Date: Oct 03 2007
Topic: Grammar

Lesson

(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
We can use it to look back on the recent past.

I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
They have cancelled the meeting.
She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
The sales team has doubled its turnover.
When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).
We've already talked about that.
She hasn't arrived yet.
I've just done it.
They've already met.
They don't know yet.
Have you spoken to him yet?
Have they got back to you yet?
It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
She's done this type of project many times before.
We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
They've often talked about it in the past.
When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
I've never met Jim and Sally.
We've never considered investing in Mexico.

Comments

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12:55 PM Jan 31 2009 \| Reply
Luna Exoriens Poland	Difficult tense so thanks.

12:55 PM Jan 31 2009 | Reply

Luna Exoriens

Poland

Difficult tense so thanks.

03:30 AM Nov 25 2008 \| Reply
pooja2 India	ossam!

03:30 AM Nov 25 2008 | Reply

pooja2

India

ossam!

01:56 PM Nov 24 2008 \| Reply
shkurta Albania	very good expalins…thanks a lot

01:56 PM Nov 24 2008 | Reply

shkurta

Albania

very good expalins…thanks a lot

01:32 PM Oct 14 2008 \| Reply
Marcelolic Brazil	Very good this lesson…now I could visualize some doubts ;) I like this! this exchage of knowledge :D Thanks.

01:32 PM Oct 14 2008 | Reply

Marcelolic

Brazil

Very good this lesson…now I could visualize some doubts ;)
I like this! this exchage of knowledge :D
Thanks.

12:45 AM Sep 23 2008 \| Reply
the $60 billiom man Saudi Arabia	Thank you…....... really good lesson…

12:45 AM Sep 23 2008 | Reply

the $60 billiom man

Saudi Arabia

Thank you….......

really good lesson…

02:39 PM Sep 10 2008 \| Reply
bluese Turkey	Thanks,wonderful and very beautiful pages

02:39 PM Sep 10 2008 | Reply

bluese

Turkey

Thanks,wonderful and very beautiful pages

12:47 PM Aug 22 2008 \| Reply
ne_mobliez_pas Ukraine	thank you. It is realy useful

12:47 PM Aug 22 2008 | Reply

ne_mobliez_pas

Ukraine

thank you. It is realy useful

09:05 AM Jul 16 2008 \| Reply
yi_01213 Hong Kong	it's quite useful for me! thanks

09:05 AM Jul 16 2008 | Reply

yi_01213

Hong Kong

it's quite useful for me! thanks

12:29 AM Jul 14 2008 \| Reply
ghost9046 Yemen	Thanks for the info. Also I need to add something that present perfect can express the repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important. For example, I have flown on an airplane many times. The Bottom Line, the main different between Present perfect and Past simple is that present perfect express the idea that something happened (or never happened) before now, at an specified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important. While the past simple indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular in the past.

12:29 AM Jul 14 2008 | Reply

ghost9046

Yemen

Thanks for the info.

Also I need to add something that present perfect can express the repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important. For example, I have flown on an airplane many times.

The Bottom Line, the main different between Present perfect and Past simple is that present perfect express the idea that something happened (or never happened) before now, at an specified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important. While the past simple indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular in the past.

06:24 AM Jul 07 2008 \| Reply
abbey fu China	I don’t think it’s useful

06:24 AM Jul 07 2008 | Reply

abbey fu

China

I don’t think it’s useful

02:41 AM Jun 23 2008 \| Reply
memed Turkey	thank you

02:41 AM Jun 23 2008 | Reply

memed

Turkey

thank you

03:36 AM Jun 17 2008 \| Reply
white spot Turkey	everything is illuminated:))

03:36 AM Jun 17 2008 | Reply

white spot

Turkey

everything is illuminated:))

03:01 AM Jun 05 2008 \| Reply
Melamory Russian Federation	Thanks. it's very useful.

03:01 AM Jun 05 2008 | Reply

Melamory

Russian Federation

Thanks. it's very useful.

05:08 AM May 17 2008 \| Reply
torina Mozambique	(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.) We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past. We can use it to look back on the recent past. I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is. They have cancelled the meeting. She's taken my copy. I don't have one. The sales team has doubled its turnover. When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only). We've already talked about that. She hasn't arrived yet. I've just done it. They've already met. They don't know yet. Have you spoken to him yet? Have they got back to you yet? It can also be used to look back on the more distant past. We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years. She's done this type of project many times before. We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months. They've often talked about it in the past. When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'. Have you ever been to Argentina? Has he ever talked to you about the problem? I've never met Jim and Sally. We've never considered investing in Mexico.

05:08 AM May 17 2008 | Reply

torina

Mozambique

I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
They have cancelled the meeting.
She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
The sales team has doubled its turnover.
When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).
We've already talked about that.
She hasn't arrived yet.
I've just done it.
They've already met.
They don't know yet.
Have you spoken to him yet?
Have they got back to you yet?
It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.
We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
She's done this type of project many times before.
We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
They've often talked about it in the past.
When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.
Have you ever been to Argentina?
Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
I've never met Jim and Sally.
We've never considered investing in Mexico.