Present Perfect Simple or Past Simple? It isn't that simple!

Do you know the difference of usage between present perfect and past simple?

Let's start with a joke!

If you understand the joke, then you understand how to use the present perfect in English!

Watch these videos to remember the rules and compare it to the past simple tense:

Now watch this other video for more practice:

Follow this link for more explanations...

Now, do you understand the joke below?

I hope so!

So click Bart to get some practice!

Present Perfect Simple

Formation & Structure

Uses 

Time Adverbs used with 

the Present Perfect Tense

Present perfect with "for" and "since"

Using the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration, with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time. FOR and SINCE can also both be used with the past perfect. SINCE can only be used with perfect tenses. FOR can also be used with the simple past, for example: "it can last for ages".

For + a period of time

for six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hours

I have worked here for five years.

Since + a point in time

since this morning, since last week, since yesterday

since I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clock

I have worked here since 1990.

Present perfect with FOR

She has lived here for twenty years.

We have taught at this school for a long time.

Alice has been married forthree months.

They have been at the hotel for a week.

Present perfect with SINCE

She has lived here since 1980.

We have taught at this school since 1965.

Alice has been married since March 2nd.

They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday.

Ex. 1

 

                            Ex. 2

                                    Ex. 3

Review of the future tenses

Future tenses: Will vs. Going to

Simple future

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to" Although these two forms refer to a specific time in the future, they often express two different meanings. 

Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the future or an action in the future that cannot be influenced.

Form of will 

	positive	negative	question
No differences	I will speak.	I will not speak.	Will I speak?

Use of will 

§                          a spontaneous decision

Example: Wait, I will help you.

§                          an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future

Example: He will probably come back tomorrow.

§                          a promise

Example: I will not watch TV tonight.

§                          an action in the future that cannot be influenced

Example: It will rain tomorrow.

§                          conditional clauses type I

Example: If I arrive late, I will call you.

Signal Words

§                          in a year, next …, tomorrow

§                         Supposition:  I think, probably, perhaps

Exercises 

§                          Positive sentences

§                          Negative sentences

§                          Questions in will Future 

§                          Mixed exercise

Tests

§                          Future I Simple will: Level 1 • Level 2 • Level 3

Past Simple or Simple Past

 

Exercise 1: Complete the sentences using the correct Past Simple form.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences in the past.

Exercise 3: Write the sentences in the negative.

Exercise 4: Choose the correct option.

Exercise 5: Complete these questions using the Simple Past Interrogative.

Exercise 6: Write questions in the past.

Exercise 7: Read the text and fill in the gaps.

Exercise 8: Make these sentences negative.
Exercise 9: Revision exercises presents-past

GAMES TO PRACTICE IRREGULAR VERBS

TEST: Complete all the activities in this test.

EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Extra 1: Write the verb in the past.

Extra 2: Complete the text in the past.

Be going to

Few vs a few; litte vs a little

 

 

A little

A little is used with positive quantity and non-countable nouns. It means “a small amoun” or “some”.

Examples:

• There is a little milk in the refrigerator
• Would you like a little water?
• Mary got a little bit of pie.
• Can’t you discount it a little?

 

Little

Little expresses a diminutive size or a negative quantity. Little means “almost nothing” or “not much”.

Examples:

• I’m sorry, I speak little French.
• There was little time to finish my homework.
• The kitteen is little.
• I have drunk little water this morning.

A few

A few represents a positive quantity. It is used with plural nouns. It means some, a small amoun.

A few + Plural Countable Nouns

Examples;

• He has a few good friends so he is happy.
• There are a few books on the shelf.
• We stayed a few days in Paris and visited the Eiffel Tower.

Few

Few represents a negative quantity or shortage. It is used with plural countable nouns. It means not many, not enough.

Few + Plural Countable Nouns

Examples:

• I have got few friends in the city so I am lonely.
• They have got few cake on the table.
• He has few photos on Instagram.

Ex. 1

Ex. 2

Ex. 3

 

Ex. 4