simple past – present perfect – different usage
the simple past
The simple past is used in English to indicate that an action took place at a certain point in time in the past and has no connection any more to the present.
typical signal words: yesterday, last week, ago, when?(asks for a certain point in time in the past)
present perfect
The present perfect describes an action that started in the past that lasts until the present or still has an implication on it.
typical signal words: already, never, ever, before, for, since, always, yet?
for example:
Jim has broken his leg.
Jim’s leg was hurt in the past gebrochen and is still hurt.
Jim broke his leg.
Jim hurt his leg in the past, and in the meantime it is whole again.
English
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