Present perfect versus past simple and past perfect versus past simple · PEL546

Simple past is for a finished action at a definite past time: I saw him last week. She lived in Delhi in 2015. Time words: yesterday, last week, in 2015, ago.

Present perfect (have or has + past participle) links the past to the present: experiences (Have you ever been to Goa?), results, and situations that continue with since and for: She has lived in Delhi for ten years means she still lives there. Time words: ever, never, just, already, yet, so far, since, for. It cannot be used with a finished time word: not I have visited Jaipur last summer.

Past perfect (had + past participle) marks the earlier of two past actions: When we arrived, the film had already started. He had finished the report before the meeting began. The later action uses the simple past.

Exam trap: a finished time expression such as last summer or in 2015 forces the simple past.

Try two questions

Question 1 · Tier 4, Analyse

Which time expression normally goes with the simple past?

so far this week
yesterday morning
since last year
for the last month

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B. A finished, specific time such as yesterday morning takes the simple past.

Why not A: So far links to the present and takes the present perfect.

Why not C: Since links to the present and takes the present perfect.

Why not D: For the last month links to now and takes the present perfect.

Question 2 · Tier 2, Understand

Which sentence is correct?

She lived in Delhi in 2015.
She has lived in Delhi in 2015.
She had lived in Delhi in 2015.
She is living in Delhi in 2015.

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A. A specific finished time such as 2015 takes the simple past.

Why not B: A finished year such as 2015 needs the simple past.

Why not C: Had lived needs a later past point of reference.

Why not D: Is living is present continuous and does not fit 2015.

Key points

Try two questions