Tenses (Past Simple & Present Perfect) We use tenses to talk about time. Tenses play an important role in languages that grammaticalise time reference as past, present and future.
Past Simple Present Perfect used to talk about finished actions. Eg. It rained yesterday. She went to London in 1992. refers to a definite time in the past. The action doesn’t continue. Eg. Roald Dahl wrote the story The BFG in 1982. . used for an action in the past. The action has a result in the present. Eg. I’ve lost my passport. result = ( I can’t find it now.) He has washed his car. result = (It is clean now.) used for past actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past. Eg. I have met the President. He has travelled all over the world.
Past Simple Present Perfect Used for past habits. Eg. I studied many hours everyday. . The action can continue to the present. (time expressions since/for are used) Eg. I have known him for a long time.(I still know him.) My father has worked here since 1990. (and he still does)
Time Expressions (Past Simple) last week 2 months ago on April 1st in 1991 for 5 years yesterday morning Note : for can be used with both Past simple and Present perfect tenses.
Time Expressions (Present perfect) for since (+a period of time) (+ a point in time) a long time yesterday half an hour last Wednesday a week eight o’clock two months lunch time five minutes 1987
Present perfect (Form) Have/has + past participle Positive and Negative I/ We/ You/ They ‘ve (have) haven’t lived abroad. He/She/ It ‘s (has) hasn’t Question Have I/ we / you / they been to Africa ? Has he/she / it
Past simple (Form) The form or structure of the Past simple is the same for all persons. Positive and Negative I arrived He went She yesterday It We didn’t go You didn’t arrive They Question When did she /you/they etc. arrive ?
Underline the correct answer I have never been / never went to Africa. India was / has been an independent country since 1947. She broke / has broken her leg last year. Lal has been / was in hospital since Monday. They haven’t seen / never saw each other since 2000.
Answers I have never been / never went to Africa. India was / has been an independent country since 1947. She broke / has broken her leg last year. Lal has been / was in hospital since Monday. They haven’t seen / never saw each other since 2000.