He taught us vs He has taught us

Both these phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. 'He taught us' is simple past tense, referring to a specific time in the past when someone taught you something. 'He has taught us' is present perfect tense, indicating the teaching occurred at an unspecified time in the past and has relevance to the present.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 16, 2025 • 5659 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He taught us"

Use 'he taught us' when referring to a specific instance in the past when someone taught you something.

Examples:

He taught us how to play the piano last summer.
She taught us the importance of kindness.
The professor taught us about ancient civilizations.
My father taught us how to ride a bike when we were kids.
They taught us a valuable lesson about teamwork.

Show examples from the web [+]

He taught us that Columbus discovered America.
He taught us how to protect ourselves.
He knew, and he taught us what to hate and what to love.
He taught us Drawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils.
He taught us that the richest and fullest lives attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms: work, love and play.
These are seats once occupied in sietch by Muad'dib... during the days when he taught us the weirding way.
He taught us that a cop can never care too much or try too hard.
And we should've remembered the code that he taught us, 'cause without that code, we'd be... long gone right now.
He told us we needed to expand our sound, and he taught us a lot about ethics, about how to treat people.
You know Dr. Nelson, the prison shrink, he taught us that a major part of recovery is seeing the opposing points of view.
He did not abandon us: he taught us what freedom is
He taught us not to play with cobras.
He taught us the art of kung fu.
He taught us about how Plato said people can't see the true world.
He taught us metal polishing with a big stone wheel.
He taught us how to handle life.
- He taught us both how to ride.
I mean, he taught us all.
And we'll do so with a prayer he taught us himself.
But there had to be something missing in all that he taught us, or this wouldn't have happened.

Alternatives:

He showed us
He explained to us
He instructed us

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He has taught us"

Use 'he has taught us' when emphasizing the connection between past teaching and the present, without specifying a particular time.

Examples:

He has taught us so much about gardening.
She has taught us to always be honest.
The coach has taught us the importance of discipline.
My mentor has taught us valuable life lessons.
They have taught us how to be resilient in tough times.

Show examples from the web [+]

He has taught him everything he knows.
He has taught me how to get the very most out of the program.
He has taught you right from wrong.
We use protocol because history has taught us which decisions protect the most lives.
I almost forgot the lessons that football has taught us all.
Don has taught us all something.
Yes, as experience has taught us.
How many things the government has taught us in the Gulf.
And all because of the radical new techniques which this young man has taught us.
The crisis has taught us a severe lesson and we must learn.
Within the Union it has taught us a lesson about meeting commitments.
Past experience has taught us that embargoes or blockades never work.
History has taught us what colonial wars are like.
Past experience has taught us that discussing this is extremely useful.
Experience has taught us that in situations like these, we should not remain silent.
The economic crisis has taught us that strict auditing and oversight are indispensible.
As history has taught us, this can cause dangerous dynamics outside the political system.
Honourable Members, history has taught us that there is no freedom without security.
History has taught us that racism and xenophobia destroy people and cause enormous suffering.
History has taught us a bitter lesson in what racial hatred and intolerance can do.

Alternatives:

He has shown us
He has explained to us
He has instructed us

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He taught us vs He has taught us

"He taught us"

"He has taught us"

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