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In this episode we will take a look at tenses. Particularly present perfect and simple past tenses. We will also practice using adverbs of time.

Transcript - Text

 Quiz text and answer sheet

Study Node: Verbs - Present Perfect and Simple Past Tenses

When speaking or writing about the past, English uses a variety of different tenses, including:

the simple past (he wrote),
simple present perfect (he has written),
past continuous/progressive (he was writing),
simple past perfect (he had written),
present perfect continuous/progressive (he has been writing),
and the past perfect continuous/progressive (he had been writing).

Knowing when to use which tense can be quite challenging because the time frame within which an event, state or action takes place needs to be taken into consideration.

Mastering and differentiating between simple present perfect and the simple past, in particular, often poses difficulties because of the time reference.

The attached study notes contain the most important rules which govern the use of these two tenses.

 

IELTS Study Tips:

When speaking or writing about something, which happened at an unspecified time in the past and is still continuing in the present, use the simple present perfect.

This is also the tense, which is used for news broadcasts, stories in the newspaper and biographical information about a living person.