PRESENT PERFECTvs.

SIMPLE PAST

•We use the Present Perfect to talk about a past experience. (no definition of time)

•Ex: I have been to the United States.

•The action can continue to the present.

•Ex. She has lived in Paris for 20 years (She still lives there)

•We use the Past Simple to talk about a specific time in the past. (definition of time)

•Ex: I went to the United States last year.

•The action is finished

•Ex. I lived in Paris for a year (I don’t live in Paris now)

Right or wrong?

I’ve bought a new car last week.

I bought a new car. Do you want to see it?

I’ve had a toast this morning.

I’ve lost my key!

ANSWERS

I bought a new car last week.

I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it?

I had a toast this morning.

I’ve lost my key! (correct)

Time expressions + past simple

• I did it in 1999

• last week/ last year…

• two months ago

• on March 22.

Time expressions + present perfect

• There are two time expressions that are accepted with the present perfect.

• I’ve worked here for 20 years.

• since 1995.

•

For or Since

• We use FOR to indicate a period of time: for seven years, for ages, for a couple of days, for a year.

• We use SINCE to indicate the exact moment a long action in the past started: since 1998, since I was a student, since I left university, since my husband died.

Choose a preposition

• Mary has lived in Barcelona _______ 20 years.

• They have loved each other _______ the day they met.

• I’ve known Alice ______ six years.

• I’ve had this coat ________ I was a student.

ANSWERS

• Mary has lived in Barcelona for 20 years.

• They have loved each other since the day they met.

• I’ve known Alice for six years.

• I’ve had this coat since I was a student.

For can be used with both past simple and present

perfect

• Ex. I worked on that project for 3 years. (I don’t work on that project anymore)

• Ex. I’ve worked on that project for 3 years. (I’m still working on that project now)

Since can only be used with the present perfect

I’ve known him since we were little.

We divorced since 1998.

• Can you correct the second sentence?

Correction

• We’ve been divorced since 1998.

• We divorced in 1998.

What are the missing prepositions?

• I’ve known her ______ years.

• I met my wife _____ 1995.

• I last went to the cinema two weeks ______

• I haven’t been to the cinema ______ two weeks.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ 2004.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona _______ four years.

ANSWERS

• I’ve known her for years.

• I met my wife in 1995.

• I last went to the cinema two weeks ago

• I haven’t been to the cinema for two weeks.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona since 2004.

• I’ve lived in Barcelona for five years.

Work by Graziela Peleteiro, visit http://englishlessons.com.brThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Brazil License.