The present perfect is for unfinished actions and refers to an indefinite time. The past simple is for completed actions and refers to definite time.
Present Perfect - indefinite• She has lived in Paris for seven years (she still lives in Paris). |
Past Simple - definite• She lived in Paris (now she lives somewhere else). |
Points to note
In English we use the past simple when an action is completed and finished in the past and there's no direct connection with the present, or we want to specify the time. We use the present perfect when an action happened in the past but the effects are still present at the moment we are speaking.
N.B. Be careful with 'this morning/ this afternoon' etc.
Have you sent the email this morning? (It's still morning).
Did you send the email this morning? (It's afternoon or evening).
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To study the difference between the present simple and continuous click here.
To study the past simple click here.
To study the past continuous click here.
To study the present perfect click here.
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