Past Simple vs. Present Perfect Tense: Usage and Examples

Past Simple or Present Perfect Tense

Start: started Changed: have changed Not have: didn't have Be: were or was Become: have become

• Direct Speech Reported Speech

Dr. Lopez: That's right. Dr. Lopez said that was right.

He asked, “Are you busy tonight?”: He asked me if I was busy that night.

He said I'm making dinner: He told me that he was making dinner.

I'll see you later: She said that she would see me later.

I had taken English lessons before: She said that she had taken English lessons before.

I haven't seen Julie: She said that she hadn't seen Julie.

I was walking along the street: She said that she had been walking along the street.

• Second Conditional

She doesn’t speak English, so she doesn’t understand you: If she didn't speak English, she would understand you.

He can’t drive, so he won’t buy a car: If he couldn’t drive, he would buy a car.

He isn’t rich, so he won't buy a beach house: If he wasn’t rich, he wouldn’t buy a beach.

Vocabulario:

ACHIEVE: LOGRO

ACQUIRED: ADQUIRIDO

APPARENTLY: APARENTEMENTE

APPROACH: ENFOQUE

BEHAVIOR: COMPORTAMIENTO

COGNITION: COGNICIÓN

CONTROVERSY: CONTROVERSIA

OBVIOUS: OBVIO

PERCEPTION: PERCEPCIÓN

UNCONSCIOUS: INCONSCIENTE

SAVANT: SABIO

DISABLE: DISCAPACITADO

RETAIN: CONSERVAR

PREDICTABLE: PREDECIBLE

ANXIOUS: ANSIOSO

SUM: SUMA

RETAIN: CONSERVAR