Past simple have finished and past continuous not finished .
Yesterday Karen and Jim played tennis.They started at 10 o'clock and finished at 11:30. So at 10:30 they were playing tennis.
==They were playing=they were in the middle of playing.They had already started before this time,but had not finished.
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We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to say that ==something happened in the middle of something else:== I saw you in the park yesterday.You were sitting on the grass and reading a book. I hurt my back while I was working in the garden.
- But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another: I was walking along the road when I saw Dan.So I stopped,and we had a chat. Compare:
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When Karen arrived,we were having dinner.(we had ==already started== before she arrived and not finished)
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When Karen arrived,we had dinner.(Karen arrived,and ==then== we had dinner)
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Some verbs(for example,know and want) are not normally used in the continuous:
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We were good friends.We knew each other well.
not we were knowing -
I was enjoying the party,but Jim wanted to go home.
not was wanting
We also use past simple to explain a past action or situation(do not emphasis the repeation).For more,please check [[Past habits used to,would and the past simple]]
Present perfect
Recent past(always an indefinite time)
For example:
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Tom is looking for his key.He can't find it.He has lost his key.(He lost it recently,and he still doesn't have it.)
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When we say that 'something has happened',this is usually new information:
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(from the news) Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
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When we use the present perfect,there is a connection with now(has importance to a present situation or discussion).The action in the past has a result now:
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'Where's your key?' 'I don't know. I've lost it.'(=I don't have it now)
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Note the difference between gone(to) and been(to):
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James is on holiday.He has gone to Italy.(=he is there now or on his way there)
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James is back how now.She has been to Italy.(=she has now come back)
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You can use the present perfect with just,already and yet. Just=a short time ago:
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'Are you hungry?''No,I've just had lunch.'
already=something happened sooner than expected:
- 'What time is Mark leaving"He is already left.'
Yet=until now.Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen.Use yet ==only in questions and negative sentences==:
- Has it stopped raining yet?
- I've written the email,but I haven't sent it yet.
Life experience
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When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now,we use the present perfect. ![[d3a3ccff-61f9-4e54-8b21-d79c068b5d6c.png]]
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Have you ever eaten caviar?
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I've never been to China.Have you been there?
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also the same with (recently/in the last few days/so far/since breakfast etc.) ![[0e654265-cedc-4807-9e7c-cf576e955aca.png]]
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Everything is going well.We haven't had any problems so far.
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also with today/this evening/this year etc.When these periods are not finished at the time of speaking. -![[a36232a7-e47f-40a3-a661-e52e6cb1c96d.png]]
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I've drunk four cups of coffee today.
Some examples and explanation.
![[d88f5b6a-b5a6-489c-a9bc-782791c4a993.png]]
- We say:It's the (first )time something has happened.
- Don is having a driving lesson.It's his first one.
- It's the first time he has driven a car.
not drives - He has never driven a car before.
It/This/That was the first time,we generally use the past perfect. The difference between the past simple and present perfect and the usage of them could check the note [[Past simple and present perfect(comparetion)]]
Placement of Adverbs
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Many adverbs can come between the auxiliary(has/have) and the past participle.
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You have probably heard about teenagers and risk taking.
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Already can also come at the end of the verb phrase.
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They have finished the experiment already.
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Yet usually comes at the end of a question or negative statement.
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A:Have you finished the experiment yet? B:No.I haven't finish it yet.
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Some adverbs can also come before the subject or at the end of the verb phrase.
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Scientists have recently begun to learn about risk.(formal)
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Recently,scientists have begun to learn about risk.(informal)
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Scientists have begun to learn about risk recently.(informal)
