PRESENT PERFECT: WE THINK ABOUT THE PAST AND THE PRESENT TOGETHER When we think about the past and the present together, we normally use the present perfect

I´ve written to Mary, so she knows what´s happening now I´ve made a cake . Would you like some? Look - I´ve got a new dress.

FINISHED ACTION	PRESENT PERFECT	PRESENT
Letter (yesterday) Cake (this morning) New dress (last Tuesday)	I´ve written to Mary I´ve made a cake. Would you like some? Look - I´ve bought a new dress.	Mary knows now. I´m offering you some now. I´m showing you know.
SIMPLE PAST: WE THINK ONLY ABOUT THE PAST, NOT THE PRESENT When we think only about the past, we most often use the simple past.
I made a cake for the children but they didn´t like it. (I´m not talking about the present) I bought a new dress for the party last Tuesday. (I´m thinking only about last Tuesday)

Use:

For an action which began and finish in the past we use ________________ For an action that is important in the present but began in the past we use _____________ Which tense do we use with: Expressions such as: yesterday, last night or two weeks ago? ________________ Expressions such as: ever, never, just, for and since? _______________________

Present Perfect	Past simple

B) Complete the sentences using the present perfect or the past simple of the verbs in brackets:

• Sleep was a powerful influence on all our lives. At 60-year-old __________ (spend) almost twenty years asleep.

• Our brain needs to rest to refresh and to file in our memory everything that ___________ (happen) to us during the day.

• Mark ________ (fall) when he was playing football and he ___________ (brake) his arm.

• I ____________ (never/be) ill but last year __________ (get) a cold.

• Some people ___________ (stop) smoking with the help of Chinese medicine.

• I __________ (have) three yoghurts so far today.

• _______________________ (have/you/ever/meet) a vegan?

• _______________________ (Susan and Carol / finish) their nutrition lessons last term?

• How long ___________________ (the doctor / arrive)?

• We ______________ (not/eat) since we arrived.

• When I was 16, my doctor __________ (tell) me I ___________ (be) overweight.

• They ________________ (already/ order) breakfast but are still waiting.

• I feel sorry for you- You ______________ (have) bad luck all your life.

PRESENT PERFECT OR SIMPLE PAST?

Three years ago

In 2003

never

since

yet

already

Last week

At 6 o´clock

For three years

just

1. List each time expression under the correct heading