The document discusses the difference between the simple past and present perfect tenses. The simple past is used to describe actions that started and finished entirely in the past, while the present perfect describes actions that began in the past but have relevance to the present. Some key differences are that the simple past can use specific times but the present perfect cannot, and the present perfect implies the action's results continue into the present, as signaled by words like "for" or "since." Examples are given to illustrate the tenses.

1. What is the difference between the present
perfect and the simple past?
Prepared & Delivered by: SADIA KHAN
English-III (BSN3-INS-KMU)

2. What is the difference between the present
perfect and the simple past?
Use the simple past when the action started in the past, finished in the past, and is not
continuing now. Use the present perfect when the action started in the past and is continuing
now.
• The simple past tells us that an action happened at a certain time in the past, and is not
continuing anymore. It doesn't tell us anything about when an action happened, so more
information needs to be given with this verb form, such as when the action took place.
• The present perfect tells us that an action started in the past and it is still happening now,
or it is something that happens regularly. We may need more information to tell us how long
it has been going on. It may also tell us that the time period it started in is still going on.

3. Cont..
• We also use the present perfect tense to talk about things that started in the past, but
are not finished. They are still happening or continuing.
This is very different than the past tense because the past tense only talks about
things that finished in the past.
• We can use the present perfect in two ways – to talk about experiences or to talk
about things that started in the past, but are still continuing.
The easiest way to tell the difference is to look for the words "for" or "since".

4. Cont..
Look at the difference between these sentences.
• I have lived in Korea. (Life Experience)
This is talking about a life experience. It means that I have experience living in Korea,
but that I do not live in Korea anymore. This sentence is the same as "I lived in
Korea". I have lived in Korea for 10 years. (Unfinished Action)
• I have lived in Korea since 2007. (Unfinished Action)
The words "for" and "since" tell us that this is an unfinished action. That means that I
still live in Korea now.

5. Cont..
• Sometimes, the present perfect can be used for things that finished very
recently. In these situations, we can use either the past tense or the present
perfect tense. We usually use the word "just" with these sentences. The
company just announced their sales results. (Past Tense)
• The company has just announced their sales results. (Present Perfect)

6. Cont..
• Remember that the past tense and present perfect tense can both be used to
talk about things that happened in the past. The only difference is that we
can use a specific time with the past tense, but we cannot use a specific time
with the present perfect tense. I did it yesterday.
• I have done it.
• If there is no specific time, then we can use both. They have the same basic
meaning. I went there.
• I have been there.

7. Example no.01
• The following example sentences show the different meanings when using
the two verb tenses.
• The sun rose at 6:00 am. (Simple Past: We know that the sun came up at a
time in the past and it is not rising now. The sun may or may not be in the
sky when this statement is made. The time is important to add.)
• The sun has risen. (Present perfect: We know that the sun already rose, and it
is still in the sky now.)
•

8. Example no.02
• Jackson ate lunch early. (Simple Past: Eating lunch has started and ended in
the past. Someone might say this when the time for eating lunch has also
ended. Lunch happened early, and it is over now.)
• Jackson has eaten lunch. (Present Perfect: Jackson started and finished eating
lunch in the past, but lunch time is still going on. Someone might say this
when others are preparing to eat lunch, and they want to know whether
Jackson will join them.)