Lesson 54 Past simple vs. Present perfect
ポイント
Many English learners have trouble knowing when to use the 現在完了形 (have + 過去分詞) and when to use the 過去形, so let's look at some common mistakes.
ダイアログ
Emily: Atsuko, have you ever been to China?
Atsuko: Yes, I've been to Shanghai last year
解説
Atsuko clearly understands Emily’s question and uses the same grammar to answer it. But doing so in this case causes confusion. This is because we use the 現在完了形 for unfinished time like today, this week, this month, or this year: “I’ve been to Shanghai this year.” Last year is obviously finished time, so Atsuko should use the 過去形: “Yes, I went to Shanghai last year.” So why does Emily use the 現在完了形 for her question? She does so because she is asking about Atsuko’s lifetime, which is unfinished.