In English, we can use the Simple Past to talk about experiences at a definite time in the past. We can say when that happened. Whereas, we can use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences that happened at an indefinite time in the past.
In this unit, you are going to read about Catherine, a girl who loves Mexico. You are going to listen to a conversation between her and her friend Stephen deciding what to eat in a restaurant. You are also going to write about Stephen’s visit to Italy. Finally, you are going to talk about your experiences while visiting another city or country. So, let us get started!
By the end of this topic you will:
• Use the Simple Past and the Present Perfect to talk about past experiences through the use of regular and irregular verbs.
Since Present Perfect and Simple Past tenses have already been covered, in this section you are going to do a quick review from them.
We use Simple Past to talk about an action that is completed. That is, an action that happened at a definite time in the past.
Look at these examples:
In the previous examples, the time expressions make reference to that definite time in the past.
Let us review the three formulas to write sentences in Simple Past:
| Subject | + | Verb in simple past | + | Complement |
| Jennifer | went | to a concert last night. | ||
| We | studied | German at college. | ||
| Cindy | prepared | dinner yesterday. | ||
| I | took | a train to London this morning. |
| Subject | + | did not | + | Verb in simple form | + | Complement |
| I | did not | pay | attention in the class. | |||
| Jerry | did not | come | to classes last Friday. | |||
| Karla | did not | make | her bed yesterday. | |||
| They | did not | smell | their house last September. |
| Did | + | Subject | + | Verb in simple form | + | Complement? |
| Did | Mark | like | pasta when he was little? | |||
| Did | Douglas | write | novels in high school? | |||
| Did | you | open | the window before I arrived? | |||
| Did | they | go | to the museum last month? |
Wh-questions are used in the past continuous in order to ask for specific information:
• Place
| Example: | Where was (I, He, She, It) going? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going to Chapultepec Park. | |
| Where were (You, We, They) going? | |
| (You, We, They) were going to Chapultepec Park. |
• Specific thing, object
| Example: | What was (I, He, She, It) doing? |
| (I, He, She, It) was eating Mexican food. | |
| What were (You, We, They) doing? | |
| (You, We, They) were eating Mexican food. |
• Time
| Example: | When was (I, He, She, It) going? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going in the morning. | |
| When were (You, We, They) going? | |
| (You, We, They) were going in the morning. |
• Is only used when referring to people
| Example: | Who was (I, He, She, It) going with? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother. | |
| Who were (You, We, They) going with? | |
| (You, We, They) were going with my mother. |
• Reason, explanation
| Example: | Why was (I, He, She, It) flying by plane? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother. | |
| Why were (You, We, They) flying by plane? | |
| Because, (You, We, They) were visiting Mexico City. |
So, remember Simple Past is used to express an action that happened at a definite time in the past. This means, an action that has already concluded.
Among other uses, we use the Present Perfect, to talk about experiences that happened at an indefinite time in the past. It is something that we have already experienced, but we do not mention when it happened.
Let us review the three formulas to write sentences in Present Perfect.
| Subject | + | Auxiliary | + | Verb in past participle | + | complement |
| I | have | cleaned | my room | |||
| Johnny | has | spoken | to his teacher | |||
| Thiery | has | failed | English | |||
| We | have | learned | to drive a car |
| Subject | + | Auxiliary not | + | Verb in past participle | + | complement |
| Simon | has not | entered | the competition. | |||
| I | have not | finished | my report. | |||
| Ian | has not | eaten | today. | |||
| They | have not | answered | the questions. |
| Auxiliary | + | Subject | + | Verb in past participle | + | complement? |
| Has | Mike | given | his speech? | |||
| Have | you | tasted | fried brains? | |||
| Has | Hannia | worked | with you? | |||
| Have | they | drunk | milk this morning? |
Wh-questions are used in the past continuous in order to ask for specific information:
• Place
| Example: | Where was (I, He, She, It) going? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going to Chapultepec Park. | |
| Where were (You, We, They) going? | |
| (You, We, They) were going to Chapultepec Park. |
• Specific thing, object
| Example: | What was (I, He, She, It) doing? |
| (I, He, She, It) was eating Mexican food. | |
| What were (You, We, They) doing? | |
| (You, We, They) were eating Mexican food. |
• Time
| Example: | When was (I, He, She, It) going? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going in the morning. | |
| When were (You, We, They) going? | |
| (You, We, They) were going in the morning. |
• Is only used when referring to people
| Example: | Who was (I, He, She, It) going with? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother. | |
| Who were (You, We, They) going with? | |
| (You, We, They) were going with my mother. |
• Reason, explanation
| Example: | Why was (I, He, She, It) flying by plane? |
| (I, He, She, It) was going with my mother. | |
| Why were (You, We, They) flying by plane? | |
| Because, (You, We, They) were visiting Mexico City. |
The previous sentences are expressed in the Present Perfect, so a definite time in the past is not expressed.
We talk about experiences or actions that we want to know if they were completed by now.
However, if you want to talk about experience and when it happened, you need to combine
Look at the following examples:
We are asking about the experience of eating lamb curry. The answer is affirmative, and it is answered with Present Perfect. The information in Simple Past makes reference to the definite point when the lamb curry was eaten. “I ate it in my last visit to Morocco”. Being “last visit” the definite time in the past.
Check these other examples:
I have tried Chinese food, and I did not like it at all.
I have never been to Canada, but I was in Seattle last year.
Now, it is time to start with the activities,
Are you ready?
Activity 1
Have you ever been to Mexico City? When was the last time you visited it? Did you like it? What places did you go?
If you have never been to Mexico City, take the chance to pay a visit there. In the meantime, read about Catherine’s experience in Mexico City. Then, complete the text with the best option.
itadrianramos. (2015). centro histórico / zócalo capitalíno / ciudad de méxico [photo]
Consuted on April 17th2017 from https://goo.gl/w37nYj
Activity 2
Have you eaten exotic food? Did you like it? Where did you eat it? Listen to Stephen and Catherine talk about Mexican food. Then answer True or False.
Reference:Cvmontuy. (2008). Escamoles [photo]. Consulted on April 17th2017 from https://goo.gl/FqsuCm
To answer the activity, first listen carefully to the Escamoles audio.
Activity 3
Have you ever been to another country? Stephen visited Italy in 2014 and this is what he experienced there.
skylark. (2013). Monumen to vittorio emanuele / Rome / Rome Palace / altare della patria [photo]. Consulted on April 18th 2017 from https://goo.gl/Q8ZWf2
Write a paragraph using Present Perfect and Simple Past with the following schedule:
Stephen:
• Be in Italy once.
• Always eats in restaurants.
• On July 2nd visit Tower of Pisa.
• On July 3rd go to Venice.
• On July 4th take a tour around Rome.
• On July 5th see a soccer match – never before assist to a soccer match.
• On July 6th eat pizza and pasta.
• On July 7th return home.
Before starting to write, read the rubrics for a self-evaluation. Click here to read an example.
Stephen has been in Italy once. He has always eaten in restaurants. Now, let me tell you what he did there. On July 2nd, he visited…
Activity 4
Have you ever visited another city or another country? Where did you go? Who did you go with? What did you like about the place? How many times have you been there?
Remember to use Simple Past and Present Perfect in your activity. If you have any questions about it, you can visit the presentation section of this topic.
cegoh. (2013). Japan / Tokyo / Arquitechture / Turism [photo]. Consulted on April 18th 2017 from https://goo.gl/wlzoFw
Listen to the following example.
Allan is talking to you. He is asking some questions about homework and projects. Go to the bottom of the page. Select the correct answers to complete the dialogue.
Complete the sentences with the Simple Past or Present Perfect. Do not use contractions in negative sentences.
• Thornbury, Scott. Natural Grammar, Oxford, 2004.
• S. Azar, Betty and A. Hagen, Stacy. Understanding and Using
• CUAED. (2011). English Media. UNAM. Consulted on April 2017 from: http://www.cuaed.unam.mx/english_media/
• (n.a.)(2017). Present Continuous. English Page. Consulted on April 2017 from: https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuous.html