Present perfect and past simple - 6 Minute Grammar

Have you ever wanted to have perfect English? BBC Learning English teaches the grammar you need! In this episode of 6 Minute Grammar, Catherine and Neil talk about unusual food and give you 3 rules to help you choose between the present perfect and past simple tenses in this episode of 6 Minute Grammar.

0:00 Introduction
0:06: Present perfect & past simple
3:30 'Ever' & 'Never'
4:40 Quiz

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#BBCLearningEnglish #Grammar #6MinuteGrammar

[Sohaghossen]

Please, carry on in this way with subtitles. Because it's very useful for the non native speakers.

[PauloSilva-ilwf]

*Good morning BBC's people !!! I appreciated your's work, thanks and congratulations !!!*

[aguevarad]

Awesome! Hanging the written dialogue up at the same time as the audio lesson, if we didn't catch any word may check it out immediately.
Thanks, l love this channel so much since I discovered it.

[mirela]

Thank you very much for this video! For us, non-native English speakers, there is a great need to clarify the gray area between the Present Perfect Simple and the Past Simple tense.

Having said that, I would be grateful if you could clarify for me two aspects:

1) Why are both answers to the last question of the test correct?
2) Which is the correct answer to the following question:
'Who...you English?'
a) has taught
b) taught.

Many thanks for your help. 🙏 It is greatly appreciated.

[victorialezcano]

Thank you very much for these videos. I started watching your videos because my English teacher recommended me to learn from here and now I am very excited about this wonderful language. Now I want to work at the BBC one day ... Thank you!

[JoseLuis-nrkg]

Great explanation in clear English! Thank you so much! 😊

[somebody]

Great job! Wonderful dialogue. Easy to understand, organised, and you guys have a sense of humour. I found myself smiling as I'm watching Neil truly eating ant 👍🤠

[kyawtkyawtsoe]

I learned Present perfect this tonight.
I have learned past tense.
Thanks BBC.

[ateabag]

Thank you very much ! Now I know what is difference between these tenses

[ЕленаПолякова-ят]

Very well. Everything is clear. And everything is simplе

[thamilay]

I want to know that I can speak past action by using present perfect. A week ago, it was my birthday and I bought a car.Now my friend comes to my house and sees the car.He asks that have you bought a car? I answer yes,

1. I bought that car a week ago on my birthday.

Or

2. I have bought that car on my birthday.

I understand that 1 is simple and fine to answer but I want to know that can I use 2 with present perfect because present perfect related with past and present.

Can I use 2 to talk the past action because I want to more understand present perfect.

[lilialleyesonnini]

Emmm it's clear enough. I love it

[natemr]

I've aced everything, I didn't get tricked BBC trickers!!

[nabillaningthyas]

Great job l like too much bbc learning english thak you so much from indonesia

[abethomas]

have a very merry Christmas when it comes.

[mohammadfarukhahmad]

𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓
We have lived here for seven years. (we still live here)
We lived there for seven years. (we don't live there now)
He has repaired the chair. (The chair is all right now)
He repaired the chair. (It may be broken again now.)
She has packed her case. (The case is full now)
She packed her case last night. (Her things may not be in the case now)
The young producer has made four films so far. (it is possible he will make more films)
The producer made lots of films in his long career. (he will not make any more, his career is over)

He has gone to London. (He is in London now or on his way to London)
He has been to London. (He is not in London now, he has come back)
He has been to London 5 times.
He went to London 5 times. (he may or may not be dead)

𝐖𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬.
'I have found my wallet.' 'Where did you find it?'
Your parcel has arrived. The postman brought it this morning.
Someone has left this door open. I expect Phil did when he went out.

If time (yesterday, last week/month/year, a few days/years ago etc.) is mentioned, sentences must be in simple past, not in present perfect. But today, this morning etc. can be used in present perfect.

Correct : I have seen him or I saw him.
Incorrect : I have seen him yesterday.
Correct : I saw him yesterday.

Correct : I have bought the book. or I bought the book.
Incorrect : I have bought the book a few days back.
Correct : I bought the book a few days back.

Correct : He has written a letter. or He wrote a letter.
Incorrect : He has written a letter five minutes ago.
Correct : He wrote a letter five minutes ago.

I have not seen him today. (it is still day time)
I did not see him at school today. (the school day is over.)
Has the post come this morning? (it is still morning)
Did the post come this morning? (it is later in the day)
We have done a lot of work this morning (it is still morning)
We did a lot of work this morning. (it is evening now)

I have watched three movies this week -- present perfect
I watched three movies last week -- simple past/past indefinite
I had watched three movies the week before last. -- past perfect.

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡
British : He has washed the dishes. They are clean.
American : He has washed the dishes. They are clean. / He washed the dishes.They are clean.

British : Have you ever played cricket?
American : Have you ever played cricket? or Did you ever play cricket?

British : We have already eaten our lunch.
American : We have already eaten our lunch. or We already ate our lunch.

British : I have just heard the news.
American : I have just heard the news. I just heard the news.

British : He has not returned yet.
American : He has not returned yet. He did not return yet.

British : He has never seen a tiger.
American : He has never seen a tiger. He never saw a tiger.

[AliNawzad-xqqs]

is there a video talk about when I use past perfect?

[Babethosaure]

You are for English what Yvan Monka is for math ! And your videos are very clear and very easy to listen with the subtitles

[recker]

One of the best posts I've ever seen, thank you for your great channel

[hasanabbas]

Hey Catherine and Neil
I've never been to Paris.
Last week I went to Iran.