• The difference (la diferencia)
  • Past simple: specific time (tiempo específico)
  • Present perfect: the experience (la experiencia)
  • Summary table (cuadro resumen)
• For and since (for y since)
  • For
  • Since
  • For and since with the present perfect (for y since con present perfect)
  • For and since with the past simple (for y since con past simple)
• Conversation

The difference (la diferencia)

The difference between the present perfect and the past simple is very important in English.

🔹 La diferencia entre el present perfect y el past simple es muy importante en inglés.

Past simple: specific time (tiempo específico)

We use the past simple when we know or indicate the exact moment something happened. There is usually a time expression (yesterday, last week, in 2015, etc.).

🔹 Usamos el past simple cuando sabemos o indicamos el momento exacto en el que algo ocurrió. Normalmente hay una expresión temporal (yesterday, last week, in 2015, etc.).

I visited Paris last year. (Visité París el año pasado).

She called me yesterday. (Ella me llamó ayer).

Present perfect: the experience (la experiencia)

We use the present perfect when we talk about experiences or actions that have a connection to the present. What matters is the experience itself, not when it happened.

🔹 Usamos el present perfect cuando hablamos de experiencias o acciones que tienen una conexión con el presente. Lo que importa es la experiencia en sí, no cuándo ocurrió.

I have visited Paris. (He visitado París).

She has called me. (Ella me ha llamado).

Summary table (cuadro resumen)

I visited Paris in 2019. => past simple (specific time)

I have visited Paris. => present perfect (the experience matters, not when)

I ate sushi yesterday. => past simple (specific time)

I have eaten sushi. => present perfect (the experience matters, not when)

When we ask Have you ever been to Paris? and the answer is yes, the conversation usually continues with past simple questions to ask for details: When did you go? What did you do?

🔹 Cuando preguntamos Have you ever been to Paris? y la respuesta es sí, normalmente la conversación sigue con preguntas en past simple para pedir detalles: When did you go? What did you do?

For and since (for y since)

For

For [fɔr] is used to indicate the duration of a period of time.

🔹 For [fɔr] se usa para indicar la duración de un periodo de tiempo. Se traduce como durante, por, o a veces se omite en español.

for two hours - durante dos horas / dos horas

for three days - durante tres días / tres días

for five years - durante cinco años / cinco años

for a long time - durante mucho tiempo

Since

Since [sɪns] means desde. It is used to indicate the starting point.

🔹 Since [sɪns] significa desde. Se usa para indicar el punto de partida.

since Monday - desde el lunes

since 2015 - desde 2015

since January - desde enero

since I was a kid - desde que era niño

Be careful: since three years ago is incorrect. Use for three years or since with a specific point in time (since 2014).

🔹 Cuidado: since three years ago es incorrecto. Usa for three years o since con un punto concreto en el tiempo (since 2014).

For and since with the present perfect (for y since con present perfect)

We use for and since with the present perfect when talking about something that started in the past and continues in the present.

🔹 Usamos for y since con el present perfect cuando hablamos de algo que empezó en el pasado y continúa en el presente.

I have lived in Madrid for three years. (Vivo en Madrid desde hace tres años / He vivido en Madrid tres años). => I still live in Madrid.

She has worked here since 2020. (Ella trabaja / ha trabajado aquí desde 2020). => She still works here.

In Spanish, we normally use the present tense in these cases: Vivo en Madrid desde hace tres años. In English, we use the present perfect.

🔹 En español, normalmente usamos el presente en estos casos: Vivo en Madrid desde hace tres años. En inglés, usamos el present perfect.

For and since with the past simple (for y since con past simple)

When the action is already finished, we use for with the past simple:

🔹 Cuando la acción ya terminó, usamos for con el past simple:

I lived in Madrid for three years. (Viví en Madrid tres años). => I no longer live in Madrid.

Conversation

Julia: Have you ever been to South America?

David: Yes, I have been to Argentina [ɑrdʒən'ti:nə] and Colombia.

J: When did you go to Argentina?

D: I went to Argentina in 2019. I visited Buenos Aires for a week.

J: Have you already been to Peru [pə'ru:]?

D: No, I haven't been to Peru yet, but I want to go.

J: I have just come back from Peru! It was amazing.

D: Really? How long were you there?

J: I was there for two weeks. I have wanted to visit Machu Picchu since I was a kid.

D: How long have you lived in the US?

J: I have lived here since 2015.

come back - volver