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Grammar Reference

Present Perfect Simple vs Past Simple
We use the We use the
Present Perfect Simple: Past Simple:

• for actions that happened in the past, • for actions that happened at a definite time
but we don’t say when exactly. in the past. We say when.
I have visited Rome. I visited Rome last year.
• with the time expressions: • with the time expressions:
ever, never, before, so far, just, yet, yesterday, in 2020, ago, last week/month, etc.
already, always, for, since.

Note:
• have/has gone means that someone has gone somewhere and is still there.
 Beth has gone to the supermarket. (She’s still there.)
• have/has been means that someone has visited a place but has come back.
 Beth has been to Barcelona. (Now she’s back.)

Present Perfect with since / for / how long

• We use the Present Perfect with for, since and how long for actions that started in the past and continue up
to the present.

How long have you had this collection?
since + a point in time © MM Publications
I’ve had this collection since 2019.
It refers to the time when the action started.
for + a period of time I’ve had this collection for four years.
It refers to the duration of the action.

Module 6

A/An
• We use a/an before singular countable nouns. We use a when the next word begins with a consonant sound and an
when the next word begins with a vowel sound.
a pen an apple

We use a/an:
• when we speak about something that is not specific. There’s a man at the door.
• for professions. She’s a teacher.

The
• We use the before uncountable nouns and before countable nouns, both in the singular and in the plural.
the milk the pen the pens

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