The Past Simple

We use the Past Simple to talk about a completed action in the past.

1st form

We use the 1st form of the irregular verb in negative sentences (-) & questions (?). We form sentences with: did + subject + verb in the 1st form:

We use the 2nd form of the irregular verb in positive sentences and who/what questions.

• (+) I bought it yesterday. (buy; bought; bought)

• (+) Somebody broke the window. (break; broke; broken)

• (?) Who built this house? (build; built; built)
• (?) Who broke the car? (break; broke; broken)

The Present Perfect

We use The Present Perfect to talk about finished actions that are important now. It connects the past with the present. We use the 3rd form of the irregular verbs. 

When to use have or has

When to use the has/have or has been/have been

The passive tells us what is done to someone or something. We focus attention on what or who receives an action (the object). We always use has been/have been + Verb 3 in those sentences. 

• Active: (+) Anna has ridden her horse. (ride; rode; ridden)
• Passive: (+) The horse has been ridden by Anna. (ride; rode; ridden)
• Active: (+) I have bought a new car! (buy; bought; bought)
• Passive: (+) A new car has been bought by me. (buy; bought; bought)
• Active: (?) Has Mary sung a song? (sing; sang; sung)
• Passive: (?) A song has been sung by Mary. (sing; sang; sung)
• Active: (?) Have the police caught the man? (catch; caught; caught)
• Passive: (?) Has the man been caught by the police? (catch; caught; caught)
• Active: (-)  Mosquitos haven't bitten them. (bite; bit; bit(ten)
• Passive: (-) They haven’t been bitten by mosquitos. (bite; bit; bit(ten)