Present PerfectorPast Simplepart 1

I have done …or

I did …

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

What does ‘A’ want to know?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?

Present Perfect

Past Simple

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?

indefinite time

definite time

When did you see John?

We saw him on Monday.at 3 o’clock.in March.

4 days ago.yesterday.

while we were walking.before he left.

prepositionsof time

adverbsof time

conjunctionsof time

when andwhat time

many time expressions ‘require’ the Past Simple

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Where did you stay?

What did you eat?definite time

with notime

expression

SO you can also use the Past Simple for definite time without a time expression

if it’s clear that you’re talking about a finished period or activity.

In this case the finished period isa trip to Paris.

Contrast this with ‘indefinite time’.

The time of the action isn’t defined because it doesn’t matter!

Instead, ‘indefinite time’ makes a connection to the present.

1st RULE

Use the Present Perfect for ‘indefinite time’.

Use the Past Simple for‘definite time’.

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Sei mai stato a Parigi?

Quando ci sei stato?

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: Yes, I have.

A: When did you go?

Sei mai stato a Parigi?

Quando ci sei stato?

Passato Prossimo

1st RULE – in translation

Italian uses the Passato Prossimo both for ‘indefinite time’ and for

‘definite time’.

Have you ever been to Paris?

BUT

Did Hemingway ever go to Paris?

Have you ever been to Paris?

Did Hemingway ever go to Paris?

What’s the difference between you and Hemingway?

now

your life

your memory and

experience of Paris

trip to Paris

H’slife

no memory or

experience of Paris

trip to Paris

now1961

The important thing is the connection to the present.

Hemingway isn’t aliveso there isn’t a connection.

2nd RULE

Use the Present Perfect when ‘indefinite time’ can be related to the present.

Use the Past Simple forclosed periods.

Have you ever been to Paris?

Did Hemingway ever go to Paris?

Hemingway andò mai a Parigi?

Sei mai stato a Parigi?

2nd RULE – in translation

Italian uses the Passato Prossimo for present experience, and

(often/sometimes)the Passato Remoto for closed periods.

put verbs in present perfect or past simple

I [do] my homework yesterday.

I [do] my homework.

We [study] a lot of grammar.

They [be] in the office from 10am to 6pm.

JK Rowling [write] 8 novels.

She [publish] her latest in 2012.

You [try] Thai cuisine?

My friend [not travel] a lot outside Europe.

James Joyce [travel] a lot outside Ireland.

I [have] long hair when I [be] young.

I never [study] this before.

put verbs in present perfect or past simple

I did my homework yesterday.

I have done my homework.

We have studied a lot of grammar.

They were in the office from 10am to 6pm.

JK Rowling has written 8 novels.

She published her latest in 2012.

Have you tried Thai cuisine?

My friend has not travelled a lot outside Europe.

James Joyce travelled a lot outside Ireland.

I had long hair when I was young.

I have never studied this before.

Have you ever been to Paris?

Have you ever been to Paris?

Do you notice anything strange here?

infinitive past tense past participle

be was / were been

go wentgone

been

John’s been to the bar and he’s

brought me a coffee.

Where’s John now?

John’s been to the bar and he’s

brought me a coffee.

Ann’s gone to the bar and so she

can’t do this exercise.

Where’s Ann now?

Ann’s gone to the bar and so she

can’t do this exercise.

been or gone

Use been when the subjecthas gone and also returned.

Use gone when the subjecthas NOT returned.

choose ‘been’ or ‘gone’

Where’s Paul? He ________ to the bank.

I ________ to the bank. Here’s the €20 I owe you.

I’m watching TV. All my flatmates ________ for a drink.

He ____ never ____ to a football match!

‘Can I speak to Sally?’ ‘Sorry, she ________ out.’

How many times ____ you ____ to the cinema this month?

The office is closed. All the staff ________ home.

____ you ever ____ to a Japanese restaurant?

____ you ____ to the shops yet? The milk ________ off.

The President ________ mad!

[Note on kitchen table] “Your dinner’s in the oven. I ________ to the pub.”

choose ‘been’ or ‘gone’

Where’s Paul? He ’s gone to the bank.

I ’ve been to the bank. Here’s the €20 I owe you.

I’m watching TV. All my flatmates have gone for a drink.

He ’s never been to a football match!

‘Can I speak to Sally?’ ‘Sorry, she ’s gone out.’

How many times have you been to the cinema this month?

The office is closed. All the staff have gone home.

Have you ever been to a Japanese restaurant?

Have you been to the shops yet? The milk ’s gone off.

The President ’s gone mad!

[Note on kitchen table] “Your dinner’s in the oven. I ’ve gone to the pub.”

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: No, never.

And I’ve never been to London.

A: What! Have you never been to

London!

C: I’ve never been here before.

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: No, never.

And I’ve never been to London.

A: What! Have you never been to

London!

C: I’ve never been here before.

Notice the adverbs

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: No, never.

And I’ve never been to London.

A: What! Have you never been to

London!

C: I’ve never been here before.

Notice the adverbs

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