past simple vs present perfect

What's the difference? Present Perfect and Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple	Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the past and continue to the present: I've known Julie for ten years (and I still know her).	Finished actions: I knew Julie for ten years (but then she moved away and we lost touch).
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience): My brother has been to Mexico three times.	A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead): My great-grandmother went to Mexico three times.
A finished action with a result in the present: I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't get into my house now).	A finished action with no result in the present: I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).
With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today): I've seen John this week.	With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday): I saw John last week.

signal words

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ...	just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

PRACTICE…

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast1.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-preper/tests?test1

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-preper/tests?test3

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_present_perfect.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs5.htm

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/228.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentperfectorpastsimple/menu.php

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-present-perfect-1.html

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect

	Positive	Negative	Question
I / you / we / they	I have spoken.	I have not spoken.	Have I spoken?
he / she / it	He has spoken.	He has not spoken.	Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

FUNCTIONS

•  puts emphasis on the resultExample: She has written five letters.


•  action that is still going onExample: School has not started yet.


•  action that stopped recentlyExample: She has cooked dinner.


•  finished action that has an influence on the presentExample: I have lost my key.


• action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speakingExample: I have never been to Australia

Useful Tip

Time Expressions in the Present Perfect

• Use since with a specific year or a period in the past > since 2002 / since I was a child
• Use for with a number of years > for twenty years
• Use ever and yet in questions and negatives > Have you ever / hasn’t been yet
• Use already and never, just between have/has and the verb > has already finished / have just been
• Use before, since, for, already, many times, so far, yet at the end of a sentence or questions > Have you been there before?

PRACTICE…

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/prperf1.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/present_perfect_statements.htm
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-simple
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-exercises.html
http://www.really-learn-english.com/present-perfect-exercises.html

Movie Task

Hello guys ! Please answer the following questions and bring them tomorrow to discuss in our class.

1. In your opinion, who was the funniest character of the movie, why?

2. What was your favorite part of the movie, why?

3. What do you think about the plot of the movie? What should a person on Danny's situation do?

4. What do  you think about couples that get divorced and do not care about their children?

5. Write a general description about a character from the movie, include personal appearance, clothes style (fashionable, casual etc) and personality.

would rather

WOULD RATHER / WOULD PREFER

How to use would rather, would prefer and prefer correctly.

Would rather vs. would prefer - to express a specific preference
When we speak about a specific preference, would rather and would prefer have the same meaning and are interchangeable.	We went to the theatre yesterday. Today I would rather go to the cinema. We went to the theatre yesterday. Today I would prefer to go to the cinema.
Would rather can be abbreviated to 'd rather. Would prefer can be abbreviated to 'd prefer.	I'd rather go to the cinema today. I'd prefer to go to the cinema today.
Would rather is followed by the bare infinitive. Would prefer is followed by to + infinitive.	I'd rather have water. I'd prefer to have fruit juice.
We use a past tense after would rather when we speak about the actions of other people, even though that action may be in the present or future.	I'd rather you took a taxi (instead of walking) - it's not safe on the streets at night.  The film is quite violent. I'd rather our children didn't watch it.
When making a comparison we say: would rather ... than	It's such nice weather - I'd rather sit in the garden than watch TV.
After would prefer we say: would prefer ... rather than	It's such nice weather - I'd prefer to sit in the garden rather than watch TV.

Prefer vs. would rather - to express a general preference
When we talk about general preferences we can use prefer or would rather. The meaning is the same.	I prefer walking to cycling. I'd rather walk than cycle.
After prefer we use the verb in its ing form. After would rather we use than.	I prefer using a keyboard to writing with a pen.I'd rather use a keyboard than write with a pen.

PRACTICE...

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-49279.php
http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/tests/ratherprefer.html
http://www.tinyteflteacher.co.uk/learning-english/grammar/exercises/would-rather.html
http://www.eoilangreo.net/herminio/online/0809-32.htm

COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Adjective form	Comparative	Superlative
Only one syllable, ending in E. Examples: wide, fine, cute	Add -r: wider, finer, cuter	Add -st: widest, finest, cutest
Only one syllable, with one vowel and one consonant at the end. Examples: hot, big, fat	Double the consonant, and add -er: hotter, bigger, fatter	Double the consonant, and add -est: hottest, biggest, fattest
Only one syllable, with more than one vowel or more than one consonant at the end. Examples: light, neat, fast	Add -er: lighter, neater, faster	Add -est: lightest, neatest, fastest
Two syllables, ending in Y. Examples: happy, silly, lonely	Change y to i, then add -er: happier, sillier, lonelier	Change y to i, then add -est: happiest, silliest, loneliest
Two syllables or more, not ending in Y. Examples: modern, interesting, beautiful	Use “more” before the adjective: more modern, more interesting, more beautiful	Use “most” before the adjective: most modern, most interesting, most beautiful

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
little	less	least
much	more	most
far	further / farther	furthest / farthest

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-grammar-comparatives-superlatives.php#.U0WK8cZ6EWY
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/english_lessons/comparatives-and-superlative-exercises
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=6009
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3109
http://www.eslkidsworld.com/worksheets/comparative%20and%20superlative%20worksheets/
http://www.agendaweb.org/grammar/comparative-superlative-exercises.html