Past simple / present perfectPast simple is used:• Actions that finished in a

definite time in the past I bought this car last week. • To ask when? what time?

Where? They have arrived. ≠ When did they arrive? An hour ago.

Present perfect is used:

• Actions which happened in an indefinite time in the past and with visible results in the present

I have lost my key. (I can’t find it

now) Have you seen Ann? (She is not

here now) • To describe very recent actions She has just moved to a larger

flat.

Past simple / present perfectPast simple is used:

• To talk about past states that

cannot happen again Shakespeare was a writer. He

wrote plays and poems. (from 1564 to 1616)

• For actions which finished in

the past, one after the other. She lived in this house for ten

years and then moved to another one. (sequence of past actions)

Present perfect is used:

• For actions which started in the past and continue in the present

She has lived in this flat since 2005. She has lived there for three years. (She still lives there!) • To describe experiences in our lifetime Have you ever eaten Chinese food? I have already eaten Chop Suey. I haven’t eaten Japanese food yet. (in your life until now)

≠ Did you eat Chinese food when you were in China? Yes, I did.

(specific time in the past)

Past simple / present perfect

Time expressions: • Yesterday• last week (...)• six months ago• in 1975, at 3 o’clock

Time expressions:

• Just, recently• ever, never• already, yet• since, for• so far • how long