Simple Past – Present Perfect Simple

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of
verbs irregular verbs

Example: Example:

I spoke I / you / we / they have spoken

he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: Example:

I worked I / you / we / they have worked

he / she / it has worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed':

▪ when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:

love - loved

▪ after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:

admit - admitted

▪ final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:

travel - travelled

▪ after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:

worry - worried

but: play - played

Use: In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a
time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words,
you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence in the present
is important. Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In
American English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot
accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those who
have to learn the differences.

• Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was
just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet

Example: Example:

I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.

• Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has
happened till now?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past whether / how often till now

Example: Example:

He went to Canada last summer. Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to
Canada twice.

• Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the
result (a past action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action Emphasis on result

Example: Example:

I bought a new bike. (just telling I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually
what I did in the past.) want to express that I have a new bike now.)

• Signal Words

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

 ▪ yesterday ▪ just

▪ ... ago ▪ already

▪ in 1990 ▪ up to now

▪ the other day ▪ until now / till now

▪ last ... ▪ ever

▪ (not) yet

▪ so far

▪ lately / recently

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense which
is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present
moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time
that an action has been taking place. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present
perfect continuous exercises.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle.
Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

• Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.

• Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
• Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all
durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous.

Examples:

• They have been talking for the last hour.

• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• James has been teaching at the university since June.
• We have been waiting here for over two hours!
• Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?
USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks."
Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the
words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
• What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the present perfect continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If
you use the present perfect continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?",
it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been
smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question
suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult
someone by using this tense incorrectly.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous

tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous
tenses. Instead of using present perfect continuous with these verbs, you must use present
perfect.

Examples:

• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You have only been waiting here for one hour.

• Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Recently, John has been doing the work. Active

 • Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

NOTE: Present perfect continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.

Modal Verbs of Probability

Using Must in Present and Past Tense

Use must plus the verb when you are almost 100 percent sure that something is the
case. The construction would be:

• Present = must + verb (do)

Some examples of the modal verb must in the present tense include:

• They must be in Spain by now. They told me they were going last week.
• Jack must think I'm crazy because I think grammar is easy!

The construction for the modal verb must in the past tense is:

• Past = must have + past participle (done)

Examples of the modal verb must in the past tense include:

• Anna is smiling. She must have done well on the test.

• Alice must have asked for some help on the test because she got an A.

Using Might or May

Use might or may to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being
true. The construction would be:

• Present = might / may + verb (do)

Examples of using might or may in the present tense include:

• She might come this evening, but she also had some work to do.
• David may invite Jessica to the match. I know he really likes her.

The construction for may and might in the past tense is:

• Past = might / may + have + past participle (done)

To use might as a modal verb in the past tense, you could say:

• Jack might have gone to France for her vacation. I think he wanted to practice
French this summer.
Using Could

Use could to express a possibility which is one of many. This form is not as strong as
might or may. It is just one of a number of possibilities. The construction in the present
would be:

• Present = could + verb (do)

Examples of using could in the present tense in dialogue include:

• Jane could be at work, or she could be at home. I'm not sure.

• We could hire that company or the other. It doesn't really matter.

The construction of could in the present tense is:

• Past = could have + past participle (done)

Examples of the modal verb could in the past tense include:

• Peter could have arrived late. I know he missed the bus.

• Alice was tired. She could have stayed at home today, or she might have gone to
work.

Can't or Couldn't

Use can't to express an opinion that you are 100 percent sure is not true. Use must
be or must have been if you are sure in a positive sense but can't be, can't have been,
or couldn't have been if you are sure in a negative sense. Note that the past form
is couldn't have done. The construction for can't in the present tense is:

• Present = can't + verb (do)

Examples of this modal verb as used in dialogue include:

• You can't be serious! I'm not going to loan you $1 million dollars!
• Peter can't like that show. He doesn't enjoy comedy.

The construction of can't or couldn't in the past tense is:

• Past = can't / couldn't + have + past participle (done)

Examples of can't and couldn't as used in dialogue include:

• They can't have worked until late because they were on time for the meeting.
• She couldn't have believed that story. She knows he's a liar!

The structure of a first conditional sentence

A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:
if clause main clause

If you study hard, you will pass the test.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause if clause

You will pass the test if you study hard.

We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:

if clause if + subject + simple present verb

main clause subject + will + verb

2. Using the first conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future — things which may happen:

Example Explanation

If it's sunny, we'll go to the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.

Paula will be sad if Juan leaves. Maybe Juan will leave — that's possible.
Example Explanation

If you cook the supper, I'll wash the dishes. Maybe you will cook the supper — that's possible.

The structure of a second conditional sentence

Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:

“If” clause Main clause

If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

Main clause “If” clause

I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars.

We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:

“If” clause if + subject + simple past verb*

Main clause subject + would + verb

*Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were", not "was": If I
were rich, I'd buy a big house.

Using the second conditional

The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't
happen:

Example Explanation

If I were you, I would drive more carefully in the rain. I am not you — this is unreal.

Paula would be sad if Jan left. Jan will not leave — that's not going to happen.

If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly. Dogs don't have wings — that's impossible.
The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third
conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen.
That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream,
but with no possibility of the dream coming true.

Last week you bought a lottery ticket. But you did not win. :-(

if condition result

Past Perfect would have + past participle

If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.

Notice that we are thinking about an impossible past condition. You did not win the lottery. So
the condition was not true, and that particular condition can never be true because it is
finished. We use the Past Perfect tense to talk about the impossible past condition. We
use would have + past participle to talk about the impossible past result. The important thing
about the third conditional is that both the condition and result are impossible now.

Look at these example senteces:

if condition result

Past Perfect would have + past participle

If I had seen Mary, I would have told her.

If Tara had been free yesterday, I would have invited her.

If they had not passed their exam, their teacher would have been sad.

If it had rained yesterday, would you have stayed at home?

If it had rained yesterday, what would you have done?

result if condition

would have + past participle Past Perfect

I would have told Mary if I had seen her.

I would have invited Tara if she had been free yesterday.

Their teacher would have been sad if they had not passed their exam.

Would you have stayed at home if it had rained yesterday?

What would you have done if it had rained yesterday?