Differences between Present Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense
Synonyms and Antonyms Index | Previous Page
Differences between Present Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense :
Differences between Present Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense
To talk about finished actions, we can use the present perfect or the simple past. But what is an important difference. We use the present perfect when we think about the past and the present. We use the simple past when we think only about the past. The present perfect connects the past with the present in some way.
Compare these sentences.
I have finished my work. (Now I am free.)
I finished my work half an hour ago.
The present perfect is used in the first sentence and the simple past in the second. In first sentence the speaker thinks about the effect of the past action on the present. The present result of the action connects the past with present. In the second sentence the speaker is interested in the time when the action happened. He thinks only about the past.
The expression HALF AN HOUR AGO separates the action from the present. Study also the following examples.
The train has arrived. (The train is at the station now.)
The train arrived at 10.35. (Nothing is said about the result now. The speaker is interested in the time of the action.)
It has rained heavily. (Look…the streets are flooded.)
It rained heavily last night. (The speaker thinks only about the past.)
Use the simple past, not the present perfect, with expressions of finished time like yesterday / last night / last week / at 7.30 / on 10th June / a few days ago / in 2009.
Wrong : I have seen the movie last night.
Right: I saw the movie last night.
Wrong : She has passed the driving test two months ago.
Right : She passed the driving test two months ago.
If we mention the time of the action, we should use the simple past, not the present perfect, even though it happened a very short ago.
I switched off the computer a few seconds ago. (not : I have switched off….)
Use the simple past, not the present perfect, in questions beginning with when / what….
Wrong : When have you bought this bag?
Right : When did you buy this bag ?
The present perfect is used with expressions which refer to ANY TIME UP TO NOW, like so far, already, etc. The simple past is not used with such expressions.
He hasn’t come yet. (NOT : He didn’t come yet.)
I have already emailed the form. (NOT : I already emailed the form.)
Note : In American English either the present perfect or the simple past can be used in such cases.
The adverbs RECENTLY and BEFORE can be used with the present perfect and also simple past.
They have recently moved.
They recently moved into a new house.
We have met before.
We met before.
We use the present perfect with THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON & THIS EVENING. These periods are not completed at the time of speaking. We use the simple past when periods are over.
Tom has phoned me this morning. (said in the morning.)
Tom phoned me this morning. (said in the afternoon or evening.)
With today both the present perfect and simple past are possible.
It has been windy today.
It was windy today.
Both sentences are spoken late in the day.
Sometimes there can be a little difference in meaning.
I have been very busy today. (A clerk might say this sentence when he is at the office. It is evening. His work is not over yet. He is still busy.)
I was very busy today. (A clerk might say this sentence at night after coming home from the office.)
With this week, this month and this year we normally use the present perfect.
We have spent a lot of money on clothes this month.
We use the present perfect when we give some new information or news. When we give (or ask for) further details such as when and how it happened etc., we change to the simple past.
The Finance Minister has met business leaders. They talked for three hours.
Suresh has had an accident. He fell off his bike last night.
Mr. Ram Lai has gone to Mumbai. When did he leave?
I have found the keys. They were on the fridge.
Unlike the simple past, the present perfect is used with certain verbs like be, know, live , stay and work to talk about situations and actions which began in the past and are still going on.
She has been ill since yesterday.
We have stayed in this hotel for three days.
Compare these two sentences :
They have lived in Nagpur for seven years. (They still live there.)
They lived in Nagpur for seven years. (They don’t live there now.)
When used with the present perfect, FOR (as in “for seven years”) refers to a period of time which still continues. When used with the simple past, FOR refers to a finished period of time.
Differences between Present Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense
Moral Stories
Akbar and Birbal Stories
Differences between Present Perfect Tense and Simple Past Tense To HOME PAGE
