Speaker A
Friends, hi. Hi. Welcome to the channel English by Posts. We continue our course English in 20 lessons. Have you noticed how your knowledge is getting deeper? After all, each lesson brings you closer to confident English.
Learn the difference between past simple and present perfect tenses in English with clear examples and practical tips for beginners.
Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.
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Key Takeaways
- Past simple is used with specific past time indicators and for completed actions in the past.
- Present perfect is used for actions connected to the present or without specific past time references.
- Time expressions like 'yesterday', 'last year', and 'ago' signal past simple usage.
- Words like 'already', 'just', 'never', and 'many times' often indicate present perfect tense.
- Understanding the difference between these tenses is crucial for confident English communication.
What the video covers
- Introduction to the course 'English in 20 lessons' focusing on grammar improvement.
- Explanation of past simple tense with time indicators like yesterday, last week, ago, and specific past times.
- Usage of past simple for narrating past events and sequences of actions.
- Introduction to present perfect tense with time indicators such as many times, already, just, and never.
- Emphasis on present perfect to show connection with the present or to highlight results.
- Comparison of past simple and present perfect using examples like 'I was in England in 2019' vs 'I've been to England'.
- Practical examples for both tenses including common verbs and phrases.
- Encouragement to practice regularly and use the app for vocabulary building.
- Clarification of when to use each tense based on context and time references.
- Motivational closing remarks to continue learning and practicing English.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and Course Overview
- 01:35Past Simple with Time Indicators
- 02:51Past Simple Verb Forms and Examples
- 04:20Using Past Simple in Narratives
- 05:43Present Perfect with Time Indicators
- 07:04Comparing Past Simple and Present Perfect
- 08:18Present Perfect to Emphasize Results
- 09:33Contextual Usage of Present Perfect
- 11:08Summary and Encouragement to Practice
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Let's start. Let's get started. Let's talk about the difference between past simple and present perfect. Yes, we will talk about the difference between past simple and present perfect. So, look, when we talk about past simple, it is very important to look at time indicators. There are
Speaker A
such time indicators that are used specifically with the past simple tense. This is the simple past tense, such as yesterday, probably yesterday, different phrases with last and ago, and also some others. For example, we need to say: "I did it yesterday."
Speaker A
Here is the time indicator for past simple. You cannot use present perfect with yesterday. We just say, I did it yesterday. I did it yesterday. Let's say, I finished work 2 hours ago. Again, the phrase ago indicates past simple. You cannot use present perfect. And
Speaker A
we say literally: "I finished my work 2 hours ago." I finished my work two hours ago.
Speaker A
I was in London last year. So, the phrase last year also indicates past simple with last, yes, you cannot use present perfect here, we just say: I was in London last year. I was in London last year. I watched this movie last week.
Speaker A
How do we say it? I watched this movie last week. I watched this movie last week. We met in 2020. Yes, also if a year is in the past, we use past simple. We met in 2020. We met in 2020.
Speaker A
She called me in the morning. If the morning is already over, it is considered past time, and we use past simple. She called me in the morning. She called me in the morning. I bought my car last month. There is the phrase last, last month, last month. And we say: I bought my car last month. I bought my car last month.
Speaker A
He left 5 minutes ago. Minutes ago. So, we use past simple. To leave is live forms live, left, left. Live, left, left. We need the second form here for past simple. Here the second and third forms coincide. Leave, left, left. He left minutes ago. He left minutes ago.
Speaker A
We also use past simple when telling a story in the past, when we narrate something, a sequence or chain of actions. For example, we want to say: "I went shopping yesterday" or "I went shopping yesterday." Yes. Yesterday is usually placed at the end. And it becomes I went shopping yesterday. I went shopping yesterday. Then we say what happened. I bought new jeans. I bought new jeans.
Speaker A
Friends, great. Great. Don't forget that it is important to move forward every day with small steps and practice regularly. For this, we have developed a convenient dictionary in our app for you, so you can increase your vocabulary in a game format right on your smartphone. If you don't have our app yet, install it via the link in the description. And let's continue. Let's continue.
Speaker A
They cost about 50 dollars. We say, from about it becomes they cost about. They cost about $50. And we say further: "I really liked them." Literally, I really liked them. I really liked them. I really like them. So, yes, look, it becomes like this. I went shopping yesterday. I bought new jeans. They cost about 50. I really like them.
Speaker A
Also, I want to say that if we just say a simple sentence in the past tense, very often past simple is used. For example, we want to say, I understood it. Using understand, it becomes I understood it. I understood it. Or more formally, I got it. I got it. Right. Correct. Oh. Underst it or I got it. I got your message. I got a message. I got a message. I visited my parents. I visited my parents. I visited my parents.
Speaker A
When do we use present? Yes, a very important case is when there are specific time indicators pointing to this time. For example, we want to say: "I have been to London many times."
Speaker A
See, when it is a number of times, usually present perfect is used. Phrases like many times, many times, and we say I've been to London many times. I've been to London many times.
Speaker A
But remember also the case here, even without many times, if we just say I have been to London, remember the cases when we have been to some city or country, even a part of it, present perfect is used. Many times just emphasizes this case. I have been to London many times. She has already called me. There is the word already, which also indicates present perfect.
Speaker A
She has already called me. She has already called me. I have already done it. I've already done it. We've never met before. Here never takes the negation. So, we say we've never met before. We've never met before.
Speaker A
We also use present perfect when we want to emphasize the result. Yes, when the emphasis is on the result, for example: "I have bought a new car, check it out." Check it out. This can be translated as "check it out" or "check it out." Check it out. Bought a new car. Check it out.
Speaker A
I have just finished my work, so I can help you. So, just indicates present perfect. And we say: I have just finished my work. So I can help you. I just finished my work. So I can help you. Also, context is important. Often, when there is an introductory phrase in the present, if the past action is connected with the present, we use present perfect, that is, when there is a connection with the present. When there is a connection with the present, let's say, you are late. He has just left. You are late. You late. He has just left. And here present perfect is used for two reasons. The first reason is because there is a connection with the present, and there is an introductory phrase. The second reason is the word just, which indicates present perfect.
Speaker A
So, we say: "He has just left." He has just left. You are late. He has just left. Now let's look at a more difficult situation when it is necessary to use different tenses. It will be even clearer. Let's say. Let's say, I was in England in 2019. When it is a year in the past, here it is past simple. I was in England in 2019. Yes, when it is a fact in the past, it is simple. I was in England in 2019. And now let's just say: I have been to England.
Speaker A
Remember our situation. If there is no specific time indication, present perfect is usually used. And we just say: I've been to England. I've been to England. Here it is used exactly here. I've been to England. See, two different situations, two different cases. I was in England in 2019 and I've been to England. Another situation. Another situation. Let's say, I finished work at 6:00.
Speaker A
Yes, when an action happened at a specific hour, it is past simple, a fact in the past. It becomes: I finished work at 6. I finished work at 6. Let's say it differently. I have finished work, so I am free now. Here we see a connection with the present. It is not just a separate past, but now I am free because I finished work. And here we can safely use present perfect. I've finished work, so I am free now. I've finished work, so I am free now. Look, I finished work at 6. Finished work. So free now.
Speaker A
The next situation. I watched this movie last week. See, the phrase automatically indicates past simple. I watched this movie last week. I watched this movie last week. I have seen this movie, so I don't want to watch it again. Again, not just past tense, but here there is a phrase in the present tense. Here is
Speaker A
Вот никогда нева, если не просто когда-то отдалённая прошедшая, а верно по настоящее время, то есть настоящее время не встречались, а получается мы используем здесь present perfect. И never уже берёт на себя отрицание. Получается, we've never met before. Weve never met before.
Speaker A
Также мы используем время Present Perfect, когда хотим сделать именно акцент на результат. Да, когда акцент именно на результат, скажем: "Я купил новую машину, зацени её". I've bought a new car. Check it out.
Speaker A
Check it out это. Как вариант можно перевести зацени или зацени её. Check it out. Bought a new car. Check it out.
Speaker A
Я только что закончил свою работу, поэтому я могу помочь тебе. Итак, только что just указывает также на время present. И мы говорим: I have just finished my work. So I can help you. I just finished my work. So I can help
Speaker A
you. Также ещё важен контекст. Часто, когда есть какая-то водная фраза, да, в настоящем, то здесь, если прошеремение связано с настоящим, то мы используем present perfect, то есть когда when there is a connection with the present, то есть когда есть связь с настоящим. When there is a connection with the present, let's
Speaker A
say, скажем, ты опоздал. Он только что ушёл. Ты опоздал, будет you are late. You late. Он только что ушёл. И здесь present perfect по двум причинам. Первая причина, потому что есть я с настоящим, а, есть вводная фраза. А вторая причина есть слово just, только что указывает на present perfect.
Speaker A
Получается, мы говорим: "He is just left. He is just left. You are late." He is just left. Теперь давайте посмотрим как раз хужей ситуации, но когда необходимо использовать разные времена. Так будет ещё понятнее. Let's say. Скажем, я был в Англии в 2019
Speaker A
году, когда в каком-то году, в прошлом здесь потся simple. I was in England in 2019. Да, когда факт в прошлом это simple. I was in England in 2019. А теперь скажем просто: я был в Англии.
Speaker A
Вспоминаем нашу ситуацию. Если нет указания конкретного времени, то здесь обычно используется именно present perfect. И мы просто скажем: I've been to England. I've been to England. Ин используется именно ту здесь. I've been to England. Видите, две разные ситуации, два разных случая. I was in England in
Speaker A
2019 and I've been to England. Another situation. Другая ситуация. Скажем, я закончил работу в 6:00.
Speaker A
Да, когда какое-то действие произошло в какое-то количество часов, то есть указываем конкретный час, это по simple, что это факт в прошлом. Получается, I finished work at 6. I finished work at 6.
Speaker A
Скажем по-другому. Я закончил работу, поэтому я свободен сейчас. Здесь мы видим связь с настоящим. Это не просто отделённое прошедшее, а вот сейчас я свободен как раз, что закончил работу. И мы здесь смело можем использовать present. I've finished work, so I free now. I've
Speaker A
finished work, so I free now. Look, I finished work at 6. finished work. So free now.
Speaker A
The next situation. Я смотрел этот фильм на прошлой неделе. Видите, фраза с автоматически по simple. I watched this movie last week. I watched this movie last week. Я видел этот фильм, поэтому я не хочу смотреть его снова. Опять же, не просто прошедшее время, а
Speaker A
здесь есть фраза как раз в настоящем времени. Здесь есть связь с настоящем. Используем present. C видеть формы, so seen so seen. I've seen this movie. So I don't want to watch it again. I seen this movie. So, I
Speaker A
don't want to watch it again. Теперь давайте посмотрим на разные вопросы в разных временах. Итак, вопрос.
Speaker A
The first question is. Первый вопрос - это ты сделал это вчера. Так, слово вчера. Yesterday автоматически говорит уже о Past simple. С yerday никакой же present perfect употреблять невозможно. И спрашиваем: "Did you do it yesterday?" Did you do it yesterday? А вот как мы спросим: "Ты уже сделал
Speaker A
это?" Уже указывает именно на present perfect. Скажем, используя already. Получается, have you already done it? Have you already done it? Look. Did you do it yesterday?
Speaker A
Have you already done it? Next. Далее. Ты ездил в Париж в прошлом году. Фраза с, значит, уже по simple. Did you go to Paris last year? Did you go to Paris last year? And Camp. И сравните компе. Да, компе - это сравнивать and camp. Ты когда-нибудь был в Париже?
Speaker A
Когда-нибудь или когда-либо? Это слово ever. Ever. Ever указывает именно на present perfect. Have you ever been to Paris?
Speaker A
Have you ever been to Paris? Compe. Сравните. Compare. Did you go to Paris last year? Have you ever been to Paris?
Speaker A
Let's have a look at some situations. Посмотрим на некоторые ситуации. Let's have look at some situations. Вопрос: ты был в этом ресторане? Если просто ты был в каком-то месте, нет указания, то есть именно когда, там, вчера, 2 дня назад и так далее. Present
Speaker A
perfect. Have you been to this restaurant? Have you been to this restaurant? И ответ: да, я был там на прошлой неделе. Фраза с last, last week. Значит, используем здесь уже по simple. Yes, I was there last week. Yes, I was there
Speaker A
last week. Have you been to this restaurant? Yes, I was there last week. Next вопрос. Почему ты не хочешь смотреть этот фильм? Why don't you want to watch this movie? Why don't you want to watch this movie?
Speaker A
И ответ: я уже видел его. Так, уже already указывает на время present. Видите, это си формы, so sin. Нам нужны именно третья формы, то есть sin. И говорим: I've already seen it. I've already seen it. Why don't you want to watch this movie?
Speaker A
Друзья, мы прошли с вами ещё один урок и перешли ещё на одну ступень ближе к нашей цели. Вы большие молодцы и настоящие трудолюбцы. Это было действительно здорово. That was really great. Не останавливайтесь на достигнутом и идите только вперёд. Отрабатывайте весь пройденный материал в
Speaker A
приложении и также слушайте плейлист фоном. Скоро увидимся. Бабай.
Topics:English grammarpast simplepresent perfectEnglish tensesEnglish for beginnersEnglish lessonEnglish courselearn EnglishEnglish vocabularyEnglish practice
