Present Perfect vs. Past Simple - Two SIMPLE rules!

present perfect versus past simple what's the difference when do we use each of these verb tenses today I'm going to explain two Simple Rules so that it will become clear to you and not only will I give you example sentences but I'll also ask you to make your own are you ready for more review and practice make sure to download the free pdf guide to this lesson because it includes a quiz on when to use the present perfect or the simple past the link is right under this video just click on it and enter your email address to get that free download rule number one use the present perfect to talk about an action that started in the past and continues to the present and use the past simple to talk about an action that started and finished in the past so we use the present perfect for unfinished time for example I've lived in Brazil for 3 years and I still live in Brazil now and and we use the past simple for finished time I lived in Brazil for 3 years and I don't live in Brazil now try it right now answer the question how long have you lived in your current home or city using the present perfect in my case I've lived in this house since 2017 now talk about a place you lived in the past but you don't live there anymore using the simple past in my case I lived in the city of Salvador in Brazil for about seven years it was from 2009 to 2016 when we're talking about actions that started in the past and continued to the present we can actually use the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous so I can say I've taught English for 13 years or I've been teaching English for 13 years they're both correct and the have the same meaning how about you how long have you been studying English pause this video and leave a comment answering the question using the present perfect continuous so that was rule number one present perfect for unfinished time and past simple for finished time and there are more example sentences inside that downloadable PDF lesson guide rule number two is we use the present perfect to talk about unspecified time in the past and the past simple to talk about specific times in the past compare these sentences I've seen that movie I've seen it sometime in the past but I don't say when so I use the present perfect I saw that movie last week now I say specifically when I saw it so I use the past simple and when we're talking about single events at an unspecified time in the past then we only use present perfect simple not the present perfect continuous form another example she has changed jobs several times during her career those are single events but I don't say when it's unspecified she changed jobs in 2006 2012 and 2021 now I'm saying the specific times when she changed jobs so I use the simple past now it's your turn first use the present perfect to talk about something you've done sometime in your life but don't say when in my case I've taken figure skating lessons now use the simple past to say specifically when you did it in my case I took figure skating lessons when I was in high school like 20 years ago again there are a lot more example sentences inside the lesson PDF as well as a quiz so make sure you download that to review our two rules present perfect for unfinished time and unspecified time in the past and past simple for finished time and specific time in the past I hope I've made it Crystal Clear when to use present perfect versus simple past and thanks for putting it into practice by making your own example sentences that's the type of thing I do throughout the lessons in my Advanced English grammar course I'm always helping you put it into practice and use the grammar yourself that's what will really help but stick in your mind and become a natural part of your English you can join my Advanced English grammar course at my website espresso english. [Music] net