English Grammar: Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
Rule 1: Specific vs. Non-specific Time
Anyone studying English has certainly learned the simple past – I went to the movies; I broke the window; I punched my brother in the face. They have also learned – I have been to the movies; I have broken the window; I have bitch slapped my little brother in the face.
However, when do we use the simple past and when do we use the present perfect? Knowing the simple past and present perfect of the verb is different than knowing when to use it.
One simple rule is to determine if the sentence is specific or non-specific. By this, we mean do we know when it happened? Look at...
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