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15 Past Simple o Present Perfect
Observa los diferentes usos de estos tiempos:
PAST SIMPLE
Para acciones que ocurrieron en un momento
preciso del pasado:
When did Margaret go to India? Last June.
(Cundo fue Margaret a la India? El pasado
junio.)
I met John at 4 oclock.
(Conoc a John a las 4 en punto.)
Para acciones completamente acabadas:
I lived in India in 1980.
(Viv en la India en 1980.)
Se acompaa con expresiones de tiempo
pasado (yesterday, last X, X ago).
I took my Maths test yesterday/several
days ago. (Me examin de matemticas
ayer/hace varios das.)
Fjate que ago se coloca detrs del perodo
de tiempo, y no delante:
twelve years ago (hace doce aos)
Se usa en contestacin a la pregunta When
(cundo) o How long ago (cunto tiempo
hace que):
When did you buy that car?
(Cundo compraste ese coche?)
How long ago did you buy that car?
(Cunto tiempo hace que compraste ese coche?)
I bought it a few months ago.
(Lo compr hace unos cuantos meses.)
Se usa tambien en contestacin a la pregunta
How long, para un perodo de tiempo acabado.
How long did you have that car?
(Cunto tiempo tenas ese coche?)
I had that car for two years.
(= no lo tengo todava)
Recuerda que no es posible contestar con
las expresiones de tiempo de la columna
derecha para referirse a un perodo de tiempo
acabado:
NO: I bought it since January/for a few months.
36 ESO Gramtica Oxford
PRESENT PERFECT
Para experiencias que han ocurrido en algn
momento indeterminado o que han sucedido
recientemente:
Margaret has been to India.
(Margaret ha estado en la India.)
Ive just met John.
(Acabo de conocer a John.)
Para situaciones que comenzaron en el pasado
pero que continan en el momento presente:
Ive lived in India since then.
(Viv/He vivido en la India desde entonces.)
Se acompaa con ever/never, yet, already.
Have you ever taken a Maths test? (Te has
examinado de matemticas en alguna ocasin?)
I havent taken my Maths test yet. (Todava no
me he examinado de matemticas.)
I have already taken my Maths test.
(Ya me he examinado de matemticas.)
A menudo las expresiones de tiempo llevan las
preposiciones since/for, y las preguntas se hacen
con How long (desde cundo):
How long have you had that car?
(Desde cundo tienes ese coche?)
Ive had it for a few months.
(Lo tengo desde hace unos cuantos meses.)
Ive had it since January. (Lo tengo desde enero.)
Fjate que no es posible utilizar las expresiones
de tiempo de la columna izquierda:
NO:
When have you bought it?
Ive had it yesterday/last month/a few months ago.
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Ejercicios
A Pon el verbo entre parntesis en su tiempo correcto (Past Simple o Present Perfect).
A: I 0 saw (see) Jack last night.
B: Oh really. I 1 (not/see) him for months. How is he?
A: We 2 (go) to the theatre last Saturday.
B: 3 (you/enjoy) the play?
A: Yes, it 4 (be) very good.
A: I 5 (never/hear) of this group before. Are they famous in your
country?
B: Yes, they are very popular. They 6 (be) famous in my country for years.
A: What 7 (you/do) last weekend?
B: I 8 (stay) at home. I 9 (need) a rest.
A: 10 (you/ever/win) a competition?
B: Yes, I 11 (win) a photographic competition in 1992.
A: So, John is your best friend. 12 (you/meet) him when you were at
university?
B: Yes. We 13 (be) friends for more than ten years.
B Completa este texto sobre el metro de Londres utilizando el tiempo correcto de los
verbos entre parntesis. Utiliza el Past Simple o el Present Perfect.

The London Underground

London 0 has had (have) an underground train system since the 19th century.
The London Underground 1 (start) in 1863, when engineers and
workers 2 (build) the Metropolitan railway. This railway line
3 (go) from Paddington Station to Farringdon Street Station. It
4 (be) a very short line. Eight more lines 5 (open)
since then. The worlds first electric railway 6 (open) in 1890. This line
7 (go) from the city centre to South London. The most modern line is
the Jubilee line. It 8 (open) in 1977. Since the London Underground
9 (begin), many other cities, like New York and Moscow,
10 (build) their own systems.
C Corrige las siguientes frases.
0 I have played tennis last week. I played tennis last week.
1 They have finished work yet.
2 When you bought that umbrella?
3 Look! I have buy a new umbrella.
4 I have bought three CDs last week.
5 She didnt saw that film.
6 She hasnt never seen that film.

Gramtica Oxford ESO 37