Past simple Present perfect simple

[Alan]

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Hi,

Is it past simple or present perfect simple?

I have noticed recently that there have been a lot of questions on the forum about which of these two tenses to use. I tried on several occasions to give examples of when you use one and not the other. But the same questions came up again and again. In view of that I thought it would be a good idea to write a short piece where I have used both tenses in the hope it would help a little. I expect you have noticed that I have already used both forms so far. If you didn’t notice, I suggest you read it again. Here goes:

I have travelled to mainland Europe by car many times over the last fifteen years. I prefer to go by car because then you see much more of the countryside. I clearly remember the very first time I took my car to France. The motorways are brilliant there. As a UK driver I have a right-hand drive car and that’s the first difficulty I experienced on that occasion because in Europe people drive on the right and sit in left-hand drive cars.

The problem is when you stop at a restaurant for example and then return relaxed to your car, you forget that you have to go back to the road and drive on the right. On this trip I went into a delightful restaurant, had a wonderful meal and didn’t drink any alcohol of course, got back into the car and foolishly started driving on the left. You see I was so contented that I completely forgot where I was. Fortunately there was little traffic on the road except one car. The driver sounded his horn, waved his arms around and made a sign at me, which I am sure wasn’t at all friendly! So far I have had only one serious accident while driving in France. I was trying to join a motorway and signalled my intention to turn left. I waited and waited but nobody let me in. Then a large lorry about the size of a block of flats seemed to slow down. I then drove to the left in front of the lorry. There was a large bang and I realised that the driver (sitting on the left) didn’t see me. We collided and for a moment my car was joined to the side of the lorry. I have had one or two bad experiences in driving but I think that this was the worst. The driver jumped out of his cabin and started shouting at my wife who was sitting on the left as he imagined she was the driver. I have often wondered since then how bad the accident could have been but luckily no one was injured and my car survived sufficiently well so that I could get back to the UK. Have you ever had a bad car accident? Of course over the years I have got used to driving on the right.

The problem is that when I get home after several weeks I am so used to driving on the right, I want to continue driving on the right here in the UK. I have to tell you that I have managed to stop myself ever doing this. Here’s hoping you have seen the different tenses at work and also that you saw why I used one and not the other.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Angelrocks]

Hello mam/sir

Can you please explain me the difference between 'must' and 'have',with sentences.And please tell me when these two words are used in the sentences.

[Our Tort System]

Hello Alan,

This is a very interesting piece and it perfectly captures the distinction between the tenses in question.
I've learned something from it.
_________________
If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Rickyrocky]

I have a question:

Assume that I'm writing a resume. In the letter, I wanted to tell the employer that I have learned certain skill during my college days, which was 2 years ago.

Should I write:

I have learned this skill during my college days.
or
I learned this skill during my college days.

Which should we use in this kind of situation?

Thanks.

[Alan]

Hi,

As you have mentioned when you did the learning, you need to say: I learned this skill during my college days.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Rickyrocky]

Thanks.

[E2e4]

[Kati Svaby]

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Hello,

Two examples:present perfect/present simple

-What are those people staring at?
-There has been an accident.
-What happened exactly?
-A truck collided head-on with a car.

-Do you also live in the town.
-Yes.
-Have you been here long?
-I have lived here for about two month.

Kati Svaby
_________________
We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.

[Alan]

Hi E2,

Both 'have noticed' and 'have been' refer to what has happened recently. Incidentally, if you did use the past simple in your version, it would have to be 'were'.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[E2e4]

I considered "a lot of questions" as a bunch of the same type. (wink)

Regards
e2e4

[Kati Svaby]

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Hello Alan,

I wrote my brief letter after midnight. I wanted to answer your question:

-Have you ever had a bad car accident?
-Yes, I have.

But it was to late to write it down, chiefly I didn't know how I can thread the present perfect in it. Now I 've read your story again. I found out in this story you are playing with the times when you are in the present you can use the present perfect, the present simple etc, but when you begin to tell how happened your car accident you are obliged to use different past tenses. I don't know my notice is good or not. But I try to write my car accident. I know that my car accident isn't interesting only how can play with the tenses.
Regards:
Kati Svaby
_________________
We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.

[Rickyrocky]

Question:
Have you eaten yet?
A:Yes, I have eaten twice today.
or
B: I ate twice.
or
C:I ate at McDonald's

Is B wrong?

Thanks.

[Kati Svaby]

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Excuse me there is something wrong with my microphone. I tried to set it four times but unsuccessfully.
_________________
We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.

[E2e4]

[Kati Svaby]

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Hello Alan,

I tried to use present perfect but it was very difficult to place it in this story. My request would be if you can give me some instructions where should have express myself with present perfect. I know in theory the rules but when I have to use it in practice I don't know.
For example I didn't use reported speech so that I can steal into the text some present perfect.

My car accident

We have driven many times because my husband doesn't like the public transport. It's true that his lungs are affected. He hasn't made a serious accident till now only little ones.

When my car accident happened I had sat in one of my friend's car and my husband came after us with his friend and he always says :' We 've looked on your accident as if we would have seen a horror film.' What happened?

We went through a village an I was sitting in the back seat but than always I was keeping carefully. My friend, Mary was talking with the driver. I saw that a car from the left wanted to turn left also. But I thought he would stop at the middle line. But not.I didn' t want to break off their talking and the next second we heard a large bang. Our driver got frightened and he quickly turned at right the steering wheel and we fell down in a concreted ditch. The ditch was narrow so two wheels of the car was on the bottom and two ones are on oblique wall.

The car didn't stop, it went on till it bumped against a small bridge.When the car stopped there was dead silence. Mary started speaking at first:
-I 've had a right arm but I haven't have it any more. - she couldn't move it because it was pressed between the car and the wall of the ditch.
My husband was there and then.
-Kati are you well?- he asked. Have you had any pain somewhere?
- No I haven't any pain, only I' ve frightened very much.
The doors of the car couldn't be opened so my husband pull out me through the back window very quickly because the petrol was cooling and he was afraid that the car would blow up.
I didn't feel any ache so I didn't want to lie down, only my whole body trembled .At last I let them lay me down in the grass. Meantime the people became to help. I don't know who called the ambulance, who lifted up the car for that Mary's arm could be released.
I never forget and I always say:
What is interesting if there is an accident the people will become helpful.
The ambulance was there in few minutes, they put us in it, and with blowing siren they fetched us in hospital. In the ambulance I began feel suspicious that I could be problem with me because the doctor kept his eyes on me and he didn't watch Mary. Maybe didn't have a a narrow escape?- I thought in myself.

In the hospital the doctors told me after examinations that I lost one of my kidney and my pelvis broke.

The internal bleeding isn't painful. I've resolved a question what was strange to me till now: how is possible that in the war soldiers who got a shout in the stomach they passed away on their face with peace or smiling.

Now I know the internal bleeding begins to cause pain after one hour.

Regards: kati Svaby
_________________
We always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love - first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage.