GRAMMAR: PRESENT PERFECT OR PAST SIMPLE
Many of our English language students were confused with the two tenses when they came to us for help. We would like to show you the differences with some examples 🙂
1) We use the present perfect when we think a situation has not ended. E.g. She has known him since shcool.
We use past simple when we think the situation ended. E.g. She knew him in school.
2) We use the present perfect with time expressions for a period up to now (lately, so far). E.g. Haveyou seen any good movies lately?
We use the past simple with time expressions for a period that ended earlier (last night, yesterday, two days ago). E.g. Did you see the movie last night?
3) We use the present perfect when we are talking about actions up to the present which might happen again. E.g. She has written four great English books.
We use the past simple for actions which we don’t think will happen again. E.g. She wrote four great English books in the last years of her life.
4) In clauses beginning with after, as soon as and when, we can use the present perfect for completed actions in the future. E.g. As soon as she has made her copies, I will do mine.
In clauses beginning with after, as soon as and when, the past simple is used for completed actions in the past. E.g. As soon as she made his copies, I did mine.
