present perfect and past simple

1. PRESENT PERFECT
and
PAST SIMPLE

2. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
to speak about the recent past and past experiences
not saying exactly when things happened
I've finished my homework
She's cleaned the kitchen
He hasn't done the washing up
A. has she turned off her phone?
B. No, she hasn't

3. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
We often use the Present Perfect to give news
Mary's had her baby
A parcel has arrived for you

5. YET, JUST, ALREADY
We often use yet, just and already with the Present Perfect
Yet: ? and - at the end of the sentence
to ask if something happened or to say
that it hasn't happened
have you finished yet?
She hasn't cleaned the kitchen yet

6. YET, JUST, ALREADY
already: + before the main verb
to say that something happened before or
earlier than expected
I have already finished my homework

7. YET, JUST, ALREADY
just: + before the main verb
to say that something happened very recently
I have just finished my homework

8. USE THE PAST SIMPLE
to speak about FINISHED past actions when
we say, ask or know when things happened
I finished my homework before dinner
He cleaned the kitchen yesterday
She did the washing up last night
A. Did she turn off her phone before the
accident?
B. No, she didn’t

9. PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE
Use the Present Perfect (not the Past Simple) to talk about
past experiences and recent past actions
when we don’t specify a time
I’ve been to Madrid twice
(= in my life up to now)
I went there in 2002 and 2010

10. PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE
Use the Past Simple (not the Present Perfect ) to ask or talk
about finished actions in the past
when the time is mentioned or understood
we often use a past time expression (yesterday, last week)
I’ve bought a new computer
(= I don’t say exactly when)
I bought it last Saturday
(= I say exactly when)

11. PRESENT PERFECT
+
for/since
PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS

12. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
+ FOR/SINCE with non-action verbs (have, know, …) to talk
about something that started in the past and is still true
now
They've known each other for 10 years
Julia's had her motorbike since she was 18
A. How long have you worked here?
B. For about a year
C. Since 2004

13. FOR/SINCE
We how long…? + Present Perfect to ask about an
unfinished period of time (from the past until now)
For + a period of time
(e.g.: for two weeks, for ages)
Since + a point in time
(since 2010, since I was a child…)
DO NOT use the Present Simple
with for/since

14. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
+ FOR/SINCE with action verbs (learn, work, go …) to talk
about actions that started in the past and are still true now
They've been teaching here for 10 years
She's been learning English since she
was a child

15. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Use the PPC for continuous or repeated actions which
have been happening very recently. The actions have
usually just finished.
A. Your eyes are red. have you been
crying?
B. No, I’ve been chopping onions