Present Perfect & Past Simple

I have done vs. I did

PAST SIMPLE

I did

used for finished actions / events / states in the past:

‘ Last summer I visit ed the USA.’

“ yestarday”

“ Last week/summer…”

“ a month/week/ year ago ’

“ in 2007”

1.

done

perfect

Present

I

have

actions happened at an unspecified time:

They have arriv ed in Spain.

1.

WORDS

Signal

Last few days;

Last (two);

Last (four) months;

Last (ten) years.

done

2 .

Have

I

Oops! I’ ve fallen .

• past actions that have a RESULT which is important/obvious NOW .

She was…

BECOME

… has

BECOME

He was…

… has

She was…

BECOME

… has

He was…

BECOME

… has

She was…

BECOME

… has

He was…

BECOME

… has

before

3.

ever

done

I

have

never

used for general EXPERIENCE:

Have you ever seen green elephants?

ANSWER

Have you ever shot a gun?

ANSWER

Have you ever eaten anything really strange?

ANSWER

Who is the greatest person you have ever met ?

ANSWER

Have you ever fallen down stairs?

4 .

done

have

since

2000:

I

With the following words:

already

just

for

yet

recently

9 years:

“ She hasn’t done the homework yet ”

“ I’ ve just wash ed my car”

“ We have already play ed football”

“ I’ ve liv ed here since 2010”

“ I’ ve work ed here for 8 years”

done

have

I

• When the ACTION is completed but the PERIOD of time – NOT .

‘ Have you seen Tim today?’

today

now

future

done

today

this month…

have

I

• When the ACTION is completed but the PERIOD of time – NOT .

‘ I have earned a lot of money this month’

this month

now

future

have earned

money

the questions

Answer

Has he eaten anything today ?

the questions

Answer

Has he studied today ?

the questions

Answer

Have they earned a lot this month ?

the questions

Answer

Did they earn a lot last month ?

the questions

Answer

Has he passed his English exam today ?

the questions

Answer

Did he pass his English exam yesterday ?

THANKS!

Any questions?