Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to reduce the size of; to make smaller; to cut the number of employees
ferry
impress
downsize
destroy
TOEIC practice test: Interactive word games: Free Online Verb Game Answer
Dictionaries   TOEIC   TOEFL   GMAT   SAT   GRE   MCAT   PCAT   ASVAB   Interviews
Tests   Grammar   Articles   Stories   Shop   Services   English for winners   Speaking
Home   Top 100   Start your FREE email English course now!   Audio Lessons   Jobs
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Past simple vs. Present perfect



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Negative: I haven't any interesting news for you | Shakespeare: use 'NOT' after main verb to make negative form
Listening exercises
Message
 Author
Past simple vs. Present perfect #1 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:50 am   Past simple vs. Present perfect		  
Hi teachers,

Tom went to America for a while but he's back again now.

Tom has been to America for a while but he's back again now.

Which one is correct/better? And why?

Thanks in advance

Jupiter
Jupiter
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 207
Location: Cambodia
Past simple vs. Present perfect #2 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:22 am   Past simple vs. Present perfect		  
The second sentence is the correct one, Jupiter. Here, 'has been' is the present perfect of the verb 'to go'. You need this tense because Tom is back now.

You would normally say 'Tom went to America' if he hadn't come back yet, if he was still there.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!How many different ways with words do you know? Subscribe to free email English courseLearn all about English adverbs in this amusing story
Has been/went #3 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:42 am   Has been/went		  
Hi Conchita,

I can't quite follow this and I have a different view on it.

The first sentence is all right:

Quote:
Tom went to America for a while but he's back again now.
This in fact means he went there and stayed there - a complete action over a period of time (for a while)

The second sentence doesn't quite add up:
Quote:
Tom has been to America for a while but he's back again now.


The idea of has been to suggests at some time he went to/flew to America but this can't really be followed by for a while because you can't in fact go to/fly to a place over a period of time. To make sense this would have to read:

Tom has been in America because this indicates he went there and stayed there and in that case you can use for a while to indicate the period of time.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Progressive Forms
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 9191
Location: UK
Past simple vs. Present perfect #4 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:58 am   Past simple vs. Present perfect		  
It’s a lucky thing you were here to put things right, Alan. I should have known that a question that’s not been answered straight away can sometimes be a tricky one. At least for me it can!
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain
Display posts from previous:   
Negative: I haven't any interesting news for you | Shakespeare: use 'NOT' after main verb to make negative form
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Past simple vs. Present perfect All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums

Start FREE email English course now!
Join more than 100,000 learners!
Susan vs. Suzanne • Difference between crash and crush • Use of comparatives • How can I help you? vs. What can I do for you? • While we waited vs. While we were waiting • Phrase "mind you" • Meaning of "step in" • Phrasal verb "back off" • Meaning of "take my breath away" • Difference between imply and infer • Sounds of the World's Animals • Slang! (He smokes while playing the piano...) • 'If they were me': many-to-one map? :) • 'Too' – word order (e.g. I too am interested…) • "Dear Roland!" vs. "dear Roland, " • Vocabulary (difference in meaning) • Use of the word since • Trim of sails? • Past simple vs. Present perfect

Discover English-test.net
Meaning of "get savaged" • Meaning of "it isn't all it's cracked up to be" • get up squad! move, move, move! • "quite a..." or "a quite..." • PCAT test: Vocabulary Words: English Nouns Preffixs Abbreviations Verbs • PCAT test: Word games: Free Online Noun Verb Game • Define titanium, ketoconazole, testicle, toughness, micro-, CO, maxilla • Pimsleur English • English business cards: Chit Chat: At the garage • Einstein's Revolution audiobook download

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Provided by phpBB ©2001-2009 phpBB Group
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail