Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense

Question

Hi! Does number 1 refer to a specific time in the past while number 2 refers to a time in the past but no specific time? Thanks, Fulvio1. I bought from there.2. I have bought from there.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I'll answer your question based on my understanding. Because sometimes I also could have a confusion in using them. There are teachers to correct me if I'm wrong.

Without looking at your examples, I see that what you stated above is the usage of the Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense. Both of them are used for talking about past events. It's a common factor.

Simple Past Tense is used to talk about something happened and finished. In addition, when you want to specify an exact certain time such as yesterday, last week, last year, 2 years ago .....etc. Simple Past Tense will be your best choice.

For example:

-I bought from there last week. (Correct)

That doesn't mean that you always have to specify a certain time in your speaking when used Simple Past Tense. People use Simple Past Tense in their speaking all the time, and not always specify a time. Many times they just focus on the event that happened. Only when you need or care about a certain time, Simple Past Tense is the tense which is responsible about doing that.

For example:

-I bought from there. (Correct)

-I ate the cookies.

-I registered in that course last week.

-I traveled to that island one year ago.

Present Perfect Tense, is usually used for something happened and finished, but still has a kind of connection/effect to the present. When you don't need or care about a specific time, Present Perfect Tense will be your best choice. When you need to mention a period of time, this tense will achieve such purpose too. There are some words that usually refer to it such as since, for, yet ....etc.

For example:

-I have bought from there before.

-I haven't bought it yet.

-I have been studying since morning.

-I have studied for the exam for five hours.

-I have never ever smoked cigarette.

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Regarding your examples:

1. I bought from there.

2. I have bought from there.

Based on my understanding, both have the same meaning. You just speak about past events without stating or caring about a certain time or a period of time. You just have focused on the action "buying". The only thing I could consider when reading your examples is that the second one MAYBE suggest that this event happened in the recent past, or still has an effect to the present.

If these examples weren't written, like to hear them used among people, I wouldn't even consider a slight difference. I would consider them have the same exact meaning.

Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense

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