LI5 U1 Grammar: Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

Simple Past

A verb tense used for actions in a finished or specific period of time in the past.

Present Perfect

A verb tense used for actions in an unfinished or unspecified period of time (from the past until now).

Regular Verbs

Verbs that form the simple past tense by adding "-ed" to the base form.

Irregular Verbs

Verbs that do not follow the regular pattern for forming the simple past and may change in various ways.

Auxiliary Verb

A helping verb used to form different tenses, such as "did" for simple past and "have" or "has" for present perfect.

Past Participle

The form of a verb used in the present perfect tense, which for regular verbs is formed by adding "-ed."

Examples:

• live-lived-lived

• travel-traveled-traveled

• go-went-gone

• eat-ate-eaten

What tense is this sentence?

“We’ve lived in North Carolina for a few years.”

Present perfect

What tense is this sentence?

“I went to summer camp in 5th grade.”

Simple past

What tense is this sentence?

“We haven’t decided where to have dinner yet.”

Present perfect

Jess didn’t watch the movie with us, she went home early.

Simple past

Finished or unfinished period of time?

last year

Finished period of time (use with simple past)

Finished or unfinished period of time?

since 1995

Unfinished period of time (use with present perfect)

Finished or unfinished period of time?

yesterday afternoon

Finished period of time (use with simple past)

Finished or unfinished period of time?

in 2014

Finished period of time (use with simple past)