Adam
Rebecca
Emma
James
Jon
Ronnie
Valen
Alex
Past Simple or Present Perfect?
English tenses can be confusing. In this lesson, you will learn a simple way to know when to use the past simple and present perfect tenses.
Quiz
Test your understanding of this English lesson
Test your understanding of the English lesson by answering these questions. You will get the answers and your score at the end of the quiz.
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This grammar point has been a big problem for years now. So many sleepless nights I spent thinking about it… I guess tonight I’ll have a better sleep.
Thank you Rebecca
ha … )
I am learning English now, It is very hard for me, I saw your class here, It is helpme a lot,thanks for your time teaching other.
how did you sleep ? )
how old are you?
Thank you
Dear Mrs.Rebecca,
Thank you very much for all your video lessons. They are really informative and very useful. Could you, please tell us rules that govern the maintenance of tenses and forms of speeches in academic essay writing. I requested you a couple of times in the past. I would be thankful, if you could go into depth of the details of essay writing.
Whenever you write, for an essay or otherwise, the tense you choose depends on a wide variety of factors. If you’d like to read some sample essays, please have a look at my website, goodlucktoefl.com. I believe this will help you. It would also be useful to watch my engvid lesson on How to Structure Your TOEFL Essay.
Thanks for your feedback, Daya Rao, and my best wishes to you.
Hello, Rebecca.
Magnificent lesson. In fact, I have noted a lot of people usese the simple past.
Whether finished or unfinished. Thank you.
It’ ll great if you could teach us how to redornize that when verbe + To + verbe infinitif
or verbe + ING
Thank you
Gerald
these course is excellent. I like it.
This grammar point has been a big problem with me so i need mor prcatse pls
Is it grammatical correct to say
“I have finished cooking.” without indicate the time?
Thanks.
Hi
It’s correct if you mean that you finished cooking at least today. Normally you can say this way if you finished action and right after it you report to someone about it.
Yes, that’s fine. It means that you started and finished in the past and that you are still in a state of having finished the cooking. You may also use this sentence if you finished cooking recently, as in, “Wow, at last, I’ve finished cooking!”
My best wishes to you, Ivan.
hi.teacher..i can write this sentence for example: i have just finished cooking for some minutes
need a quiz pls :D
I am Chaminda Kumara from Sri Lanka. I am 36 Years Old I Have Job Working As Metal Machinist Since Twelve Years. Now I am Going to Face IELTS Exam in [General] in 17th of Next Month and I Having Many Doubts and Confuse Writing,Reading for Get The Sufficient Marks in Exam Please Help Me As Possible.
Thank\’s….
Good luck!kumara
The IELTS General exam can be challenging. Do watch all our IELTS videos, they will help you. In addition, other video lessons on grammar, pronunciation, speaking, vocabulary and writing will all help you. All the best to you.
now i want to learn english well .what should i do ?teaher can show me.i am bad pronunciation.
u can help me.right?
Please Give me Ideas How to Write the Perfect IELTS Essay and Letter
9 out of 10!
thanks a lot
i kill the exam i got 10 out of 10
thanx for ur lesson teacher
thank you rebecca .it was useful for me.
8 out of 10
thnks a lot.. looking forward for some more lessons covering other tenses…
I must admit that this lesson is really helpful. Nevertheless there are other specific situations that are described in Simple Past or Present Perfect.
I remember that Present Perfect is used when we are talking about news, and Simple Past is used to give specific information about that event. Example:
The plane has fallen down. All passengers died.
In above example Present Perfect was used for describe the background and Past Simple for giving more specified information about this event.
Oh dear! i just got 5 out of 10! im sucks! lol
now i feel nervous about taking my ielts exam next month i can tell i am not a 100% percent ready yet. I hope this website can help me to improve my english skill.
You don’t suck. Just try to figure out what areas you make mistakes in again and again, and focus on improving those areas.
Exactly. Mistakes are only tools to make us aware and help us improve. Be cool, calm, and confident. Try to work with a teacher or join an IELTS preparation class before you take your exam.
All the best to you, jazz.
I got 10/10, before this lesson I’d rather write I have gotten 10/10.
Thank you Rebecca
thank you Mrs Rebecca for learing us about past simple and present perfect .
I got 10/10 at Quiz .
You’re very welcome. The proper word to use in this context is: Thank you for teaching us ….
My best to you, Abdulrahman.
Mrs Rebecca .
Could you give us more of Verbs 3 ‘ for present perfach
Dear Rebecca,
I have a question to you.
As you know
The present perfect is used for recent action when the time is not mentioned.
The simple present used to express habitual action.
1) I’ve lived in London.
2) I live in London.
Are these sentences equal?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Ramil
No.
The 2nd sentence is about ‘true or not’.
The 1st sentence is about ‘how long’.
You are confused because you are trying to see the difference in the ‘when’ aspect of the sentenses. And there is no difference here. They both are about ‘now’ (both tenses are present).
hi miss Rebecca.i got 9 out of 10.it was becous of
question nr 8 that was littelbit difikult,can you pleas explain it for me?why should we use did insted for hav?
best regards.
You needed to use “did” in that question, because of the words “last Sunday”. This means we are talking about a finished time in the past, so we need to use the past simple.
My best wishes to you.
I have waited this lesson 4 so long, now I know much more better. hugs n’ kisses lovely Rebecca.
Hi jumat. The tense is called Past Perfect. You use it when you want to show clearly, that from two events in the past one happened before the other. For example, from your 3rd statement I know (besides all other things) that ‘trying hard’ was before ‘taking her duties seriously’. And from your 1st example (though it’s not mentioned) we know that Mrs Jumat was a successful clerk before smth else. Usually that ‘something else’ is clear from the context or the situation.
Actually the idea of this tense is quite simple.
HI .MY BEST TEACHER (REBECCA) YOUR NEW STUDENT FROM LIBYA I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU ABOUT THIS LESSON AND OTHER LESSONS .IN FACT I STUDY ENGLISH LANGUOGE IN UNIVERSITY I WAS HATE GRAMMER BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE AN ECXLLENT TEACHER TO EXPLAINE THE LESSONS FOR ME CORRECTLY BUT NOW YOU LET ME LOVE IT BECAUSE YOU MAKE IT ( VERY EISSY) I HOPE YOU TO WRITE TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BYYYYYYYY
Thanks for your feedback, Ajdabya, and glad to hear the lessons are helping you. Yes,you are right, once we really understand something we can come to enjoy it, which is the key to real learning.
My best wishes to you.
DEAR MRS REBECCA I WANT FROM YOU TO EXPLAINE TO ME LESSON IT CALLED(A KIND OF A SENTENCES) IN EXPAND WAY I WILL HAPPY IF YOU MAKE IT IN VIDEO THAAAAAAAAAAAANKS
DEAR( ALan) can you tell me HOW CAN I BECOME EXCLLENT IN READING SUBJECT ) I HAVE A PROBLEM IN READING BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE MORE VOCABULARY.I WILL BE VERY HAPPY ANY REPLY FROM ANY BODY OR YOU ALAN
I feel your pain… My own poor vacabulary bothers me too. If you like reading I would advise two things that helped me lot.
1) Try to choose for your reading topics you are really interested in. You shouldn’t read in English any books you wouldn’t normally read in your own language.
2) The texts you choose to read should not too easy or too difficult for you. I personally prefer to buy books that are adapted for different levels (http://www.oup-bookworms.com/) and read them while on my way to work.
Hi Rebecca, Thanks for your video..thanks indeed!
Have a nice day!
thanks for the lesson mam…..
Thank you very much plz can you send me some home wrok every day On my email
thank you Rebecca
Hello, Rebecca!
could you please help!
1) can we use Past simple with “today”? – at some time of day today is almost over and things we have been doing are over already, for ex.: TODAY I called my colleague. We discussed some questions. (if the time of speaking is about 9 p.m.)
2) can we say: THIS MORNING I called my colleague… (if time of speaking is at lunch time or later – morning is over, isn’t it?)
thanks!
Yes, you can certainly say, “I called my colleague today/ this morning.”, because you are referring to an earlier part of the day. In fact, you can use the past simple to talk about any time that is over, including five minutes ago.
All the best to you.
thanx =)
thanks
Thanks alot it was great teaching.
after I watched and heard this lesson I know the differcec between (simple past) and (Persent perfect) correctly and easyly, but befor I didn’t know.
Thanks For nice lesson but Where is Quiz???
hi rebecca! I found ur lessons very helpful and interesting.I have confusion between two verbs wake and awake.Could you please explain the difference with examples.
sometimes we use present perfect for a finished actions could you explain this please
Thank you very much! I was very confused about that! Now, I can say that I know! Thank you!!
Rebecca! Thank you very much!
I think you are a very clear teacher. thanks a lot!
Great! I’ve been yearning for such a lesson so long! Thank you!
10 out of 10! Yey! :)
Oh, and I’m pretty sure we can use both the tenses in the 8th sentence of the quiz… can’t we?
10 out of 10! Thank you Rebecca!
Thanks a lot.
Awesome, this is great!!!
U R the best
thanks a lot
Great!!! Good class!!!
Excellent! Thanx a lot
thanks allot I have got benefit from your lesson- could you just teach me what is the difference between these two sentences: I am in hospital./I am at hospital.
Thank you very much, Rebecca! Hope to find another interesting lessons.
excuse me what if i say “i have been to Niagara falls” isn’t it finished time?
When you say that sentence, it means the act of having visited Niagara Falls stays with you all your life.
However, you cannot say,
I have been to Niagara Falls last week.
You should say
I visited Niagara Falls last week.
In this case, when you mention a finished time, like last week, you have to use the Past Simple tense and not the Present Perfect tense.
All the best to you.
100%..my score!!!!
I’m so happy..thank you so much Rebecca!!
Love you all!! :)))
Hi Rebecca, can you help me to pass FCE exam? :)
HELLO ALAN . IN FACT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU ABOUT YOUR BEAUTFUL ADVISES .IT IS VERY NICE IDO NOT FORGET YOUR HELPING :(ALAN ) I AM FROM LIBYA . WHERE ARE YOU FROM (ALAN )? I HOPE FROM YOU TO SEND ME LETTER YOUR FRIND FROM LIBYA IF YOU WANT
Thanku u
thanks so much Rebecca
Rebecca, many thanks for your cool lessons!!!! =)
9 out of 10..thanks!
thank you thank you so much our teacher Rebecca
so could you give us lesson about whatever ,however , whenever,how to use them
9 out of 10…Thanks Mrs Rebecca…
it was very iformative lesson but now im interested to know when `had` is used.and what is difference between `start & begin`.
Thank you, but I need to practice more and more.
Thanks! I understand now.
you are so awesome and so beautiful, Miss Rebecca.
I got many benefits from this media and lessons.
Thanks a lot for giving this lesson, hope you always in good health.
hi there guest what i need more practice some time im stroguling to make un santenses.
Thank you, good lesson
thanx,but when to use `had`.
thank you
I have learned a lot of good things since I am on this website :D
(yes, it is correct ;)
hi rebecca, congratulatiosn about this lesson,it was important tome because I had some doubts with present perfect, thank you so much.
teacher,, is the present perfect using only with unfinished time in present.??please i have little doubt with that.
You cannot use the present perfect with a finished time, like yesterday, last week,etc. For those situations, just use the simple past tense.
All the best to you, Manjula.
Hello Rebecca.It would be great if you give some lesson about conditional sentences with real and unreal condition.Its clear when its writing, but i have problem when i open my mouth to use this kind of sentences.Probably you can explain it short and simple way.Thank you in advance.
Thanks rebecca you have solved my confusion to use these sentence properly.i like your method of teaching a lot.God bless you.
Thank you very much. I am so glad the lesson helped you. My best wishes to you, Abdul.
Hi,Rebecca.You all in engvid.com teachers great.
Thank you kindly, Zemuy. Glad we can help you. All the best to you.
10 out of 10
thanks alottttttttttttt rebecca
Hi Miss Rebecca,I want to say that,if you could teach-how to write Letter,Telegram,Notice,Resume and other writing skills.I would also like to say that i am having trouble to log in.
I have a lesson which may help you, in the IELTS section of our website, on how to start and finish a letter.
Please also check all the lessons in the writing and grammar sections.
My best wishes to you.
always I like learn English as fun
That’s the right way to approach all learning! Good for you! My best wishes to you.
thanks
Rebeca thank you so much por you lessons.
the way you talk is very understanding. I feel I learn more with you than with my own teacher at the school. thanks for sharing your talent with those who are learning a new language. regards.
My pleasure, Danay. So glad the engvid lessons help you. Please do tell your friends so we can continue adding more lessons. Thanks, and my best wishes to you.
nice lesson, accurate for me
Hello
I have never understand this lesson on my English studies tell today, thank you.
I am so glad I could help you understand this topic, Akil. Thanks for letting me know. My best wishes to you.
Thanks MAm,It would be for better, If you could have lesson on “past perfect tense” I’m little confused about this!
Thanks MAm,It would be more better, If you could have lesson on “past perfect tense” I’m little confused about this!
nice lessons..apreciatte them…very useful way to remind what we learnt years ago…enjoy watching ur videos…ty kindly…regards…lima, peru
Thanks, Carlos. All the best with your English.
Thank you, Rebecca:)
Thank you so much , its very useful for me
very nice and clear explanation
Hi teacher Rebecca. can I request to you? will you please discuss the different between simple tense and perfect tense? thanks.
thank you so much for this lesson now i know how to use this in a sentence.
tcgb!
Hello Miss Rebecca, i wanna ask you a question, is right that Past Simple emphasizes the use of “time” of something we did in the past and Present Perfect emphasizes the “work or the result of work” that we have done in the past? it will be an honor to me to get the answer from you and hope it will be helpful for my confusion in this case. Thank you
Yes, you are right, Anny. I wish you all the best with your English.
9 out of 10 , you are my Favorite teacher since last week , would you tell me that how can i improve my reading ?
thank you for you lesson.
Reading well requires a variety of skills, but most of all regular practice. Vocabulary is also very important in order to read easily. So choose topics that interest you and make vocabulary cards that you review frequently. You don’t have to read long passages, sometimes even short passages have a lot of new vocabulary to master. Then, make questions from the material and try to answer the questions, using the new vocabulary.
Also,I have an engvid lesson on English in the News which should give you some useful strategies.
My best to you, Abdul.
thank you REBECA :) very very interssting lesson
I think this is the best way to understand
thanks you Te Re becca
how can I use the other pronounce like he she and you in the present perfect
what do you think of this sentence
he has visted us many time
thanks you Te Re becca
how can I use the other pronounce like he she and you in the present perfe
10 of 10,thanks teacher,i like more example.
its great and fun too
9 out of 10…..thanks madam…
Madam, Excellent explanation,.. I have been looking for this since years, finally I got the information when use have/has etc,..
hi ur lesson is very interesting and easy to understant…thanks a lot….my question is “i have sent you the mail”….is it correct???
thank you vrey much i can understand now and I hope to skep my level
ohh yesss, i’ve got 100 percent. This lesson very very interesting. I love it. Thank so much my lovely teacher :)
Please tell me how to use interesting and interested. And “interesting people or interested people”. Thanhks a lot
Very Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Rebecaa,
Your lessons were well explained and clear for understanding.Keep-on going with more lessons like this.
Thank you for teaching us !
Hi Rebecaa
can you explain to me what is the different between present perfect and present continuous…?
thanks so much
Hello,
my students and me like this course! Thank you very much for your interesting lessons.
Nice and useful lessons.I like it.
great job Rebecca! Thank you very much. I know how to use past simple and present perfect. I got 10 out of 10.
thanks a lot again.
hi,Rebecca
why we always use have with verb”see” like :
I have not seen him before .
can we say instead of that:
I did not see him before > because it is already finished
could you explain it for me pls ?
thank you maam :)
Hello my best teacher .
Since I start study English language I have a problem with Present Perfect . you lesson was very helpful .
Thank you so much ….
thanks a lot of Rebecca for all your useful lessons
it is very good site to learn english
Hi my best teacher.Thanks a lot for all your lessons. I study English ESL in Ottawa I start 0 now I’m understand English I like to learn language.
thank you =)
i don’t lnow how to thank you miss rebecca !
i realy like your MoOd of teaching thank you very much for be my part of life
ohh you are very good teacher …
10/10 wowowowow
can we say ? that
I didn’t worked hard last month . (AS a PAST SIMPLE)
It should be “I didn’t work hard last month”.
Thank you
9 out of 10…..thanks Teacher …
Could you please explain about despite and in spite of…thanks…
Yay ! i got 10/10 . Thank you Rebecca for da lesson.:)
profuse thanks. but what about questions? I mean, ” what did you do” or ” what have you done” , ”who have done it” or ”who did it” , ”why have you gone there” or ”why did you go there”…
it would be more satisfying if you explained them, please.
I have heard it many times .the lesson was good ^_^
thanks a lot it was really great and helpful
fantastic lesson
Oh for me it is fantastic
Thanks a lot Rebecca for this lesson.
Now my level is just upper intermediate, and i would like to improve it to advanced or confirmed.
My best wishes for this new year.
Miss Rebecca, the way you teach is superb, I just love your style of learning, keep it up!!! I hope we will get to learn some more from you…. best of luck for your future.
how do i know if to put past simple or past perfect??
hai rebecca,
i need more classes on past simple and present perfect.
can you please say where can i get these classes.
hey Mrs Rebecca ;Thank you very much for all your video lessons. really ai have bigg problem in passive voice and next week i have quiz i didn t what i may doing plzz help me
I got 2 WRONG in the Quiz can you explain the mistake please
Here is what I got Wrong:
Jason ____for work five minutes ago.
And
I _________ cooking at 7 o’colck. That was 2 hours ago, but the guests still haven’t arrived
For both I used Present Prefect how is it Wrong???
Wow, this is the simplest explanation i’ve ever listened!
Thanks for your job, Rebecca.
Thanks Rebecca for this lesson.
10 out of 10. Very easy after it!!!
wow ,great lesson ,a very simple and a good way to understand the present perfect and to use it . I’m a beginner and this lesson is very helful for me because i was very confused before watching your vidéo .Thanks REBECCA.
Hi Rebecca.
thank you for good teching. I hava littlie problom. Iam sure you can help me. Idon,t understand prasant perfact. you can help me?
thank you very much Mr.Rebecca.
thank you my favorite teacher. you have been very great. I am beginner but i have understood your lesson very well…. we are still waiting more from you
first of all i love this web site and my favorite teacher is rebbeca
i got 9 correct out of 10.
Tank you Please help me more and more because steel no confidence speaking English
Tank you Rebecca Please help me more and more because steel no confidence speaking English
wowwww,
ten/ten.,
f
a
b
u
l
o
u
s
.
I would like a video lesson about the past perfect =). Thank you very much
thank you a lot that lesson help me soo much
thank you for this lesson it has been enough for me to differentiate between the use of the present perfect and the simple past today , but i have a question , should we say : we have received this collection since 2 days ? or – we received this collection 2 days ago ?
thanking you in advance madame .
Thank you: I like your videos, it helps me a lot with grammar.
This lesson really amazing.Very easy and very understandable.I learnt when I will use these two grammer as clear after I watched your lesson Rebeca.Thanks a lot.Have great days for you…
Thanks a million Rebecca, i really appreciate.
dear mam can i use
i have completed my degree
very very clear!
thanks for this lesson. it is very easy and useful
Hi… Rebecca!
Thank you for this class.
Here is a question for you:
If said: I have worked hard since 6 am.
Could I say: I have been working hard since 6 am, instead of saying I have worked.
Thank you very much
Thomas
East Timor.
Yes, you can say either of these sentences. My best to you!
Hi Rebecca. Thank you very much for the help you’re giving us.
I am also confused about how and when I should use, CAN,COULD,WOULD and WILL.
Thanks.
Thank u Sooooooooooooooooo Much !!!
:D :D :D (10/10) I am Good ! :D
Hi , thanx for this lesson
and I have one question. What different between ..
How long have you been smoking ? , and how long have you smoked ?
Thanx again.
In some cases, as in your example, there is not much difference. You could use either one without much change in meaning.
All the best to you.
Hello Rebecca
I have a question..
”I have already had a breakfast” Isnt that a finished time.Thats a problem for me please help me.
I have already had breakfast.
This sentence means that I had breakfast in the past, yes, and the breakfast is still with me / in me! Therefore, there is a connection between the past and the present, which allows us to use the Present Perfect tense.
Hope this helps! Please check out a grammar book for an in-depth explanation of this concept, which is quite detailed.
All the best to you.
Thank you very munch for all your video.
these course is excellent. I like it…Thanks,Rebecca !!!!!!
Hello!
I would like to thank you for you presentation. It was really helpful. However, I was confused when you gave the example: “I have visited Niagara falls many times in my life” because you pointed out that we use the present perfect with unfinished time. However, in this case if I am not wrong, the time is finished in that example. I am not saying that your example was incorrect but I think that we can use the present perfect with finished times also. For example, I have already eaten lunch.I think this presentation will be more comprehensive if the you mention that we can use the present perfect with finished unspecified times. :)
“I have visited NF several times in my life.”
This is not an example of unfinished time as I am still alive when I say this sentence. Yes, the action is finished but the fact of the action remains with me. In any case, the point is that I did not use any words or expressions that indicate finished time in my sentence, such as yesterday, last week, in 1973, etc. That would be problematic in Present Perfect.
Thanks for all your interest and my best to you.
I love your lessons.
thank you a lot!
Thank you!
Thanks a lot Rebecca, the video lessons are excellent!
Thank you so much for your lesson, Rebecca. It is clearly to understand. I like learning English and I love Engvid.com. Thanks you and all your colleagues.
The best wishes.
Dear Rebecca!
How shall i know, if I want to speak about something, wich was happening (or happend ?) in the past, but I don’t mention the time ( which as we know can be finished or unfinished ) Let me show you an example:
He haven’t listened, there have benn to much noise
OR
He didn’t listen, there was ti much noise.
Thank you
Sometimes there isn’t so much difference and we can use either tense. Sometimes there is a big difference and we can only use one of the tenses. In your example, either one is fine. You could say:
He hasn’t heard because there was too much noise.
However, you could also say:
He didn’t hear because there was too much noise.
All the best to you.
thk u 4 ur excellent explanations !
Dear Mrs.Rebecca
I am planning to take the toefl ibt test on April and i want to ask you about how to take effective notes .. thank you for helping us
thank you so much Rebbeca!!
Thank you for the lesson.
And what do we use if we have no time specification? Can we use Simple past in case, when we have no ‘last year’,'yesterday’,'on Monday’ in the sentence, or should we use Present Perfect in this case?
hello Rebecca
i am thankful to you for sharing your knowledge with us…… i am very bad in english but still love this language
can you explain more and more abt tense
thanks
jyoti
mam rebecca that what i want exatly thank you
8 out of 10. I need practise a little bit more. :)
thanks mam
thanks rebecca, now I understand about simple past and present perfect. :)
Thank you very much ms Rebecca, Can we use present perfect to ask about somone’s experiences?
present perfect also uses to express an event finished in the past without mentioning the exact time for this event ,isn’t it?
Thank you very much miss Rebecca Can we use present perfect to ask about somone’s experiences?
present perfect also uses to express an event finished in the past without mentioning the exact time for this event isn’t it?
hello dear Mrs.Rebecca. You’re helpful for me so thank you very much but I don’t know. When I use have been or just have+Verb+ed ? Which one ? I am studying at university.This year I am learning English but I’m confused. Please help me dear Rebecca
Perfect! This lesson helped me a lot.
thanks rebecca you and ronnie ae the best
Thanks, now the differents are more clear :)
thank you Ms Rebecca.
hi, Rebecca! Lessons from EngVid are very useful!
And what about the dead person? When we’re talking about someone who is dead already, somebody famous for instance?
1.”he visited NY several times”
2.”he has visited NY several times”
Can we use only the first example? Which one is correct? Or maybe both?
Could I say ” My brother has gone on vacation” without mentioning any adverb of time and by that I mean he’s still on vacation?
Another question:
We learned at school when there are adverbs like JUST,FOR,SINCE,YET,ALREADY we always use Present Perfect.
For example: “I have just eaten strawberries”. However, I also have seen “I just ate strawberries”.
Is something wrong?
All the best!
Thanks a lot Rebecca,it was an excellent job keep it up. I do learned a lot from u today.
a very nice lesson
Thanks a lot Rebecca, Beautiful style of teaching wow.
Is simple past means finished time with finished work or unfinished work? present perfect means unfinished time with finished work and unfinished work both? please explain me. thank you
Thanking,for the exercises, nicee
i am pavan from india.I have a doubt in simple past tense while using time to say one action done in past.shall i use sentence like below.
one month left purchasing this pen
Than q mam simple explanation and easy and useful example given Anke babu
Thanks so much my English teacher, Just now clearly I can distinguish between past simple and present perfect sentences.
thank u so much…..
(1) He told me to come 11pm to burj Al Arab Hotel and pik me up.
(2)He tell me to come 11pm to burj Al Arab Hotel and pik me up.
Pleas help me witch one is correct.
Thanks
hi there teacher, i just want to say thanks kindly. your lessons are very educational.
Hi Rebecca,
OK, but it is not quite so simple. Here are some examples of when you use Present Perfect for a FINISHED action:
We have just finished our lunch.
Look, that lady has just fallen over!
I have just sent you an email.
In these examples we use the Present Perfect because it is a completed (or finished) action but is nevertheless related to the present because it was completed just a very short time ago.
The key word here is “just”; so if you can use just in the sentence then you should use the Present Perfect.
I hope that helps as I noticed in the comments that somebody asked about this.
Best wishes and keep up the good work, this is a really great site!!!!
Very simple very clear .you are great,thank you
it’s really a good video , but i have an example please correct it if it’s wrong .
my example says :
i have not taken my exam yet .
i think it’s unfinished time
waiting ….
Mam, could you please tell me what is the difference between
1)we don’t have TV since i was born
2)we haven’t had TV since i was born
3)we haven’t been having TV since i was born
is they mean same? or not? if same what are the situations we use each of them?
I’m waiting for your answer…
Only (2) is actually correct. It means that before you were born, there was TV; but from when you were born to the present day, you didn’t have a TV.
wow! Really I wonder the way how you make the things simpler.
Thanks a lot madam..
thank you for the replay…could you please tell me
what is the difference between
1A)David has worked in Spain since 1996
and
1B)David has been working in Spain since 1996
—————–
2A)We have lived here for 15 years
and
2B)we have been living here for 15 years
i like your way of teaching mam because it makes me to understand very well..
i got 10 out of 10 thank rebecca watermelon
10 out of 10 !! thank you very much Madam !! you made my life easier with Grammar :)) I am really grateful !!
Hi Ronnie
I wanna ask a question
I have worked hard since last semester
I have been working hard since last semester
wich is correct & how
God bless you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10 of 10 ,encredibly!Thx a lot!
hi thanks a lot.
Thank you so much Rebecca! Very helpul class.
Thanks a lot Rebecca. The use of the Present perfect has been a problem for me for years. I think from now on I’m ok with this subject because of your great explanation!
Sincerely,
Rafael dos S.F.Barroso
Awesome! You’re are a great teacher!
its very useful to us
thanx Rebecca,,,,very helpful grammar is headch to me
whats the difference between regular and irregular verbs????
where do we use regular or irregular verb??
Thank you very much , Rebecca. Now I’m really understanding what the difference between two tenses. I learn English at shcool and university . But was so hard in the U. I think I’m not anough learn in school. I watching your lessons by one by now. Thanks a lot.
Thank you Rebecca. You are wonderful teacher! I’ve finally realized that tenses!
hello, rebecca
thank you very much, your presentation is really helpful. can you clarify how to use adverb in present perfect ?
10 out of 10 ..egyptians rock
i wanna ask a question , wt if we dun mention the time so when i could use the present perfect
thank’s for the lesson, mam. I tried my grammar test and luckily I got full score. can you send me for my students? I will be grateful if I can get it.
thanks maam rebecca for these wonderful video explanation of yours..
i never relaised haw to use past simpl und presnt perfect together.
thanks rebeka!
Is it correct if I say: “I’ve taken a shower’?
And you are The Best, Rebecca!! Thanks for sharing such wonderful classes with us!
Dear teacher,
I have seen some reporters saying the following: “Neil Armstrong has died at 82 age.” To according the rules of the Present Perfect, we use it for showing a fact happened in past and possibly is happening in the present. When I say “Neil Armstrong has died” I would be saying that Neil Armstrong died several times. Couldn’t say the reporter simply “Neil Armstrong died at 82 age”?
This is a very nice video. Thank you.
What if we say : i have work hard yesterday. is it wrong?
Thank you Rebbeca, I have worked hard since I started this lesson and I am experiencing the positive signals in me, the confidence to write and eager to converse in English with my peeps. Thank you again for this rare opportubity.
Now I understand =)… Thank you!
thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx it is great
Now i have understood some point between past tense and prefect tense….i got 9 point out of 10…i am so happy…i realy grateful to you. you are such a good teacher…
Thank you Rebecca, so simple!! I can´t belive!
where is the past tense essay i want do my homework and tomorrow i want togive to my teacher
hi rebecca for your lessons they are very helpful but i have problem in using simple past and present perfect and past perfect when i use them together espicially when i use them in paragraphs i need alot of practise what you recommend me to do ?and do you have websites for grammer quizes so i can practise
thank youuuu
8/10
Thank you .. 10/10 U.U
All the best to you.
Unbelievable! I found this website four day ago and I fall in love it.
Since i have known this website I visit this website everyday also I told my friend this is the best class that we don’t need to pay for anything. And Thanks for Rebacca you made me understand about English more…
Can you check for me this comment i wrote it to you is correct or not?
I want to improve my writing skill please help.
Thanks alot again.
From Thailand..Mind
Hi.
I didn’t get this one
7. Jason ____________ for work five minutes ago.
left
has left
Why isn’t it present perfect? It was 5 minutes ago but the day hasn’t end yet. Explain me pls. Thank you.
It’s wonderful!!!
Hi.
I from Hungary. I’m studying English for 4 years.
This video helped me a lot. 10/10 Thank you :))
Natasha, because the “ago” time adverbs in simple past time characteristic.
Very very useful for a beginner like me .Before i watched your video it’s very hard but you have an magic to do easy to clear ^^ Thank you so much.
Dear Teacher please teach me about the perfect continues tense…
thanks could you help me to understand the english grammer becouse i have tofel test end of this year.
now i understand…thank u
Hi Mam Rebecca Thank you very much I learned how to to use past simple & present perfect.but my problem is how can i develop my confident to write & speak English during writing & talking to someone…I need your advise..thanks & more power
Dear Mrs.Rebecca,
Thank you very much for all your video lessons. They are really informative and very useful
I have been in USA since 2002. I worked as an accountant more than seven years. I have the Master’s degree in the accounting. I have had problems with these two tenses. I watched your video several minutes ago. I am very happy now and very thankful to you for your help. Thank you, Rebecca, very much! 10/10 first time in my life! :)
THANK YOU TEACHER
hi you aru wonderful
Excellent Job, very well explained. 10/10 4 u
I got it, God bless you
Hi Rebecca,
Many thanks for your lesson, it very help me a lot. The quiz is 10/10
:)
Hello Miss Rebecca:) I have never regretted that I have focused my life in my career. Is this correct? Is it not a redundancy?
wow I’m impressive myself, I don’t know how I did it but I Kill the quiz got ten corrects out of ten. I love Engvid. god bless the Teachers.
Hello Rebecca
I found this website several days ago, and now I’m your big fan :) Thanks a lot for your all helpfull lessons nad explanations. It really works :) Now I,ve got a question. Could you tell me please, is the sentence below correct?
“I started wondering: what did it mean? what was the problem?”
In whole my life,I haven`t studied grammar tenses like this way.
is this sentence correct?
you are great.
For me the different between past simple and present perfect is a wall! because in Italian sometimes we say the same things with both tenses! But I’ll study it! Thanks for the lesson :)
10/10 thanks Rebecca
thank you so much it was really great lesson
After I had finished this lesson, I said: “Thank you Rebecca!”
Thank you so much now I understand this tense <3
Hi Rebecca, I would like to say Thank you so much for a great explanation. Today we had a first QUIZ in our ESL class. I’m very disappointed because i am so confused to used simple past and present perfect in a sentence.
thank you a lot :)
Thank you very much Rebecca.You are a very good teacher!
Finished vs Unfinished
Quite simple.
Great advice!
Thanks Rebecca
Mam…you are really a great tutor !!! future contionious !!
Thank you for your lesseon. Exellent explaining.
Hi Rebecca,
Trust you’re doing well.
Actually I have a question. If I am driving & take a wrong turn so what is the right way to express it “I took a wrong turn” OR “I have taken a wrong turn”.
Hoping for your quick response.
Have a great day. Byee….. :-)
hi Rebecca
I really like this lesson
I studied altos of book to know the tenses specially past and present perfect tense but unfortunately I couldn’t understand when watched this video I achieved my target completely.
I am very thankful of and have a good and wonderful life .
Dear and respected Rebecca thank you for your explanation
dear sir can we say like
since 2005 some returnees come for foreign country
thanks
karim
Thanks>>
i met debbie in the last week or
i have met debbie in the last week.
i think it should be the first one… because last week its refer to an action that completed in the past.. please help me!!!!
Dear Rebecca.Explane me pleas 7th and 9th sentences in quis.I didn’t understand why I should use Past Simple instead of Present Perfect.If somebody ask someone about anybody then that time when anybody left is not finished,so in my opinion here must be Present Perfect.I hope you’ll understand what I mean.Sorry,if I made some mistakes.
Your listen is to the point [KISS]; Keep It Short & Simple. Thank you very much for help not only me but all people over the world. :)
Hi Rebecca,
Please consider these two sentences:
1- I visited Spain last summer
2- I have visited Spain
In both sentences the action of visiting Spain is over. So the present perfect may also refer to finished past actions. The difference between the above sentences is the one in which we used the past simple refers to a definite past action, whereas the sentence where we have the present perfect refers to an indefinite past action which is also part of my life experiences. The point I am making is that the present perfect does not always refer to unfinished actions. If you say “I have read Hamlet”, the action of reading has clearly taken place at some point in the past and is now over.
superb class;nice to devolope our english
I got 80
Dear Rebeca, thank you very much for your lessons!!! it was very hurt to me to understand differetns between present perfect and past simple. but now I understood very very well.
Hello!
I’ve just got familiarized with your explanations, so I got it! But I have a question about this video. Could you explain me please what I should do when I come across this: how many times have I told you\did I tell you to obey me? I’m just confused and need your help!
Beest wishes, gustav2
thank a lot teacher for your lesson. i got 10 by 10
Thanks
thanks Rebeca for your experience and your performance and the most important it is because you shared your knowledge with we.
100% !! i have seen your videos since 2012 :p
useful lesson!thank you very much
Incredible! I think finnaly I have understood differences of those two tences…Thank you! :)
Dear Rebecca,
Here are questions about it:
The situation is,
he has lost his key.
We should ask” Did he lose his key?” or “has he lost his key?”
and which one should we reply?
“No,he has found it” or “No,he found it?”
What are the different between it?
I like your video! thank you very much.
Eason