Brief description of the differences between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple

1. PRESENT PERFECT
VS.
PAST SIMPLE

2. PRESENT PERFECT
WE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT TO TALK ABOUT EVENTS IN THE PAST THAT
ARE CONNECTED TO THE PRESENT. IT IS SIMILAR TO SPANISH.
I HAVE STUDIED A DEGREE IN TOURISM. (I HAVE A DEGREE IN TOURISM)
I HAVE CLEANED THE GARAGE. (THE GARAGE IS CLEAN NOW)
I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE FOR FIVE YEARS. (I STILL LIVE IN TENERIFE)
I HAVE VISITED LA GOMERA. (LIFE EXPERIENCES UP TO NOW)
THESE EVENTS STARTED IN THE PAST AND ARE CONNECTED TO NOW, TO THE
PRESENT.

3. PAST SIMPLE
WE USE THE PAST SIMPLE TO TALK ABOUT PAST EVENTS THAT ARE
CONNECTED TO A FINISHED TIME IN THE PAST.
I FINISHED UNIVERSITY IN 2002.
KENNEDY DIED IN 1963.
I VISITED MY SISTER YESTERDAY.
LAST WEEK WE BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE.
ON THEIR HONEYMOON, THEY WENT TO PARIS.
SPAIN LOST THE FOOTBALL MATCH AGAINST GERMANY.
GERMANY LOST THE WAR.
FLEMMING DISCOVERED PENNICILLIN.

4. MISTAKES
NEVER USE THE PRESENT PERFECT IF THERE IS A CLEAR
REFERENCE TO A FINISHED TIME IN THE PAST.
WRONG: I HAVE FINISHED UNIVERSITY IN 2002.
WRONG: THEY HAVE VISITED PARIS ON THEIR HONEYMOON.
WRONG: LAST WEEK WE HAVE BOUGHT A CHRISTMAS TREE.
FINISHED TIME: USE THE PAST SIMPLE
Acabé la carrera en 2002 :
Visitaron París en su luna de miel :
La semana pasada compramos un árbol de navidad :

5. FOR AND SINCE
OK: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE FOR FIVE YEARS. (The amount of time)
OK: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE SINCE 2008. (The beginning of the time
period)
WRONG: I HAVE LIVED IN TENERIFE SINCE FIVE YEARS AGO.
OK: I MOVED TO TENERIFE FIVE YEARS AGO. (With simple past)

6. JUST, ALREADY, YET
I have just... Acabo de…
Acabo de llegar de La Laguna
I have already… Ya he…
Ya he comprado los libros
I haven’t ______ yet Todavía no he…
Todavía no he preparado la cena

7. OPEN or CLOSED TIME
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST
SO FAR
YESTERDAY
TODAY
LAST WEEK
THIS WEEK
LAST MONTH
THIS MONTH
LAST YEAR
THIS YEAR
IN 1998
IN MY LIFE
MY WEDDING DAY
AFTER CHRISTMAS
OPEN TIME CLOSED TIME
PERIOD WHEN WE MET PERIOD
THIS MORNING

8. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE VS. PRESENT
PERFECT CONTINUOUS

9. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
USE THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TO EMPHASIZE THE
COMPLETION.
I HAVE CLEANED THE KITCHEN. (THE KITCHEN IS CLEAN NOW)
I HAVE CALLED THE SCHOOL. (AND TALKED TO THE TEACHER)
I HAVE GONE TO THE DOCTOR. (NOW I AM BEING TREATED)
I HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK. (HOMEWORK DONE)
I HAVE PREPARED THE LUGGAGE. (LUGGAGE PREPARED)

10. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
USE THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TO EMPHASIZE THE
DURATION.
I HAVE BEEN CLEANING THE GARAGE. (ALL MORNING)
I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SCHOOL. (REPEATEDLY)
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU. (A LONG TIME)
I HAVE BEEN DOING MY HOMEWORK. (HOMEWORK DONE?)
I HAVE BEEN PREPARING MY LUGGAGE. (LUGGAGE PREPARED?)