When to use the Present Perfect and Past Simple in sentences?
You can combine both tenses, the present perfect and past simple, to emphasize ongoing reasons or describe some changes. Let’s have a look at the following examples to learn more about how to use the present perfect and past simple in one sentence:
Examples:
He has been very tired lately because he worked late last week
Explanation: Although the working part is over, the effect is still going on, and that’s why we need to use the present perfect.
I have visited Germany several times, but I first went there in 2002.
Explanation: It describes an ongoing action with some specific time occurrence.
They have improved a lot since they joined the team.
Explanation: It describes the changes that happen the moment they joined the team till the moment.
How to create questions using the present perfect and past simple tense?
Your question needs to have two parts. The first part uses the present perfect and the second part uses the past tense. So, you can use (have or has) depends on the subject & use the past tense on the other part of the question. Let’s have a look at the following questions to learn more about present perfect and past tense questions:
Has he ever been to Rome? When did he go?
Explanation: the first parts asks about an going experience and the second part focuses on the first experience.
Here are a few more:
Have you seen the new movie? where did you watch it?
Has she started with her new job? when was that?
Did you finish the project? Have you presented it?
Did they travel to the business trip last month? Have they spoken about it?
Has she been feeling better since she visited the doctor?
*You need to remember this:Â
Did + base form of the verb (no changes happen to the verb)
Have + verb 3 (past participle)
How to form negative sentences using the present perfect and past simple tense?
You need to use (not) after (have and has), as shown in the following examples:
They have not finished reading and they did not read during the weekend.
She has not moved into her new home, so she didn’t celebrate the holiday there.
She has not eaten Pasta since she did not like the one she had last month.
He has not been to the gym since he did not renew his membership.
I have not completed the report, so I did not present at the meeting.
*You can use the complete form (have not/ has not) or the contraction form (haven’t/ hasn’t), it depends on the person you speak with. Professionally and in formal settings, use the complete form. When speaking informally with family, friends, chatting, etc use the contraction form.
I hope you find this English grammar lesson useful, let me know if you have any questions related to the combination of present perfect and past simple or if you have any suggestions for the upcoming topics. Yesterday, I explained other English grammar topics here so feel free to check it 🙂 Also, if you need a private discussion or lessons, email me 🙂
Have a great day & take care!