Last week we learnt about the difference between present simple and present perfect. This week, we are going to learn which time chunks or time words you can use with these two tenses. When you are using time words or time chunks, you must make sure the verb tense and the time chunks have the same meaning. In other words, they must both mean ‘finished time’ or they must both mean ‘unfinished time.’ Look at these exampes:
Last week I have been to Hong Kong. WRONG
last week means finished time, I have been to Hong Kong, means unfinished time, so the time chunk and the verb tense are giving different meanings: the reader will get confused: which meaning is the correct one?
Last week, I went to Hong Kong. RIGHT
Both the time chunk and the verb tense are giving the same meaning, and that meaning is finished time.
Let’s now look at some of the time words and chunks you can use with the past simple and present perfect.
Task 1: Sort these time vocabulary into the table below.
|
afterwards
ago
at one time
during that time
during this time
|
eventually
formerly
immediately
in 2005
in March
last quarter
|
last year
next
once
originally
so far
subsequently
|
then
this quarter
this week
this year
year-to-date
yesterday
|
|
finished time chunks =
use with past simple
|
unfinished time chunks =
use with present perfect
|
|
|
|
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*2014/11/21更新
Task 1 Feedback: Time vocabulary with past simple and present perfect
Task 1: Compare your answers with the table below.
|
finished time chunks
|
unfinished time chunks
|
|
|
afterwards
ago
at one time
during that time
eventually
formerly
immediately
in 2005
|
in March
last quarter
last year
next
once
originally
subsequently
then
yesterday
|
during this time
so far
this quarter
this week
this year
year-to-date
|
* ‘In 2005’ always means past time. For the year you are in use ‘this year.’
* ‘In March’ always means past time. For the month you are in, use ‘this month.’
* ‘Year-to-date’ means from January 1st to now.
