Simple Past Vs Present Perfect

SIMPLE PAST VS PRESENT PERFECT English Grammar Online 4U, Simple Past – Present Perfect. http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-preper, consulté le 03 mai 2009

Form Simple Past tense

Present Perfect tense

irregular verbs: Simple past of

Irregular verbs: form of 'have' +

irregular verbs, 2nd column.

past participle of irregular verbs,

Example:

3rd column

I knew

Example: I / you / we / they have broken he / she / it has broken

Regular verbs: infinitive + ed

Regular verbs: form of 'have' +

Example:

infinitive + ed

I played

Example: I / you / we / they have played he / she / it has played

Exceptions when adding 'ed': 1. When the final letter is e, only add d Example:love - loved 2, After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted 3. After a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worriedbut:

play - played

Use 1. A time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past 2. Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Simple Past tense

Present Perfect tense

certain time in the past

just / already / not yet

Example: I called Mary 2 minutes ago.

Example: I have just called Mary.

3. Certain event in the past or how often so far? An action that took

place / how often an action has happened till now. Simple Past tense

Present Perfect tense

certain event in the past

whether / how often till now

Example:

Example:

He went to Canada last summer.

Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada twice.

4. Emphasis on action or result? Expressing what happened in the

past with the result / putting the emphasis on the past action’s consequence in the present. Simple Past tense

Present Perfect tense

Emphasis on action

Emphasis on result

Example:

Example:

I bought a new bike. (just telling what

I have bought a new bike. (With

I did in the past.)

this sentence I actually want to express that I have a new bike now.)

Key Words to use properly with each tense Simple Past tense

Present Perfect tense

yesterday

just

... ago

already

in 1990

up to now

the other day

until now / till now

last ...

ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

EXERCISE LINKS: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs5.htm http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs6.htm http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast1.htm http://www.better-english.com/grammar/pspp1.htm http://www.english-zone.com/verbs/prsperf4.html http://www.geocities.com/gob72/Simplevsperfectpast.htm http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoEnglish/gr.perf.i.htm http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz29bms.htm