Present perfect and past simple – differences
| Present perfect | Past simple
|
| Unfinished state/action
Spain has governed the enclave of Ceuta since 1580. |
Finished state/action
Spain governed the state of Western Sahara from 1958 to 1976.
|
| Unfinished time
I haven’t seen Keith this morning yet. (It’s still morning) |
Finished time
I didn’t see Keith at all this morning. (It’s now afternoon/evening.)
|
| Present relevance
The Indian Government has imposed a ban on tiger hunting to prevent the extinction of tigers.
|
No present relevance
The Indian Government imposed a ban on tiger hunting a few years ago. |
| Indefinite time
I’ve been to Eurodisney twice. |
Definite time
I went to Eurodiseny in 1999 and 2000.
|