Present Perfect or Past Simple? I HAVE DONE versus I DID?
Past with a finished time and Present perfect with a unfinished time.
Past Simple: about a finished situation, a finished time.
Keywords: 15 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, yesterday, last days, last month, in 2007, etc …
The plane arrived 15 minutes late.
It was hot yesterday!
Last month, I was ill and I went to the hospital. Now, I feel better.
Keywords: When….? What time … ?
When did you arrive?
What time did the plane arrive?
See the differences:
Present Perfect: Peter has lost his book. He can’t study his english lesson.
Past Simple: Peter lost his book. He couldn’t study his english lesson.
Present Perfect vs Past Simple: comparison:
Compare these situations: Time is finished / Time continues until now:
Past Simple (time is finished) <=> Present Perfect (time continues until now)
It rained a lot last week! <=> It hasn’t rained this week!
It didn’t snow last week! <=> It hasn’t snowed this week!
(last week = it’s finished!). <=> (this week = until now, not finished).
Past Simple (time is finished) <=> Present Perfect (time continues until now)
Did you see him yesterday? <=> Have you seen him recently?
(yesterday = it’s the past!). <=> (recently = until now, not finished).
Past Simple (time is finished) <=> Present Perfect (time continues until now)
Did you see July this morning? <=> Have you seen her this morning?
(it’s the afternoon or evening). <=> (it’s still the morning, not finished).
Past Simple (time is finished) <=> Present Perfect (time continues until now)
Peter lived in NYC 5 years. <=> Peter has lived in NYC for 5 years.
(now, he doesn’t live in NYC). <=> (he’s still living in NYC).
(it’s finished). <=> (it’s not finished).
Past Simple (time is finished) <=> Present Perfect (time continues until now)
Last year, I didn’t played the piano. <=> I’ve never played the piano.
(the year is finished, it was last year). <=> (until now, present).
ENGLISH PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE vs PAST SIMPLE :