Re: Games to teach the difference between past simple and present perfect tense? Haven't come across any problems with students understanding the difference between past simple and past perfect, just between the past simple and present perfect.
Past simple: Charles Dickens wrote some good books. (He is dead, so his bookwriting days are past.)
Present perfect: J.K. Rowling has written some good books. (She's still alive, so she can always write some more books, although her Harry Potter series is done.)
Past simple: She waited in line for 8 hours before she could buy the latest Harry Potter book.
Past perfect: After she had waited in line for 8 hours and had bought the book, she sat down and started reading it immediately. |