The Present Perfect vs The Past Simple

The Present Perfect The present perfect simple has a basic correspondence with the Spanish ‘pretérito perfecto’, but there is not an exact equivalence, because Spanish uses the ‘pretérito perfecto’ for past actions where English would use the simple past (‘indefinido’): ‘¿Lo has visto?’ is usually translated into English as ‘Did you see him?’

The Present Perfect The present perfect simple is used in the following situations: When there is a connection with the present. The action in the past has a result now: I’ve lost my key (I haven’t got it now). For completed actions where no time is given: We’ve bought a new house. To give new information or to announce recent happenings: Ow! I’ve burnt myself.

The Present Perfect With the adverbs just, already, yet, ever/never. Just is used when something finished a short time ago: Would you like something to eat? No, thanks, I’ve just had lunch. Already is used when something has happened sooner than expected: When is he going to start his new job? He has already started. Yet means until now, that is, the speaker is expecting something to happen: Has it stopped raining yet? No, it’s still raining. Ever/never: Have you ever eaten in a Chinese restaurant? No, I’ve never eaten in one.

The Present Perfect vs The Past Simple With the expression: It’s /This is the first/second time he has driven a car, which is the same as He has never driven a car before. Whereas we use the simple past with It’s two years since I (last) saw you, which is similar to I haven’t seen you for two years. With the interrogative words How long?: How long have you lived here? Although it can also be used with the past simple tense: How long is it since you last saw him?

The Present Perfect With adverbs of time that refer to a present situation such as, today, this morning, recently, in the last few days, so far, that is, periods of time not finished at the time of speaking. After a superlative form: This is the most interesting book (that) I have ever read.

The Present Perfect In subordinate clauses when the verb in the main clause is in the future: I’ll start studying as soon as I’ve had dinner. With the prepositions for and since to say how long something has been happening: She has lived in New York for two years. She has stayed here since 8 o’clock. See that when we use all morning, all week, all my life the preposition for is not used: She has worked in the same company all her life.

The Present Perfect vs The Past Simple The present perfect is not used when we are talking about a finished time in the past (yesterday, two years ago, when I was a child). Compare:  Tom has lost his key (it expresses a present result of the action, which means that Tom is without his key now).  Tom lost his key (it is an action in the past, we don’t know if he is without his key).

The Present Perfect vs The Past Simple In conclusion, the difference between the simple past and the present perfect is mainly one of aspect. If we use the simple past, the action is regarded as over, situated in the past, whereas with the present perfect, the action is seen as being related in some way to the present:  I saw him this morning (the morning has ended).  I’ve seen him this morning (the morning hasn’t ended yet).

The Present Perfect vs The Past Simple