Summary of "✅ Lección 4: Presente Perfecto vs Pasado Simple | Domina sus diferencias con 10 ejercicios prácticos"

Summary of Video: “✅ Lección 4: Presente Perfecto vs Pasado Simple | Domina sus diferencias con 10 ejercicios prácticos”

The video lesson focuses on clarifying the differences between the Present Perfect tense and the Simple Past tense in English.
It explains the characteristics and uses of both tenses, highlighting when and how to use each correctly.
Emphasis is placed on recognizing time expressions/adverbs that help identify which tense to use (e.g., “last week,” “since,” “so far,” “yet,” “ago,” “this morning”).
The lesson includes 10 practical exercises where viewers choose the correct tense between two options, reinforcing the theory with real examples.
The instructor stresses the importance of context analysis to decide the correct tense, especially in oral and written forms.
The video also discusses common mistakes and clarifies how to form correct sentences, including the use of past participles in Present Perfect.

Used for actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
Often accompanied by time markers like “last week,” “yesterday,” “three days ago,” “last night.”
Indicates a completed action.
Example: Nancy went to a party last week.

Used for actions that started in the past but continue to the present or have relevance to the present moment.
Often accompanied by time expressions like “since,” “so far,” “yet,” “already,” “up to now.”
Can indicate repetition or experience up to now.
Example: Peter has been here since this morning.

Identify time expressions in the sentence to determine the tense:
- Past-specific time (e.g., “last week,” “yesterday”) → Simple Past.
- Non-specific or ongoing time (e.g., “since,” “so far,” “yet”) → Present Perfect.
Check if the action is completed or ongoing:
- Completed in the past → Simple Past.
- Started in past but relevant or continuing now → Present Perfect.
Look at sentence structure and verb form:
- Simple Past uses the past form of the verb.
- Present Perfect uses “have/has” + past participle.
Practice with exercises:
- Choose between two options (Simple Past vs Present Perfect).
- Use the clues from adverbs and context.
- Mark correct answers with a checkmark.
Common adverbs to consider:
- Simple Past: “last week,” “yesterday,” “three days ago,” “last night.”
- Present Perfect: “since,” “so far,” “yet,” “already,” “up to now,” “for.”
Pay attention to exceptions and nuances:
- Sometimes both tenses can be correct depending on context.
- Present Perfect connects past actions with the present.
- Simple Past strictly refers to finished past actions.
Verb form tips:
- For Present Perfect, past participle must be used correctly (e.g., “enjoyed” not “enjoy”).
- For Simple Past, regular verbs add -ed, irregular verbs have unique past forms.

Nancy went to a party last week (Simple Past correct).
Peter has been here since this morning (Present Perfect correct).
We have called you five times so far (Present Perfect correct).
I wrote / I haven’t written that letter yet (Both can be correct depending on context; “haven’t written” preferred with “yet”).
We have lived here almost all our lives (Present Perfect preferred).
I missed you when you were there (Simple Past correct).
Did your father enjoy the movie? (Simple Past correct).
Christian arrived three days ago (Simple Past correct).
I only slept for two hours last night (Simple Past correct).
She hasn’t flown yet (Present Perfect correct).

Francisco: The main instructor and speaker throughout the video, guiding viewers through explanations and exercises.

The lesson provides a clear, practical approach to mastering the difference between Present Perfect and Simple Past tenses by focusing on:

The video encourages learners to analyze context carefully and practice regularly to avoid common mistakes.

End of Summary