Present Perfect and Past Simple Contrasted
Differences and similarities in the Present Perfect and the Past Simple
1. Use
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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2. Signal words
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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3. Form
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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have/has + past participle * | regular verbs → infinitive + ed irregular verbs → 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs |
* past participle:
- regular verbs → infinitive + –ed
- irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
4. Examples
4.1. Affirmative sentences
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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I have watched television. | I watched television. |
You have watched television. | You watched television. |
He has watched television. | He watched television. |
4.2. Negative sentences
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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I have not watched television. | I did not watch television. |
You have not watched television. | You did not watch television. |
He has not watched television. | He did not watch television. |
4.3. Questions
Present Perfect | Past Simple |
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Have I watched television? | Did I watch television? |
Have you watched television? | Did you watch television? |
Has he watched television? | Did he play watch television? |
5. Spelling (Present Perfect and Past Simple)
- stopped (Double the consonant after a short vowel.)
- lived (one -e at the end of the word → Add only -d.)
- hurried (consonant before -y → Change to -i.)