Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Remember:
Grammar has meaning!
Different grammar tenses are used in different situations or contexts and they carry different meanings.
For example . . .

Use the simple past for action that happened in the past and is:
over, done, finished!
Use the present perfect for action that started in the past, but . . .
is still true today.

The simple past always refers to an action or situation that is finished.
The present perfect connects the past and the present. It is used to show that an action or situation in the past:
-continues today, OR
-might happen again

Compare the meaning of these two sentences:
1. Sara lived in Boston for 5 years.
2. Sara has lived in Boston for 5 years.
The first sentence uses:
Simple Past
The second sentence uses:
Present Perfect

Sara lived in Boston for 5 years.
Meaning: by using the simple past tense, we mean that Sara started living in Boston 5 years ago . . .
AND . . . then she moved!
Now she lives in a different city, like Paris.
Remember, the simple past is used for a situation that is over, finished, done!

Sara has lived in Boston for 5 years.
Meaning: by using the present perfect tense, we mean that Sara began living in Boston 5 years ago . . .
AND . . . she still lives there.
Remember, present perfect:
connects the past with the present.

Use the simple past with time words like:
yesterday
last Saturday, week, month, year, etc.
_______ ago
when I was…
in 1990 (past date)
Use the present perfect with time words like:
recently/lately
since …
so far this
week, month, year, etc.

Additional notes about
present perfect:
We often use present perfect to say that something happened sooner than expected.
Example:
Jan: Don’t forget to mail that letter.
Tom: I’ve already mailed it.

We often use present perfect to say that we have never done something at any time in the past.
Example:
I have never visited London. But someday, I hope to travel there.

We often use present perfect with the expression: “This is the first time.”
Example:
Leonard is nervous. This is the first time he has flown on an airplane!

We often use present perfect with “ever” and “never.”
Example:
Patricia: Have you ever played tennis?
Linda: No, I’ve never played before, but I would like to learn!

Remember!
If you are talking about a specific time in the past (yesterday, last month, etc.), you cannot use the present perfect.
In these cases, use the simple past.

For
Affirmative
He / She / It + HAS + Past Participle (=3rd column)
I / You / We / They +HAVE + Past Participle (=3rd column)

Negative
He / She / It + HASN’T + Past Participle (=3rd column)
I / You / We / They +HAVEN’T + Past Participle (=3rd column)

INTERROGATIVE
HAS + HE /SHE /IT + Past Participle (=3rd column)…?
HAVE + I / YOU / WE / THEY + Past Participle(=3rd column)…?

Practice!
Do these exercises with your class.
Choose the simple past or present perfect and talk about why each is necessary.
1. When I was a child, I ________ (swim) a lot.
2. So far this week, we ________ (study) a lot.
3. Theo __________ (be) very sick recently.
4. I _________ (have) a terrible headache yesterday.
5. It ________ (rain) a lot lately.
6. They _______ (get) married ten years ago.
7. I ________ (be) to Balboa Park many times.
8. My family ________ (take) a vacation last year.