FINISHED/UNFINISHED TIME WORDS
last month
finished time
(He/work/for Desjardins/since 2015)
He has worked for Desjardins since 2015.
Yesterday, my friends ____ (play) golf.
played
Yesterday is a finished time word; thus, we use past simple.
I am living in Munich for 10 years.
I have lived/been living in Munich for 10 years.
I ate breakfast this morning at around 9 a.m.
The question must be in the simple past with "when".
this week
finished or unfinished time
(The weather/be/cold/last winter)
The weather was cold last winter.
I ______ (live) in English since 2001.
have lived
Since emphasizes an unfinished timeline; thus, present perfect is needed.
Did you ever try black truffles from Motovun?
Have you ever tried black truffles from Motovun?
For 12 years now. Can you believe it?
The question must be in present perfect with "how long".
in my life
unfinished
(Peter/never/be/London)
Peter has never been to London.
Jane _____ (be) here for half an hour.
has been / was
If Jane is still here, we use Present Perfect. If Jane left, we use Simple Past.
What's the most exotic place you visited?
What's the most exotic place you have (ever) visited?
We use present perfect with superlatives.
Oh yes, earlier around one o'clock.
The question must be in the Simple Past.
when I was young
finished
(What time/you/arrive/yesterday?)
What time did you arrive yesterday?
William Shakespeare _____ (write) 37 plays.
wrote
We use simple past when speaking of the deceased (dead people).
When have you visited Auckland?
When did you visit Auckland?
Present perfect is not used with WHEN. "When" is a finished time word.
Because I moved to Zagreb.
The question must be in the Simple Past with "why".
just after I got up
finished
(my brother/teach/English/since/he/move/here)
My brother has taught English since he moved here.
Where _____ (you, be) yesterday?
What time ______ (you, start)?
were you / did you start
Yesterday is a finished time word; thus, we use Simple Past.
What time is a finished time word (it answers when); thus, we use Simple Past.
I was married for 30 years, and it's still going strong.
I've been married for 30 years, and it's still going strong.
Still in progress, and we use for; thus, Present Perfect is needed.
Yes I have, three times to be exact!
The question must be in the Present Perfect because of the auxiliary have.