Ibrahim Mously High School The Present Perfect Simple vs The Simple past / 1ST BAC Mr.
The Simple past / 1ST BAC Mr. Abdelkarim Foulfoula
Present Perfect
have / has + past participle ever : at any time in your life
We use ever in questions to ask about a
general experience .
Several times : many times
A : Have you ever tried Indian food ?
once : one time up to this point in time ; a
B : Yes, I have eaten it several times.
general experience
My wife has tried it once.
never : not ever
C : No, I have never tried it.
The exact time of doing the action here is
not mentioned or is not important because
we dont have /need to know when a
person did the action ; we just want to
know if he or she did it.
A : Have you eaten your breakfast yet ? yet : until the present time
B : Yes, I have already eaten my breakfast. We use yet in questions and negative
statements in the present perfect.
C : Have you eaten your lunch yet ?
already : before now ; before this time,
D : No, I havent eaten my lunch yet.
earlier than expected
A : Have you seen any films this month ? This month is not finished; its still going
B : Yes, I have seen 3 films this month. on. Its still possible that Im going to see
other more films before this month is
C : No, I havent seen any.
finished.
D : Has he been to any new places recently ? recently : lately , not long time ago
E : Yes, he has been to Canada, USA, and Brazil.
How long : for how much time
A : How long have you lived in Marrakesh ?
The adverb since indicates a point in time
B : I have lived here since 2000, and I like it a lot.
in the past.
B : I have lived here for 17 years, and I like it lot . The adverb for indicates a period of time.
1. A : ( you, ever , visit ) any European country ? 3. A : ( you , ever, sing ) in a karaoke bar ?
B : Yes, I ( visit ) 3 countries.
PRACTICE
2. A : ....( she, speak ) to the specialist yet ?
B : Yes, she .... ( already , speak ) to him on the phone.
Simple Past
- Note that the simple past is
used for a specific event in the
past ( when I , on a rainy
A: Have you ever tried Indian food ? day , on my birthday )
D : Yes, I have. I tried it once when I visited Delhi.
E: Yes , we have. We tried it last year. - Note that the simple past is
used for a spicific time in the
past ( last year, two years ago
yesterday, in 1999, )
A: Did you eat your breakfast in the morning ? Were asking here to know if
B : Yes , I ate it at 8:00 a.m the action was finished at a
spicific time in the past.
A: Did you eat your lunch after the break ? The exact time is mentioned;
B : Yes, I ate my lunch 1 hour ago. its important /relevant to
know
A : Did you watch any films last month ? The action were asking and
talking about here was
B : Yes, I watched 3 films last month.
finished at a specific point in
C : No, I didnt watch any. the past ( last month, last
week, last year )
A : How long did you live in Marrakesh ? I lived there for a specific
period of time in the past, so I
B : I lived there for 16 years. I loved the place lot.
dont live there any more.
B : Yes I . I .( sing) in one on my birthday.
4. A : . ( how long , you , be ) here ?
B : I ( be ) here for many years, and I love it.