Is the Present Perfect really so hard to master? Hopefully, your answer will be no after reading this blog post! No one said that Learning English would be easy, but thanks to technology there are more ways that you can practice your English. This post deals with the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple.
If you prefer to watch the lesson to reading it, you can view the YouTube video right here!
Getting started
I am assuming you know how to form these two tenses from the many exercises you have already done before. My aim is to teach you to understand the differences more intuitively so that you can start building signals that automatically trigger the use of the right tense in English.
Let’s begin with a lead-in example for us to study:
The Past Simple
We’ll start with the Past Simple. She worked in Paris from 2013 to 2018. The ‘what’ is the action verb, and the ‘when’ is the time expression in this sentence. It is now 2020 (in the example) so the time expression is ‘closed’ and ‘finished.’ Additionally, if you look back at the excerpt, you will have noticed that the sentence preceding this statement was actually in the Present Perfect.
The Present Perfect (in the below example) states the ‘experience’ and establishes the time context first [this is one use of the Present Perfect]. After that, we switched to the Past Simple and gave more details to the situation.
If we add the additional information from Connie’s CV, such as Connie’s other jobs having worked in Switzerland and Quebec, now you can see a string of actions that we describe sequentially.
Studying the example then, you find one of the key aspects to all Simple Tenses. We use any simple tense (Present Simple, Past Simple, and Future Simple) with linking words of chronology and sequence. These are words such as:
- Firstly, secondly, thirdly, and so on
- next, then, after that, finally, and so on
Any time we move to the next action in sequence, it is a ‘simple action.’
The Present perfect
There is no mention of ‘when’ in this sentence, only ‘what.’ Meaning, the what is more important than the when.
The what – that she has lived in a French-speaking country, before – matters to the present situation(that she is applying for this job and her past experience will be helpful to the company).
What this means is that the Present Perfect is useful for describing or implying…
cause and effect aspect of present perfect
cumulative aspect of present Perfect
The Present Perfect is also useful for grouping past, finished actions together, over a stretched out period of time that is still connected to the present. This is the Cumulative Aspect, or an accumulation of actions that are all relevant to the present situation. To put it more simply, it answers ‘how much’ or ‘how many’ over time.
In the example below, the number of actions combined is more important to what we are communicating than the times the grouped actions were done.
“In the last 7 years, I have worked 3 jobs, all in French-speaking countries.”
the present perfect aspects
Let’s review the Present Perfect Aspects and some examples of their time expressions.
The below graphic represents a metaphor for the Present Perfect and its Cause and Effect Aspect.
The rungs in the ladder are analogous to the group of (Present Perfect) actions that helped the man into his present situation.
Now I will show you the full Aspect of the Present Simple.
– With our understanding of the Present Time, we may or may not have a starting context – for example: for or since.
– Relative to the Present, the finished action might be recently finished.
– The finished action could be done any time before the Present.
– Also, we count cumulative actions, or a grouping of related actions that have an effect on the present. [Cause & Effect entry & exit] Basically, this communicates How Much or How Many over time.
– We use the Present Perfect to share Life Experiences.
– The Present Perfect also helps us to form action sequences in the First Conditional, using Time Clauses such as Before, After, and As Soon As.
– And, when there is no mention of the time “when” the action happened.
Now I’ll provide you with some example sentences to show the Present Perfect under each Aspect.
the differences between the present perfect and the past simple
Now let’s review the differences between the two tenses.
The Past Simple:
– The Past Simple answers the what and the when.
– It uses Closed Time Expressions which make it definite past.
– It is used with a simple, linear sequence of actions. These are sequencing linking words such as: First, Next, Then, After that, and Finally. Or Ordinal Number Links, like Secondly, Thirdly, and so on.
– And finally, the Past Simple takes over after the time context is established.
The Present Perfect:
– And now the Present Perfect…places an emphasis on the What or How many
– We use it to group all related actions that have an effect on the present situation.
– It is used in sentences with no time expression, or an open time expression such as the following: [animations]
– We use it to express cause and effect.
– Lastly, we use it to establish time context with Ever and Never.
Final word
My take on the Perfect Tense is that it is all about providing context and richness to the language. Therefore, if you want to be able to speak English naturally, you’re going to have to get comfortable with this tense, along with the other Perfect Tenses.
You can download your FREE study guide here!
resources
Here, I’ll link you to some places where you can get some additional practice (a.k.a. homework) to exercise your new understanding of the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple.
– Here is an exercise I’ve found on Pinterest that you can use to practice.
Additionally, if you’re looking for some resources where you can do some self-study with loads of targeted exercises, I can recommend you the Business English Grammar Book that I use personally with my students.
Another way to get great practice with English Grammar is with a Kindle Unlimited Membership. Kindle Unlimited has a large number of English Grammar exercise books that you have unlimited access to with your membership. Additionally, you can practice your Reading AND Listening Skills together with the technique of Immersive Reading. You can learn more about it with my blog post on the subject.
I do hope you’ve found this tutorial on the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple helpful.
Check back with me in the future as I plan to continue in my Grammar Versus Series where I show you the differences between the different grammatical structures of English.
Until next time!
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