El pasado simple vs presente perfecto
(Past simple vs. present perfect)
Introducción
(Para la forma y práctica específica de cada tiempo verbal, consulte las fichas
de trabajo past simple y present perfect).
El presente perfecto se usa
para describir experiencias pasadas,
algo que comenzó en el pasado y sigue siendo todavía cierto
para describir cambios.
Cuando se usa el presente perfecto no se puede saber cuándo sucedió
algo. Se usa para hablar de un tiempo no específicado o de un período
de tiempo.
El pasado simple se usa
o para acciones terminadas en el pasado
o hábitos en el pasado
o hechos pasados
o para períodos de tiempo en el pasado. Se puede usar el pasado
simple para hablar de un tiempo específico o un período de
tiempo.
Ejemplo 1
1. El presente perfecto
I have lived in Hong Kong for 17 years.
2. El pasado simple
I lived in Hong Kong for 17 years.
En ambos ejemplos, el período de tiempo es de 17 años. Sin
embargo, en la frase 1, debido a que se usa el presente perfecto,
sabemos que la acción continúa, es decir, que la persona aún
vive en Hong Kong.
En la frase 2, se usa el pasado simple, por lo que la acción ya ha
finalizado. La persona vivió en Hong Kong durante 17 años, pero
ahora vive en otro lugar.
Ejemplo 2
3. El presente perfecto
Peter has been to India twice.
4. El pasado simple
He went there in 1992 and in 2004.
La frase 1 habla de las experiencias de Pedro. Sabemos que ha
visitado hasta el momento la India en dos ocasiones.
La oración 2 nos dice específicamente cuándo fue a la India.
Ejemplo 3
5. El presente perfecto
Tom and Sue have worked at the company since
2001.
6. El pasado simple
Tom and Sue started working at the company 13
years ago.
La frase 1 usa el presente perfecto con "since". Sabemos que
ellos comenzaron a trabajar allí en el 2001 y aún continúan
trabajando allí.
La frase 2 usa el pasado simple con "ago". "Ago" es como decir
"before": se usa para mostrar cuánto tiempo antes del momento
de hablar ocurrió una acción ocurrió. Por lo tanto, "two years ago"
Future in the past
When we talk about the past, we sometimes want to refer to something which
was in the future at the time we were speaking. We use past verb forms to do
this:
The last time I met her, she was leaving for a new job in Italy the following
day. (past form of She is leaving)
They rang to say they would be with us by ten o’clock but then their flight was
cancelled. (past form of They will be with us)
[a novelist writes about a house where he wrote his novel]
I saw the house that I was to live in for the next six months. (past form of I am
to live in this house)
He said he was going to see the match but it was cancelled. (past form of He
is going to see the match)
Present Perfect Simple
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that
stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the
result.
Form of Present Perfect
Positive Negative Question
I / you / we / the I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?
y
he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?
For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd
column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.
Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’
Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example
after a final e only add d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit – admitted
or l as final consonant after a vowel is travel – travelled
doubled
final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried
Use of Present Perfect
puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.
action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.
action that stopped recently
Example: She has cooked dinner.
finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.
action that has taken place once, never or several times before the
moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Exercises on Present Perfect
Exceptions in Spelling when adding ‘ed’
have or has
Positive Sentences in Present Perfect Simple
Negative Sentences in Present Perfect Simple
Sentences with ‘never’ in Present Perfect Simple
Questions in Present Perfect Simple
Questions with Interrogative Particles in Present Perfect Simple
Mixed Exercise on Present Perfect Simple
Exercise on the text “Loch Ness”
Irregular Verbs
