Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hanygeorge38]

Dear Bud,

I just want to know the deffernce bettween (I visited Egypt last year
and I have been to Egypt) as i always get confused bettween have been and visited)

Thanks
_________________
hany

[bud]

Hi Hany,

I just wrote a long answer to this, and somehow I lost it.

"I visited Egypt last year" is in the simple present. It communicates a simple fact and implies nothing else. It tells us that the action started and finished in the past. Often, as in this case, there is a specific timeframe (last year) in the sentence.

"I have been to Egypt" is in the present perfect. It communicates something that began in the past and continues today, or at least it remains relevant today even if already completed. For example, it might suggest that you are open to the possibility of returning someday. That is, your visiting of Egypt is not necessarily finished. Specific timeframes are not used with this tense, but often durations of time are.

Many times, either tense can be used (the dividing line is not so definite):
A: Would you like part of my sandwich?
B: No thanks, I've already eaten. (ok - action completed, but the relavancy now is that B is no longer hungry)
or...
B: No thanks. I already ate. (also ok)

Other times, you do not have a choice:
How long has Kate lived in Paris? (the questioner knows that Kate moved to Paris in the past and still lives there)
How long did Kate live in Paris? (the questioner knows that Kate once lived there, but no longer does)
Kate lived in Paris. (she once did, but doesn't any longer - nothing else is implied)
Kate has lived in Paris. (she once did, but no longer does - but the uncompleted action aspect of the verb tense leaves open the possibility that she may want to move back someday)
Kate has lived in Paris for 4 years. (she moved there 4 years ago, and still lives there today... the expression of duration - for 4 years - is a clue that the present perfect might be needed)
We waited three hours to see the doctor. (the waiting is over and they have seen the doctor)
We have waited 3 hours to see the doctor. (the action continues - we are still waiting)

In general:
If you are talking about a finished action, think first of using the simple present.
If you are talking about something that continues, or has finished but continues to be relevant, think first of using the present perfect.
If your sentence contains (or you could add) a specific timeframe (at 7:30, on Tuesday, in August, in 1992, 3 hours ago), then you probably need the simple present.
If your sentence contains (or you could add) a period of time (for 3 days, never, since Tuesday, since he was 12 years old), then you probably need the present perfect.

Well, this is actually a little clearer than my first try. It still may be muddled, but I hope it helps a little.

[helen1]

Bud - you say you don't know much about grammar but this is a fantastic and very clear explanation

Ok who did you steal it from??

[bud]

Wow! Thank you!