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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > present perfect vs past simple    

present perfect vs past simple



Ruwayda37
Egypt

present perfect vs past simple
 
Good dayfellow teachers,
Could you please help me complete this dialogue:
A: This restaurant is great. I �ve eaten there before.
B: (Have you enjoyed - Did you enjoy) your meal?
A: Yes. It (was - has been) very tasty.
 
 
And this sentence:
I can �t find my keys. I (looked - have looked) in my bedroom but they weren �t there. 
 
 
Thanks in advance. 

13 Dec 2016      





douglas
United States

Did you enjoy your meal?
 
 Yes. It was very tasty.

13 Dec 2016     



yanogator
United States

Your first sentence is present perfect, because it is talking about an event at some time during your life.
The other sentences are single events in the past, so they are all simple past.
I looked in my bedroom but they weren �t there.
 
Bruce 

13 Dec 2016     



Ruwayda37
Egypt

Thank you douglas and Bruce. I �m so grateful to esl printables for enabling us to get advice from helpful members like you.

13 Dec 2016     



douglas
United States

I disagree Bruce, the first sentence is talking about when he visited the restaurant.  Speciifc time in the past= simple past.

13 Dec 2016     



cunliffe
United Kingdom

In British English, we would say �I �ve looked in my bedroom. �

14 Dec 2016     



yanogator
United States

I disagree with your disagreement, Douglas. The time isn �t specific. He �s saying that at some (unspecified) time in the past he has eaten at that restaurant.
 
This restaurant is great. I ate there last week.
This restaurant is great. I �ve eaten there before (at some unspecified time).
 
Bruce 

14 Dec 2016     



Ruwayda37
Egypt

In British English, would we say "I �ve looked" even if it is followed by the simple past "but they weren �t there"?

15 Dec 2016     



douglas
United States

Sorry Bruce, you �re right(of course).  I miss-read your post (I thought you were referring to MY first sentence).
 
 
Cheers,
Douglas

16 Dec 2016