I, He, She, It) was going to Chapultepec Park.
   
  Where were (You, We, They) going?
  (You, We, They) were going to Chapultepec Park.

Specific thing, object

Example:   What was (I, He, She, It) doing?
  (I, He, She, It) was eating Mexican food.
   
  What were (You, We, They) doing?
   (You, We, They) were eating Mexican food.

Time

Example:   When was (I, He, She, It) going?
   (I, He, She, It) was going in the morning.
   
  When were (You, We, They) going?
   (You, We, They) were going in the morning.

Is only used when referring to people

Example:   Who was (I, He, She, It) going with?
   (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother.
   
  Who were (You, We, They) going with?
  (You, We, They) were going with my mother.

Reason, explanation

Example:   Why was (I, He, She, It) flying by plane?
   (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother.
   
  Why were (You, We, They) flying by plane?
  Because, (You, We, They) were visiting Mexico City.

So, remember Simple Past is used to express an action that happened at a definite time in the past. This means, an action that has already concluded.


Present prefect

Among other uses, we use the Present Perfect, to talk about experiences that happened at an indefinite time in the past. It is something that we have already experienced, but we do not mention when it happened.

I have read that book many times.


Linda hasn’t worked here for two years.


Has Richard been to Panama City?

Let us review the three formulas to write sentences in Present Perfect.

Affirmative

Subject + Auxiliary + Verb in past participle + complement
I   have   cleaned   my room
Johnny   has   spoken   to his teacher
Thiery   has   failed   English
We   have   learned   to drive a car

 

Negative

Subject + Auxiliary not + Verb in past participle + complement
Simon   has not   entered   the competition.
I   have not   finished   my report.
Ian   has not   eaten   today.
They   have not   answered   the questions.

 

Interrogative.

Auxiliary + Subject + Verb in past participle + complement?
Has   Mike   given   his speech?
Have   you   tasted   fried brains?
Has   Hannia   worked   with you?
Have   they   drunk   milk this morning?

Wh-questions

Wh-questions are used in the past continuous in order to ask for specific information:

Place

Example:   Where was (I, He, She, It) going?
  (I, He, She, It) was going to Chapultepec Park.
   
  Where were (You, We, They) going?
  (You, We, They) were going to Chapultepec Park.

Specific thing, object

Example:   What was (I, He, She, It) doing?
  (I, He, She, It) was eating Mexican food.
   
  What were (You, We, They) doing?
   (You, We, They) were eating Mexican food.

Time

Example:   When was (I, He, She, It) going?
   (I, He, She, It) was going in the morning.
   
  When were (You, We, They) going?
   (You, We, They) were going in the morning.

Is only used when referring to people

Example:   Who was (I, He, She, It) going with?
   (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother.
   
  Who were (You, We, They) going with?
  (You, We, They) were going with my mother.

Reason, explanation

Example:   Why was (I, He, She, It) flying by plane?
   (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother.
   
  Why were (You, We, They) flying by plane?
  Because, (You, We, They) were visiting Mexico City.

The previous sentences are expressed in the Present Perfect, so a definite time in the past is not expressed.
We talk about experiences or actions that we want to know if they were completed by now.

However, if you want to talk about experience and when it happened, you need to combine

Look at the following examples:

Have you ever eaten lamb curry?


Yes, I have.

I ate it in my last visit to Morocco.

We are asking about the experience of eating lamb curry. The answer is affirmative, and it is answered with Present Perfect. The information in Simple Past makes reference to the definite point when the lamb curry was eaten. “I ate it in my last visit to Morocco”. Being “last visit” the definite time in the past.

Check these other examples:

I have tried Chinese food, and I did not like it at all.
I have never been to Canada, but I was in Seattle last year.

Now, it is time to start with the activities,
Are you ready?

Reading

Activity 1

My Experiences In Mexico

Have you ever been to Mexico City? When was the last time you visited it? Did you like it? What places did you go?

If you have never been to Mexico City, take the chance to pay a visit there. In the meantime, read about Catherine’s experience in Mexico City. Then, complete the text with the best option.

centro histórico

itadrianramos. (2015). centro histórico / zócalo capitalíno / ciudad de méxico [photo]
Consuted on April 17th2017 from https://goo.gl/w37nYj

 

Listening

Activity 2

Have you ever tried escamoles?

Have you eaten exotic food? Did you like it? Where did you eat it? Listen to Stephen and Catherine talk about Mexican food. Then answer True or False.

Escamoles

Reference:Cvmontuy. (2008). Escamoles [photo]. Consulted on April 17th2017 from https://goo.gl/FqsuCm

To answer the activity, first listen carefully to the Escamoles audio.

audio

Writing

Activity 3

Stephen in Italy

Have you ever been to another country? Stephen visited Italy in 2014 and this is what he experienced there.

Monumen to vittorio emanuele

skylark. (2013). Monumen to vittorio emanuele / Rome / Rome Palace / altare della patria [photo]. Consulted on April 18th 2017 from https://goo.gl/Q8ZWf2

Write a paragraph using Present Perfect and Simple Past with the following schedule:

Stephen:

• Be in Italy once.
• Always eats in restaurants.
• On July 2nd visit Tower of Pisa.
• On July 3rd go to Venice.
• On July 4th take a tour around Rome.
• On July 5th see a soccer match – never before assist to a soccer match.
• On July 6th eat pizza and pasta.
• On July 7th return home.

Before starting to write, read the rubrics for a self-evaluation. Click here to read an example.

Stephen has been in Italy once. He has always eaten in restaurants. Now, let me tell you what he did there. On July 2nd, he visited…

 

Speaking

Activity 4

Talking about other cities or countries

Have you ever visited another city or another country? Where did you go? Who did you go with? What did you like about the place? How many times have you been there?

Remember to use Simple Past and Present Perfect in your activity. If you have any questions about it, you can visit the presentation section of this topic.

Japan

cegoh. (2013). Japan / Tokyo / Arquitechture / Turism [photo]. Consulted on April 18th 2017 from https://goo.gl/wlzoFw

Listen to the following example.



 

Self-assessment


Where is the information?

Allan is talking to you. He is asking some questions about homework and projects. Go to the bottom of the page. Select the correct answers to complete the dialogue.


Completing sentences.

Complete the sentences with the Simple Past or Present Perfect. Do not use contractions in negative sentences.

References

Basic references.

• Thornbury, Scott. Natural Grammar, Oxford, 2004.
• S. Azar, Betty and A. Hagen, Stacy. Understanding and Using

Complementary references.

• CUAED. (2011). English Media. UNAM. Consulted on April 2017 from: http://www.cuaed.unam.mx/english_media/
• (n.a.)(2017). Present Continuous. English Page. Consulted on April 2017 from: https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuous.html