Present perfect vs past simple
Use the past simple for a finished time (yesterday, in 2019, when I was a child). Use the present perfect when the time is not finished or not stated and the result or experience matters now.
How it works
- Past simple: a finished action at a finished time. Typical time words: yesterday, last week, ago, in 2020, when I was…
- Present perfect (have/has + past participle): life experience with no time given. I've been to Hue twice.
- Present perfect: unfinished time (today, this week, so far) or a situation that started in the past and continues now (for, since).
- Present perfect for news and recent results, often with just, already and yet.
- Once you say when, switch to the past simple: I've lost my keys. I lost them at the gym.
- American English often uses the past simple with just, already and yet (Did you eat yet?); British English prefers the present perfect.
On the timeline
Pick a time expression and watch the tense follow it.
I lived in Hanoi in 2019.
Past simple: verb + -ed (or the irregular past)
A finished time: 2019 is over.
Examples
I've lived in Da Nang since 2021.
We moved here in 2021.
Have you ever tried durian ice cream?
She's just sent the report, so you can check it now.
I haven't seen him this week.
I saw him last Friday at the café.
Common mistakes
Wrong: I
havevisited Hoi An last summer.Right: I visited Hoi An last summer.
Wrong: I
livehere since 2020.Right: I have lived here since 2020.
Wrong: I
havefinished it two days ago.Right: I finished it two days ago.
Practice
1 of 15Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Verbs (present perfect): the forms appear at A2; choosing them over the past simple for experience, unfinished time and recent news is a B1 point. Written for Gloss.