| Critere | Present Perfect | Preterit (Past Simple) |
|---|
| Moment de l'action | Non precise, vague | Specifique (yesterday, last week, in 2020...) |
| Lien avec le present | Oui — effet visible maintenant | Non — action completement terminee |
| Marqueurs cles | already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for | yesterday, last..., ago, in [annee], at [heure] |
| # | Present Perfect | Preterit | Difference |
|---|
| 1 | I have seen this film. | I saw this film last night. | PP = experience / PT = moment precis (last night) |
| 2 | She has just arrived. | She arrived at 6pm. | PP = action tres recente / PT = heure precise |
| 3 | Have you ever been to Japan? | Did you go to Japan last summer? | PP = experience de vie / PT = voyage specifique |
| 4 | I have lost my keys. | I lost my keys yesterday. | PP = consequence actuelle (je n'ai pas mes cles) / PT = evenement passe |
| 5 | He has worked here for 5 years. | He worked there for 5 years. | PP = il travaille encore ici / PT = il n'y travaille plus |
| 6 | We have already eaten. | We ate before you arrived. | PP = avant ce moment, avec marqueur / PT = sequence dans le passe |
| 7 | I haven't finished yet. | I didn't finish on time. | PP = pas encore termine (maintenant) / PT = ne pas avoir fini (passe termine) |
| 8 | She has never eaten sushi. | She didn't eat sushi when she was in Tokyo. | PP = jamais dans toute sa vie / PT = une occasion precise |
| 9 | They have lived in Paris since 2015. | They lived in Paris from 2015 to 2020. | PP = ils habitent encore / PT = periode terminee |
| 10 | I have finished the project! | I finished the project last Friday. | PP = annonce d'un resultat present / PT = date precise |
| 11 | Have you called the client? | Did you call the client this morning? | PP = question ouverte / PT = reference a un moment precise |
| 12 | He has written three books. | He wrote his first book in 2010. | PP = bilan de carriere / PT = date de publication |
| 13 | I have recently changed jobs. | I changed jobs in March. | PP = recemment, sans date / PT = date precise (in March) |
| 14 | She has been unwell lately. | She was sick last week. | PP = etat qui continue / PT = periode specifique terminee |
| 15 | We have bought a new car. | We bought a new car in January. | PP = annonce sans date / PT = date precise |
| 16 | It has rained a lot this month. | It rained all day yesterday. | PP = ce mois (en cours) / PT = hier (jour termine) |
| 17 | I have met many interesting people. | I met her at a conference in 2019. | PP = experience generale / PT = evenement specifique |
| 18 | Have they decided yet? | Did they decide at the meeting? | PP = on attend toujours la decision / PT = lors de la reunion |
| 19 | She has gone to London. | She went to London last year. | PP = elle y est encore / PT = voyage passe et termine |
| 20 | I have known him for years. | I knew him in college. | PP = je le connais encore / PT = periode terminee (college) |