Present perfect vs. simple past : Present perfect vs. simple past Formation of simple past
With regular verbs, add –ed to the verb base;
With irregular verbs, refer to the Appendix A-1 at the end of the textbook.
Formation of present perfect
Auxiliary verb (have/has) + past participle
With regular verbs, past participle and simple past share the same form, but they are different in grammatical meaning. This can be seen through irregular verbs. 1
Slide 2 : He helped me a lot.
He has helped a lot of people. Cf.
He showed me around yesterday.
He has shown an excellent attitude. 2
Both simple past and present perfect indicate an action in the past, but : Both simple past and present perfect indicate an action in the past, but Simple past
Simple past has nothing to do with the moment of speaking: the action in the past has no effect now. Present perfect
When we use present perfect, there is a connection with now: the action in the past has a result now. 3
examples : examples He worked in Tokyo for five years. --- he is not working there right now.
I came back from China last month.---I’m not tired from the trip.
He lost his key. ---He either found his key or replaced it with a new one. He has worked in Tokyo for five years.---He may still be working there.
I’ve just returned from China. --- maybe I am still excited or tired; the trip is still fresh in my memory.
He has lost his key. –He doesn’t have his key now. 4
We can use either present perfect or simple past to give new information or to announce a recent happening : We can use either present perfect or simple past to give new information or to announce a recent happening The road is closed. There’s been an accident.
The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery. He told me his name, but I forgot it.
Kimberly isn’t here. She went out. 5
Present perfect vs. simple past : Present perfect vs. simple past Use the present perfect for an unfinished time. Use the simple past for a finished time. 6 unfinished finished now now
Slide 7 : I’ve smoked 20 cigarettes today.
Dan hasn’t been sick this year.
Have you seen Ann this morning?
Have you seen Ann recently?
Pierre has lived in Quebec for six years.
I have never played golf in my life. I smoked 20 cigarettes yesterday.
Dan wasn’t sick last year.
Did you see Ann this morning?
Did you see Ann last week?
Pierre lived in Quebec for six years.
I didn’t play golf when I was on vacation last summer. 7