SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 4
PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST
        SIMPLE
PRESENT PERFECT
An action that happened in an unspecified moment in
 the past
Expressions: ever, never, once, many times, several
 times, before, etc.
PAST SIMPLE
An action started and finished at a certain time in the
 past, even if the time is not mentioned.
We use it to list a series of actions in the past.
Expressions: for two years, for ten minutes, all year,
 all day
Examples

Present perfect           Past simple
You have seen the movie   He lived in Brazil for five
 many times.               years.
I think I have met once   They sat at the beach all
   before.                 day.
Nobody have ever          We talked on the phone
 climbed that mountain.    for an hour.

Present perfect vs. Past simple

  • 1. PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE
  • 2. PRESENT PERFECT An action that happened in an unspecified moment in the past Expressions: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, etc.
  • 3. PAST SIMPLE An action started and finished at a certain time in the past, even if the time is not mentioned. We use it to list a series of actions in the past. Expressions: for two years, for ten minutes, all year, all day
  • 4. Examples Present perfect Past simple You have seen the movie He lived in Brazil for five many times. years. I think I have met once They sat at the beach all before. day. Nobody have ever We talked on the phone climbed that mountain. for an hour.