Present perfect and the past simple
The present perfect and the past simple
We use the present perfect
- to talk about a state or situation which started in the past and continues up to now: I’ve known Lucy for years (and still know her now).
- when talking about an action or event which affects the present: She’s forgotten her train ticket (so she can’t board the train now).
- For repeated events in a period of time over the past until now: He’s been very generous to us over the years.
We use the past simple
- to talk about something which was the situation in the past, but is finished now: We knew each other at university, but then lost touch.
- when talking about an action or event which occurred at some time in the past: We both forgot to leave a contact number while we were away.
- for repeated events during some period in the past: We enjoyed travelling and going sightseeing in Syria.
After reading the passage below, choose the questions which would be the correct ones to ask of this person. All of the questions require you to choose between the present perfect and the past simple.
Tasmiya Naseer is a very successful businesswoman who at the age of only 23 decided to set up her own fashion business. She had already graduated in 2002 in geography and economics from the London School of Economics, but had always been not only a great fan of fashion, but had also designed her own clothes.
Following her degree she applied for a job at a large department store in London where she worked for a year before leaving to start up her own company in Bradford, where she had friends. Some of these lent her money, and even helped cutting out garments in the early weeks! Within 2 years she had paid them all back and was planning a move into large-scale production with a friend from university days. These days she has a staff of over 70, and is even thinking of opening a branch of her business in Germany.
Ms Naseer surprised everyone by getting engaged in 2005, but then broke it off in the following year. She says she is so committed to her business she has to accept that someone uninterested in it might be bored stiff at her shoptalk, but that someone ‘in the field’ might not be able to switch off outside work hours!
In the near future Ms Naseer plans to take her driving test, something she says she intended to do while still at school, but just never got round to! Unfortunately, when asked if she had brought any samples of some of her latest designs she answered that she hadn’t!
1. [Multiple choice]
At what age ……………… to set up your own fashion business?
Answers for Quiz [1].
- 1. did you decide (correct)
- 2. have you decided
2. [Multiple choice]
Which university ………………… at?
Answers for Quiz [2].
- 1. did you study (correct)
- 2. have you studied
3. [Multiple choice]
……………… it a disadvantage up to now not having a qualification in business management?
Answers for Quiz [3].
- 1. Did you find
- 2. Have you found (correct)
4. [Multiple choice]
How long ………………… a follower of fashion?
(‘were you’ would imply that Ms Naseer is no longer someone who follows fashion – that she stopped doing so at some point in the past. There is no indication this is the case, so we assume that up to the present she still does so.)
Answers for Quiz [4].
- 1. were you
- 2. have you been (correct)
5. [Multiple choice]
………………… any banks to borrow money before you asked your friends to back you?
Answers for Quiz [5].
- 1. Did you approach (correct)
- 2. Have you approached
6. [Multiple choice]
………………… it a problem lending you money for your business?
(‘Did your friends consider’ makes it plain they lent Ms Naseer money in the past, but no longer do so. ‘Have your friends considered…’ would be a question about whether, over the years up until the present-day, it has become a problem or created difficulties between Tasimiya and her friends.)
Answers for Quiz [6].
- 1. Did your friends consider (correct)
- 2. Have your friends considered
7. [Multiple choice]
………………… with your social life in any way?
Answers for Quiz [7].
- 1. Has your business life interfered (correct)
- 2. Did your business life interfer
8. [Multiple choice]
………………… a branch in Germany yet?
Answers for Quiz [8].
- 1. Did you open
- 2. Have you opened (correct)
9. [Multiple choice]
When …………………?
Answers for Quiz [9].
- 1. did you get engaged (correct)
- 2. have you got engaged
10. [Multiple choice]
Why ………………… the engagement?
(‘did you break off’ makes it clear this event was years ago, well in the past. ‘Have you broken off ….’ would refer to an event which has only just happened very recently.)
Answers for Quiz [10].
- 1. did you break off (correct)
- 2. have you broken off
11. [Multiple choice]
………………… taking your driving test yet?
(get round to doing sth – phrasal verb UK – to do something that you have intended to do for a long time. ‘It’s time I got round to joining a gym.’ ‘She hasn’t got round to visiting me yet, but she’s planning to do so tomorrow.’
)
Answers for Quiz [11].
- 1. Did you get round to
- 2. Have you got round to (correct)
12. [Multiple choice]
………………… any samples of your designs with you?
Answers for Quiz [12].
- 1. Did you bring
- 2. Have you brought (correct)