Day 225: Choosing the correct verb tense for events in the past.

One issue we frequently address while editing is the verb tense used to describe past events. Specifically, many writers have difficulty with the difference between the simple past tense and the present perfect tense.

The simple past tense is used to describe an action that occurred once at a specific time. These sentences use the simple past tense.

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“I ate a hot dog.”

“The car stopped working while I drove it home.”

“The clients refused to pay their bills.”

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that occurred multiple times, or over time, in the past in respect to the present time. These sentences use the present perfect.

“I have never eaten so many hot dogs in one meal.”

“The car has stopped working several times, but the mechanic has not been able to fix it.”

“The clients have refused to pay their bills several times.”

Note that the present perfect tense requires the present tense of have (i.e., have, has).

Sample incorrect sentences and their corrections:

Wrong: “I took this trip many times.”
Right: “I have taken this trip many times.”

Wrong: “She has ate the pizza.”
Right: “She ate the pizza.”

Wrong: “Hot dogs are the best food I ever ate!”
Right: “Hot dogs are the best food I have ever eaten!”