present perfect or past simple

[Raymott]

That sums it up.

Well, not quite. The action doesn't have to have finished in the recent past - just to mention one complication. But since the poster is a native English-speaking English teacher, he'll want to go into this in a lot more depth.

[RonBee]

I am willing to talk more about the present perfect. (I think this qualifies as a frequently asked question.)

[Raymott]

I am willing to talk more about the present perfect. (I think this qualifies as a frequently asked question.)

It most definitely does.
It's only a pity that all the good answers from the past aren't in a FAQ somewhere, because you'll be answering the same question again next week, and the week after that.
My calculations reveal that roughly 29.76% of posts this year have been on the difference between simple past and present perfect.

[RonBee]

It most definitely does.
It's only a pity that all the good answers from the past aren't in a FAQ somewhere, because you'll be answering the same question again next week, and the week after that.
My calculations reveal that roughly 29.76% of posts this year have been on the difference between simple past and present perfect.

Well, whenever I run across one that qualifies I move it to the FAQ folder. Of course, I have to check first to see if that question has been asked and answered there already.


This should be helpful:
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Present Perfect - Glossary Definition - UsingEnglish.com

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Example sentence:
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Ron has been forgetting things.

[Raymott]

With respect, Ron, the above link doesn't address the differences between the simple past and the present perfect.
My objection was not to any default on your part, except for your implying to learners that a two-line post summed up the issue, whereas it only gave one incorrect difference.

On the other hand there must be some quite detailed and correct posts by people such as David L. and Soup and others which could be used for the basis of a comprehensive FAQ entry on this very important, frequently misunderstood and chronically recurrent issue - which cannot be answered properly every time someone asks it.

[RonBee]

This one discusses the present perfect in depth: http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/fr...ect-tense.html

[Raymott]

Hmm. That was my introduction to Soup's habit of not reading threads before replying to them. I'll search for something a bit more comprehensive, and let you know when I've found it. Failing that, I'll consider writing a complete answer myself and initiating a thread with it, for amendment.

[RonBee]

Present perfect:
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We have moved.

In that sentence it is relevant now (in the present) that the people in question moved from one location to another.

[Raymott]

OK, I can take a hint. I'll withdraw my offer.

[RonBee]

No hiint. I just saw an example of a present perfect sentence that I decided to post. However, maybe I should have put it this way:
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Past tense:
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We moved.

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It's not connected to the present in any way.
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Present perfect tense:
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We have moved.

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The people who moved want you to know that they now do business in a different location.




How's that?