When should I use present perfect and past perfect?

When should I use present perfect and past perfect?

In short, we use the present perfect to talk about recent or past events that happened at an indefinite time, and we use the past perfect to refer to something that occurred before something else.

When did we use present perfect simple?

We use the present perfect simple when a single past action has a connection with the present: She’s broken her arm in two places. (Her arm is still broken now.) Why haven’t you dressed in something warmer? (You got dressed in the past but the clothes are not warm enough for now.)

In which situations do we use past perfect simple?

We use the past perfect simple (had + past participle) to talk about time up to a certain point in the past. She’d published her first poem by the time she was eight. We’d finished all the water before we were halfway up the mountain. Had the parcel arrived when you called yesterday?

Can present perfect and past perfect be used together?

Yes, that’s perfectly OK. The difference in tenses makes it clear that the break-in occurred some time before the notification.

What is the difference between simple past and past perfect?

These two tenses are both used to talk about things that happened in the past. However we use past perfect to talk about something that happened before another action in the past, which is usually expressed by the past simple.

What’s the difference between past tense and past perfect?

Past tense is used to describe an event or action that was completed. Past perfect is used to describe an action that was completed long ago in the past. When past tense and past perfect tense are used together, the action that happened first takes the past perfect form while the other is written using past tense.

Why do we use perfect tense?

Perfect verb tense is used to show an action that is complete and finished, or perfected. This tense is expressed by adding one of the auxiliary verbs — have, has, or had — to the past participle form of the main verb. For example: I have seen the movie that was nominated for an Academy Award.

What are the three uses of past perfect tense?

Read about how to make the past perfect here.

  • A finished action before a second point in the past.
  • Something that started in the past and continued up to another action or time in the past.
  • To talk about unreal or imaginary things in the past.

How would you differentiate between simple past tense & present perfect give examples?

Simple Past and Present Perfect are two tenses that confuse many English learners. The main difference between simple past and present perfect is, simple past is used to state that something happened in the past whereas present perfect is used to emphasize the result of a past action.

What is difference between past tense and past perfect tense?

Past tense is used to describe an event or action that was completed. Past perfect is used to describe an action that was completed long ago in the past.

Where is perfect tense used?

What is the difference between simple past tense and past perfect tense?

We use the simple past to say what happened in the past, often in sequential order. The past perfect expresses events and actions that occurred prior to another past action (usually expressed in the simple past). In spoken English, it is common to use only the simple past and not the past perfect.

How do you teach present perfect and past simple?

Remember: We use the past simple for past events or actions which have no connection to the present. We use the present perfect for actions which started in the past and are still happening now OR for finished actions which have a connection to the present.

What is the difference between present perfect and simple past?

The present perfect is used for actions that began in the past that have a connection to the present.

  • In the present perfect,the time is generally unspecified.
  • The past simple is used for actions that have been completed in the past.
  • In the past simple,the time is specified.
  • What is the difference between present and present perfect?

    We have already learned that the simple present tense is used to talk about routines. The present perfect tense is used to talk about events that have just completed. Study the following sentences. He goes to office every day.

    What are some examples of present perfect?

    I have worked here since April

  • I have spent three months in Jail since my arrest
  • She has been here since last Tuesday
  • She has saved a lot of money since she finished the university
  • We haven’t seen the suspect since last week
  • He hasn’t seen his girlfriend since last year
  • They have talked to each other since the last time they fought
  • When should I use the past perfect simple?

    – John phoned five minutes ago. (NOT John had phoned five minutes ago.) – Her father died last year. (NOT Her father had died last year.) – I visited some friends yesterday. (NOT I had visited some friends yesterday.)