Present perfect vs Past

Usages Sheila has joined the Sierra Club.  Sheila joined the Sierra Club.  The use of the present perfect has more to with our present perspective on the event rather than on the actual time at which it took place.  The simple past tense occurs with specific past-time adverbials. The core meaning of the past tense is remoteness. The use of specific past-time adverbials (e.g., yesterday, last year, 1990) makes the past tense obligatory. The use of certain more general temporal adverbials is commonly associated with the perfect (e.g., already, since, yet).  Organise the phrases in the next slide into three columns headed used with simple past, used with present perfect and used with either. Up to now In the last century During Kennedy’s lifetime Over the last Three months hundred years or For three months ago so Since three This is the first Recently months ago time I Throughout the Since the Lately 17th century Vietnam War Within the last After the Second Today three months World War In the last century  during Kennedy’s lifetime  Three months ago  Throughout the 17th century         Up to now Over the last hundred years or so Since three months ago This is the first time I Lately Since the Vietnam War Within the last three months For three months  Recently  Today  After the Second World War   Even if a past-time adverbial isn’t explicit, the remoteness may be defined elsewhere in the context or simply implied:  John Lennon was a creative genius.  The past tense is used for a completed historical period versus an incomplete one:  My father lived here all his life.  My father has lived here all his life.  The function of the present perfect is to change the nature of the relationship between the subject and predicate – it emphasizes the predicated event’s result.  I’ve been to Japan twice already, but I still don’t speak much Japanese.  Past simple is used by speakers to talk about past events which are, or which they regard as, finalised, or over and done with.  Present perfect is used by speakers to talk about events which are still current, or which they want to highlight as being incomplete or still relevant. [...]... The function of the present perfect is to change the nature of the relationship between the subject and predicate – it emphasizes the predicated event’s result  I’ve been to Japan twice already, but I still don’t speak much Japanese  Past simple is used by speakers to talk about past events which are, or which they regard as, finalised, or over and done with  Present perfect is used by speakers . of the present perfect has more to do with our present perspective on the event rather than on the actual time at which it took place.  The simple past tense occurs with specific past- time. commonly associated with the perfect (e.g., already, since, yet).  Organise the phrases in the next slide into three columns headed used with simple past, used with present perfect and used with. don’t speak much Japanese.  Past simple is used by speakers to talk about past events which are, or which they regard as, finalised, or over and done with.  Present perfect is used by speakers