GRAMMAR

Present Perfect and Past Simple

Can you guess the difference in meaning between these two sentences?

I have lived in Sant Cugat for two years.

I lived in Sant Cugat for two years.

I still live in Sant Cugat.

I don’t live in Sant Cugat anymore.

Past Simple Past Simple I lived in Sant Cugat for

two years. • Actions that are finished • Time reference is finished.

Present Present Perfect Perfect

I have lived in Sant Cugat for two years.

• Actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

• Even if a past-time adverbial isn’t explicit, remoteness may be defined somewhere else in the context or simply implied e.g. Einstein was a genius.

• Actions complete at an unspecified time when the general time reference is still valid e.g. Quentin Tarantino has directed some great films. (His life isn’t over)

Present Perfect with “for” Present Perfect with “for” • She has lived there for twenty years.

• I’ve had this car for five months.

• We haven’t seen Mark for ages.

It is used to express…

THE LENGTH OF AN ACTION

NOTE: We can also use “for” with the past simple e.g. I lived in Sant Cugat for two years.

Present Perfect with “since” Present Perfect with “since” • She has worked there since September.

• I’ve been ill since January 28th.

• We haven’t eaten out since Monday.

It is used to express…

THE MOMENT IN WHICH AN ACTION STARTED

Present Perfect with “just” Present Perfect with “just” • I’ve just made tea. Would you like a cup?

• Martha isn’t here. She’s just left.

• My sister-in-law has just had a baby. She’s still in hospital.

It is used to refer to…

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE (VERY) RECENT PAST OR A SHORT

TIME AGO

NOTE: Be careful with the position of “just”

Present Perfect with Present Perfect with “already” “already”

• A: Remember to send the letter.   B: I have already sent it'.

• A: Don’t forget to wash your hair. B: I have already washed it.

It is used to express…

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE NOW OR BEFORE ANOTHER

POINT IN TIME

NOTE: Be careful with the position of “already”

Present Perfect with “yet” Present Perfect with “yet” • I haven't seen that movie yet, but I am going to soon. • I’ve crashed my parents’ car but I haven't told them anything yet. 

It is used to express…

SOMETHING THAT HASN’T HAPPENED BUT WE THINK IS GOING

TO HAPPENED

““yet” vs. “still” yet” vs. “still” We can use “yet” and “still” with other verb tenses. Let’s have a look at the difference between these 2 time markers.

• It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. To express or ask about a situation or action that continues.

2. To ask whether something has happened.

3. To say something hasn’t happened.

““yet” vs. “still” yet” vs. “still” We can use “yet” and “still” with other verb tenses. Let’s have a look at the difference between these 2 time markers.

• It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. To express or ask about a situation or action that continues.

X

2. To ask whether something has happened. X

3. To say something hasn’t happened. X

““yet” vs. “still” yet” vs. “still” • It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. In questions, affirmative and negative sentences.

2. In questions and negative sentences.

““yet” vs. “still” yet” vs. “still” • It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. In questions, affirmative and negative sentences.

X

2. In questions and negative sentences. X

““yet” vs. “still”: word order yet” vs. “still”: word order • It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. With “to be”: after “to be” With other verbs: before the main verb

2. At the end of the sentence

““yet” vs. “still”: word order yet” vs. “still”: word order • It’s 11 am and Tom is still in bed.

• I’m hungry. Is dinner ready yet?

• Have you given up smoking? No, I still smoke.

• It’s 11am and Tom hasn’t got up yet.

• Are you still living in the same house, or have you moved?

• Where are you going on holidays? We don’t know yet.

YET STILL

1. With “to be”: after “to be” With other verbs: before the main verb

X

2. At the end of the sentence X