Themes

Simple Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action

started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the
specific time, but they do have one specific time in
mind.

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed

actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 4th, and so on.

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which

starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer
action often indicated by expressions such as: for two
years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit

which stopped in the past. It can have the same
meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are
talking about a habit, we often add expressions such
as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child,
when I was younger, etc.

Uses

Themes
Grammar
Focus

Simple Past
Affirmative Sentence
[SUBJECT] + [VERB IN PAST] + [COMPLEMENT]
Example: I worked In The Factory, I watched The Tv
Negative Sentence

Present Perfect

We use the Present Perfect to say that an

action happened at an unspecified time
before now. The exact time is not
important. You CANNOT use the Present
Perfect with specific time expressions
such as: yesterday, one year ago, last
week, when I was a child, when I lived in
Japan, at that moment, that day, one day,
etc.

You can use the Present Perfect to

describe your experience. It is like saying,
"I have the experience of..." You can also
use this tense to say that you have never
had a certain experience. The Present
Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific
event.

We often use the Present Perfect to talk

about change that has happened over a
period of time

We also use the Present Perfect to talk

about several different actions which have
occurred in the past at different times.
Present Perfect suggests the process is
not complete and more actions are
possible.

Present Perfect
Affirmative Sentence
[SUBJECT] + AUXILIARY VERB [Have / Has] + Past
Participle + [COMPLEMENT]
Example: I've talked to Peter. She's gone to work.

Negative Sentence
[SUBJECT] + DID + NOT + [VERB] + [COMPLEMENT]
Example: You Didnt Work, He Didnt Play Soccer
Interrogative Sentences
DID + [SUBJECT] + [VERB] + [COMPLEMENT] + [?]
Example: Did He Eat Yesterday? , Did You Call Me?
WH Question
WH + DID + [SUBJECT] + [VERB] + [COMPLEMENT] + [?]
Example: What Did You Sing?
Yes / No Question
Yes / No+ Subject + Did / Didnt

[SUBJECT] + AUXILIARY VERB [Have / Has] + Not

+ Past Participle + [COMPLEMENT]
Example: We haven't been to London, She hasn't
gone to work.
Interrogative Sentences
AUXILIARY VERB [Have / Has] + [SUBJECT] +Past
Participle + [COMPLEMENT] + [?]
Example: Have you talked to Peter? ,
Has she gone to work?
WH Question
WH + AUXILIARY VERB [Have / Has] + [SUBJECT]
+Past Participle + [COMPLEMENT] + [?]
Example: where have I left my umbrella?
Why has he gone already?
Yes / No Question
Yes / No+ Subject + Has - Have/ Hasnt
Havent

Themes

Simple Past

Present Perfect

Time
Expressio
n

Adverbs

Themes

Yesterday

The other day

Just now

The day before yesterday

Early - temprano
late - tarde
earlier - antes, ms temprano
later - luego, ms tarde
then - luego, entonces
before - antes
after - despus
afterwards luego

For

Since

Ever

Already

Recently

Just

Yet

Still

Ever- Alguna Vez

Already Ya
Just Acabar De
Yet Ya o Todavia

Simple Past ------ Present Perfect

The difference between these two times is that one is used to include activities that

Differences were already completed in the past and the other is used for actions in the past which
have importance in the present. Grammar is practically nearly the same only varies in
the use of the auxiliary since one uses two and the other only one.

Bibliography
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepast.html
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html
http://lgenglish2.blogspot.mx/2010/02/negativo-yesno-questions-wh-questions.html
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect.html