Simple Past Vs Present Perfect

Simple Past

To express certain activity happened in the past time.

The activity started in the past and ended in the past.
Structure
Verb
(+) S + Verb 2 + Object/Complement: i went to school by bus
(-) S + did not + Verb 1 +Object/Complement: i didnt go to school by bus
(Yes/No?) Did + Subject + V1 + Object/Complement?: Did you go to school by bus?
(WH?) WH + did + Subject + V1 + Object/Complement: How did you go to school?
Tobe
(+) Subject + was/were + Complement: he was sick yesterday.
(-)Subject + was/were not + Complement: he wasnt sick yesterday
(Yes/No?) was/were + Subject +Complement?: was he sick yesterday?
(WH?) WH + was/were + Subject +Complement?: why was he sick yesterday?

Present perfect

Talk about action that have finished, but the time marker is not necessarily needed.
When we speak, the action is done. Example:
I have eaten
I have written a letter.
Talk about action that started in the past, and still exist when you talk about it (now).
Example:
They have lived here since 1992
I have studied for 2 hours.
Talk about repetition of an action. Example:
I have read three books since this morning

Structure
Verb
(+) S + have/has + V3 + O/C
(-) S + have/has + not + V3 + O/C
(Yes/No?) Have/has + S + V3 + O/C?
(WH?) WH + have/has + S + V3 + O/C?
: She has worked here since 2010
: She has not worked here since 2010
: Has she worked here since 2010?
: Where has she worked since 2010?

Time marker:
Just, already, yet, since, recently, lately, so far, up to now, up to present, all the time.
The following verbs are usually only used in present perfect:
State: to be
Sense: hear, feel, see, smell, taste, touch
Brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Past Continuous

To express an on-going activity in the past.

It is often used to set the scene for another action.

Structure
(+) Subject + tobe + V1 ing + Object/Complement
(-)Subject+tobe+not +V1 ing+Object/Complement
(?) tobe + Subject + V1 ing + Object/Complemet?

The use in sentences:

1. Interupted action in the past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted.
The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real
interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

2. Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the
idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
Were you listening while he was talking?
I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes

***Notes****

When usually followed by simple form

While usually followed by continuous form
"While" expresses the idea of "during that time."
Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of
the sentence.
Examples:
I was studying when she called.
While I was studying, she called
Sub Clause Main Clause

When + Simple Form Continuous Form

When + Continuous Form Simple Form

While + Continuous Form Simple Form

While + Continuous Form Continuous Form