English Grammar - The Past Simple & Present Perfect

We use the present perfect for present time periods eg: today, this morning, this afternoon, this evening, tonight, this week, this month, etc. and with words such as since, ever, never, etc. (time periods we ARE in)

We use the past simple for past time periods eg: yesterday, this morning [when referred to from the afternoon], last night, yesterday evening, last week, last month, etc. and with words such as ago, etc. (time periods we WERE in)

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• english
• grammar
• past
• simple
• present
• perfect

[CBJAMPA]

...and a beach day is expected to end along with daytime light. So I guess using the PPt also involves a lot of cultural "relativity" and mental frame of mind at the time of its use.

Now, there's a fantastic English class series, mostly on phonetics, here on Youtube, whose teacher (American) constantly uses sentences such as: " Tthis has been extremely useful to me WHEN I'VE STUDIED foreign languages" or " ...WHEN I'VE TRAVELED abroad". Anybody care to comment? It sounds pretty strange to me.

[adifferentbrand]

@CBJAMPA To say "when I studied foreign languages" or "when I travelled abroad" suggests that one no longer studies or travels abroad. Depending on circumstances, of course, this may or may not be logical. Suffice it to say that the teacher you describe is making a statement now and referring to a past event. Consider: "This has really helped me out when I've been in your situation" (in the non-specific past)?

[CBJAMPA]

@adifferentbrand Thanks for your prompt response. Yes, if you put it this way, it does make a lot of sense. I myself may have heard it or even used it so and it sounded just fine. But the PPt seems rather more "elastic" or forgiving with the verb To Be than it is with any other verb; I feel I would prefer to say "this has been extremely helpful whenever I travel abroad or study foreign languages" or simply "This is extremely helpful when I travel/study..." Wouldn't you agree?

[adifferentbrand]

@CBJAMPA Yes, it's pretty elastic. I would probably use the first, as I've travelled abroad and studied foreign languages. The trouble with English is that you need to use a tense to explain it.

[CBJAMPA]

...than is "dreamt of in our philosophy" about this wretched tense. Take the following clauses which will but contradict everything I've said so far: (It's now 6:00 pm) " I've been to Copacabana beach many times in my life, but it never felt as nice as it did today". Technically it would be wrong to use the Simple Past as in "...as it did today", because the time frame is still "open", but then again, beach going is an activity which is universally perceived as a daytime one (continues...)

[adifferentbrand]

@CBJAMPA If I thought 6:00pm was still the daytime, I would say: "I've been to Copacabana beach many times in my life, but it's never felt quite as nice as (*it has done) today." (*optional). If I considered 6:00pm the evening, I could say it as you said it, although I think I would probably say: "I don't remember it feeling quite as nice as it did/was today." If I was speaking while beach-going (the activity described) I would probably say "I don't remember it feeling quite as nice as this.".

[CBJAMPA]

Thanks for your helpful input, adifferentbrand.

Greetings from Brazil!

[adifferentbrand]

@CBJAMPA Exactly. The key thing to remember is the time periods involved. The time of action and the time of reporting. The relationship between the two determines the correct answer. What tends to cause confusion is the fact that some people call 6:00pm the afternoon, and others call it the evening.

[CBJAMPA]

In sentence No.1 I chose to report a past action which occurred in a finished "closed" time frame. The morning is over and done with. Now, in sentence No.2, I chose to report a past action which occurred in a time frame that is not yet finished, it's still "open" and will only end at midnight.

Your explanation, adifferentbrand, did help. It does make sense and is helpful in the understanding of one of the many uses of the Present Perfect tense. But there's a lot more to it than (continues...)

[CBJAMPA]

I assume that towards the end of a day, I can report past actions and events according to the time frame I am in at the time of report in relation to the time frame I choose to report these actions or events in. For instance, it's now 6:00 pm; I could probably (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm no expert) use either of the following: 1) I went to the beach in the morning or 2) I've been to the beach today. Continues on the next comment...