Some useful help, or at least I hope so, to understand the use of these tenses in English.

1. PAST SIMPLE VS. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

2. “the 7th October” is a past and finishedexpression of time. Theactionindicatedby “started” is complete. We startedourlessonsonthe 7th October. Yes, wedid. We´vehad8 lessonsthisyear. “Thisyear” isanunfinished time expression. Westillhavelessonsnow. Theactionisnot complete.

5. Exercise 1 Choose the right tense to complete the sentences: Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple?

6. have studied I (study) English since I was a child.

7. met I (meet) my husband two years ago when I was living in London.

8. have been I (go) to many concerts in my life. went In fact, I (go) to U2´s concert in Barcelona last year.

9. Remember: “Go” has two “has gone” present perfect forms “has been” Peter has gone shopping. = He didn´t come back. Peter has been shopping. = He´s back now.

10. FORAND SINCE WITH PRESENT PERFECT SINCE (preposition or conjunction) FOR (preposition) We use “for” with periods of time to stress the duration of an action that started in the past and continues in the present. We´ve had lessons for two months. I´ve been a teacher for 20 years. We use “since” to mark the start of an action that began in the past and continues in the present. It can be a preposition: I´ve been a teacher since 1989. or a conjunction, followed by a clause (subject and verb): I´ve been a teacher since I left university.

11. JUST “Just” is an adverb used with the present perfect to emphasize that the action expressed by the verb was completed very recently. I´ve just explained to you the difference between “for” and “since”. (some minutes ago) You´ve just read an example that shows the use of “just” with the present perfect simple. (30 seconds ago) “just” is placed before the past participle.

12. ALREADY “Already” is used with positive and interrogative sentences to refer to an unspecified time before now. Have you alreadydone your homework? Fina has already sent me her description of a friend. Have you decided where to go already? “Already” can be placed just before the past participle or at the end of the sentence.

13. YET “Yet” is used in negative and interrogative sentences to stress the time before now. It´s the opposite of “already”. e.g. You haven´t studied the vocabulary yet. (before now) Has she come back from Dublin yet? (before now) “Yet” is placed at the end of the sentence.

14. Exercise 2 Choose the right word to complete the sentences.

15. “already”or “yet?” yet Have you seen this film ? “for” or “since?” No, I haven´t. Actually, I haven´t been to the cinema a long time. for

16. for or since? My parents have been married they were at university. since yetor just? just Indeed, they´ve celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

17. already or yet? already Peter has done the ironing . But he hasn´t cooked dinner . yet