1. SoSe 2009© 2009, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon) EfS Grammar V: Distinguishing Present Perfect from Past Simple Although the Present Perfect is often used in other languages as a narrative, it is only used in English for present results, not events.

2. SoSe 2009© 2009, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon) EfS Grammar V: Present Perfect/Past Simple Present Perfect is different from Past Simple Ich habe dich gestern gesehen… Er ist vor einer Woche zurückgekehrt… Wir haben uns 1997 in Paris kennengelernt… Es hat heute morgen geregnet… Am Montag haben wir eine Klausur geschrieben… are not possible in English.

3. SoSe 2009© 2009, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon) EfS Grammar V: Present Perfect/Past Simple yesterday, last week, last month... in 1997 on April 23 rd at 6 oclock this morning 2 days ago then, next before, after when while Signal and Structure Words for Narratives No preposition Prepositions in, at, on and ago with time Simple Past Past Continuous

4. SoSe 2009© 2009, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon) EfS Grammar V: Present Perfect/Past Simple Present Perfect and Simple Past: Use In brief: Present Perfect is used for results (Ergebnisse). Simple Past is used for events (Ereignisse). Compare and Contrast I Tom has broken his leg: result. He has to stay at home for 3 weeks. Tom broke his leg: event. He went to the hospital and was kept for observation…

5. SoSe 2009© 2009, Lee Traynor, MA (Oxon) EfS Grammar V: Present Perfect/Past Simple I have mislaid my key: result. Im wondering how to get into my flat. I mislaid my key: event. But then I found it again. Has Michael Jackson written an autobiography?: result. If not, he might find some time now. Did Elvis Presley write an autobiography?: event. If not, then sorry, it's too late, blue suede shoes notwithstanding. Compare and Contrast II