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: Example:
I called Mary 2 minutes ago. 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