⏱️🔥PRESENT PERFECT v PAST SIMPLE spiegato bene in SOLO 7 MINUTI! 🇬🇧💪

JoEnglish

8 Apr 202407:36

Summary

TLDRThis video script is an educational guide explaining the differences between the past simple and present perfect tenses in English. It outlines four key contexts for using the present perfect: actions without a specified time, actions that started in the past and continue, actions within an unfinished time frame, and recent actions. The guide also highlights common mistakes to avoid, such as misuse of 'have been' and misunderstandings about when to use past simple versus present perfect. The speaker encourages viewers to visit their YouTube channel or website for more detailed explanations and practice exercises.

Takeaways

🕰️ The past simple is used to specify when an action occurred in the past, such as 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'two months ago'.
📚 Use past simple when the time period is clearly indicated and finished, like 'When I was young' or 'When I was at school'.
❌ Avoid using present perfect when the action's time is specified; use past simple instead.
🌟 Present perfect is used when the time of an action is not specified or not important, like 'I have seen that film'.
🔄 Present perfect is used with 'for' or 'since' to indicate the duration from a point in the past until now, e.g., 'I have known you for three years'.
🚫 Do not use present perfect continuous for state verbs like 'to know'; use simple present perfect.
🏞️ For actions that started in the past and continue to the present, consider using present perfect continuous, especially if the action is ongoing.
📅 Use present perfect for actions that occurred in a period of time that is not yet finished, like 'this week', 'this month', or 'this year'.
🗓️ The day is considered finished in the evening, so past simple can be used then, e.g., 'We had a great day today'.
🚫 Avoid using 'just' with past simple in British English; use present perfect instead, like 'They have just arrived'.
🎨 Sometimes past simple is used without specifying when, especially if it's common knowledge, like 'Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa'.

Q & A

What are the main differences between the past simple and the present perfect?
-The past simple is used to specify when an action occurred in the past, often with specific time indicators like 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'two months ago'. It is also used when the context makes it clear that you're talking about a precise point in the past. The present perfect, on the other hand, is used when the exact time of the action is not specified or not important, or when the action started in the past and continues to the present.
Can you provide an example of when to use the past simple?
-Yes, if you want to say something that happened yesterday, last week, or two months ago, you would use the past simple. For instance, 'I went to the cinema yesterday' or 'When I was young, I used to play football.'
How is the present perfect used with time expressions like 'for' or 'since'?
-The present perfect is used with 'for' or 'since' to indicate the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, 'I have known you for three years' or 'He has studied English since 2021'.
Is it possible to use the present perfect continuous instead of the present perfect in the examples given?
-Yes, the present perfect continuous can be used in some cases, especially when the action is still ongoing. For example, 'I have been knowing you for three years' or 'He has been studying English since 2021'. However, 'to know' is a state verb and cannot be used in the continuous form, so 'I have known you' is correct, but 'I have been studying English since 2021' is also acceptable.
What is the fourth context in which the present perfect is used?
-The fourth context is when you want to specify that you have done something recently, have never done something, or have not yet done something. For example, 'I have just seen it', 'I have never seen it', or 'I haven't seen it yet'.
What is an error to avoid when using the present perfect?
-One common error is using 'have' or 'has' incorrectly. In English, you cannot say 'They are just arrived'; it should be 'They have just arrived'.
Is it a mistake to use the present perfect if the action started in the past and continues to the present?
-Not necessarily. While it's true that the present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, it's also used for actions that were completed in the past and have relevance to the present, even if they are not ongoing. For example, 'I have been to Australia' is correct even though the trip is a completed action.
Can you use the past simple without specifying when something happened?
-Yes, you can use the past simple without specifying when something happened if it's clear from the context. For example, 'Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa' doesn't specify when, but it's understood because Leonardo da Vinci is known to be deceased.
What is the difference between British and American English in terms of using the present perfect?
-In British English, the present perfect is more commonly used to talk about actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past. In American English, it's more common to use the past simple in such cases.
What is the significance of the number '7' in the script?
-The number '7' signifies the time limit the speaker has set to explain the differences between the past simple and the present perfect, as well as the common mistakes to avoid.
Where can one find more detailed explanations and exercises on these topics?
-For more detailed explanations and exercises, one can refer to the speaker's YouTube channel or their website, as mentioned in the script.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding English Tenses

This paragraph explains the difference between the past simple and present perfect tenses in English. It starts with the past simple, which is used to specify a completed action in the past. Examples include actions that happened yesterday, last week, or two months ago. It can also be used to describe a finished period in the past, like 'When I was young' or 'When I was at school'. The speaker emphasizes that if the time is specified, past simple should be used. The present perfect is then introduced with four key rules: 1) It's used when the time of an action is not specified or not important, 2) It's used with 'for' or 'since' to indicate the duration from a point in the past, 3) It's used for unfinished actions over a period of time that is not yet completed, and 4) It's used to indicate that an action has been completed or not yet completed. The speaker also clarifies that while present perfect continuous can be used in some cases, it's not always necessary and advises not to overcomplicate things.

05:01

🗣️ Common Mistakes in English Tenses

The second paragraph focuses on common mistakes to avoid when using English tenses. It corrects the misconception that 'to be' can be used with the past participle in the same way as in Italian, emphasizing that in English, 'have' must be used (e.g., 'They have just arrived'). It also addresses the misconception that present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, which is not always the case (e.g., 'I have been to Australia'). The paragraph clarifies that the past simple can be used without specifying when, especially when the context makes it clear (e.g., 'Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa'). The speaker wraps up by encouraging viewers to learn more through detailed explanations on YouTube or their website, where exercises are available.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is a verb tense used to describe actions that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue to the present. In the video, it is emphasized that the Present Perfect is not used when the time of the action is specified, such as 'yesterday' or 'last week.' Instead, it is used when the time of the action is not important, as in 'I have seen that film' where the speaker does not remember or specify when they saw the film.

💡Past Simple

The Past Simple is used to describe completed actions or events in the past. It is defined by the script as the tense to use when specifying a time in the past, such as 'yesterday,' 'last week,' or 'when I was young.' The script clarifies that when a specific time frame is given, the Past Simple is the correct tense to use, as in 'What did you do yesterday?'

💡Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Continuous is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing. The video script explains that this tense is appropriate when the action continues up to the present, such as 'I have been studying English since 2021.' It contrasts with the Present Perfect, which is used for actions completed in the past without an emphasis on their continuation.

💡Time Expressions

Time expressions are phrases that indicate when an action took place. The script uses time expressions like 'yesterday,' 'last week,' 'two months ago' to illustrate when to use the Past Simple. It also mentions 'for three years' and 'since 2021' to show when the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous is appropriate.

💡Unfinished Time

Unfinished Time refers to periods that have not yet ended, such as 'this week,' 'this month,' or 'this year.' The video explains that the Present Perfect is used for actions that occur during an unfinished time period, as these periods are not complete and thus the action might continue into the future.

💡Just

The adverb 'just' is used to indicate that something has happened very recently. The script mentions 'I have just seen it' as an example of using the Present Perfect with 'just' to show that the action of seeing something occurred recently and possibly impacts the present.

💡Never

The word 'never' is used to indicate that something has not happened at any time in the past or the present. The script uses 'I have never seen it' to illustrate the Present Perfect with 'never,' which is used to show the absence of an action up to the present moment.

💡Yet

The word 'yet' is used in the negative form of the Present Perfect to indicate that something has not happened but is expected or possible. The script includes 'I haven't seen it yet' to show that the speaker is still waiting for an action to occur, which might happen in the future.

💡Avoiding Errors

Avoiding Errors refers to common mistakes that people make when using the tenses. The video script points out errors such as using 'just' with the Past Simple instead of the Present Perfect, or misunderstanding when to use the Present Perfect versus the Past Simple.

💡Context

Context is the situation or set of circumstances in which a word is used. The script emphasizes the importance of context in determining the correct tense to use. For example, whether an action is seen as complete or ongoing can depend on the context, as shown in the difference between 'I have been to Australia' and 'I went to Australia.'

Highlights

The difference between present perfect, past simple, and common mistakes to avoid.

Use past simple to specify when an action happened in the past.

Past simple is used with time expressions like 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'two months ago'.

Use past simple when the time period is already specified, such as 'When I was young' or 'When I was at school'.

Past simple is used when the context makes it clear that you are talking about a specific point in the past.

Present perfect is used when you cannot or do not need to specify when the action happened.

Present perfect is used when the action's timing is not important, such as 'I have seen that film'.

Present perfect is used to indicate that an action has been completed at some point in the past.

Present perfect is used with 'for' or 'since' to indicate the duration of an action from a point in the past.

In English, 'for' or 'since' requires present perfect, unlike Italian which uses present simple.

Present perfect continuous can be used for ongoing actions that started in the past and continue to the present.

Use present perfect continuous for actions that are still happening, such as 'I have been studying English since 2021'.

Present perfect is used for actions that occurred in a period of time that is not yet finished.

Use present perfect for actions that happened this week, month, or year, as these periods are not yet complete.

Present perfect is used to indicate that an action has been done recently or for the first time.

Present perfect is often used with 'just', 'never', or 'yet' to indicate recent actions or lack of actions.

Avoid using 'are' with the past participle in English; use 'have' instead, like 'They have just arrived'.

Do not use present perfect just because an action started in the past and continues; it must be relevant to the present.

Past simple can be used without specifying when, like 'Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa'.

The context can make it clear that an action happened in the past, allowing the use of past simple.

The lesson is summarized in seven minutes, providing a quick overview of the differences and mistakes.

For more detailed explanations and exercises, the speaker refers to their YouTube channel and website.