Present perfect simple and past simple
PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE
FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT
We form the Present Perfect with HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
I have played football for seven years.
He has written the letter.
They have had financial problems lately.
QUESTIONS AND NEGATIVES are also easy
Have you looked at the homework?
Has he called you yet?
I haven't had anything to eat all day.
We haven't done anything about the plumbing problem.
USING THE PRESENT PERFECT and PAST SIMPLE
REMEMBER, we use the Past Simple to talk about...
- short, finished actions or situations
I called my mom last night.
- longer situations that are finished
I studied Economics for four years at university.
- past, repeated events
We went to Florida for vacation every summer when I was a kid.
BUT, the Present Perfect is used to indicate that a past action is connected to the present. So, if we say that something has happened, we are thinking about both the past and the present at the same time.
THE PRESENT PERFECT
- finished actions / events connected with the present
I have broken my leg. (I broke it in the past, but it is broken now.)
My sister has had a baby. (The baby was born in the past, but my sister has it now.)
School has taught us nothing. (We studied in the past, but we know nothing now.)
- things that happened at some or any time up to now
Have you ever been to Rio? (Any time in your life.)
I know we have met before. (Some time before now.)
I haven't seen him all day. (Not any time up to now.)
- things that repeat or continue up to now
I have worked hard for years. (And I still work currently.)
We have known each other for a long time. (And we still do.)
How long have you been a doctor? (You are still a doctor.)
BE CAREFUL!!!
Present Perfect is NOT USED with expressions that talk about a totally finished period of time.
For example…
I saw my doctor yesterday.
Jack was not at work last week.
What did you say then?
He moved away five years ago.
Jay was born in 1973.