Explanation
Exercises

🟦 Present Perfect vs 🟧 Past Simple

Choose between “have/has + V3” (connected to now) and “V2” (finished at a past time).
just · already · yet · ever/never for · since · how long yesterday · last … · in 2019 · ago details → past simple
⚖️Core contrast

Present Perfect — relevant now

USE We don’t say when; it’s recent, newsy, or part of life experience.
  • I’ve finished my essay. (It’s done now.)
  • He has left. (He isn’t here now.)
  • She’s won three gold medals. 🥇
  • I’ve broken my arm.

Past Simple — finished then

USE We say/ask when something happened; time is finished.
  • When did you finish your essay?
  • He left after the game.
  • I didn’t go to work yesterday.
  • She won three gold medals at the last Olympics.
💬In conversation: PP → details in PS
  • John: I’ve been to the cinema. 🎬
    Patrick: What did you see?
    John: I saw a great film by…
  • Sarah: Oh, you’ve broken your arm!
    Rachel: Yes, I have.
    Sarah: How did it happen?
    Rachel: It happened yesterday while I was riding my bike.
⏳Duration: for / since / how long
UNFINISHED TIME → Present Perfect
  • He’s lived in New York for ten years. (He lives there now.)
  • How long have you worked in the bank?
Patterns
  • for + period: for 2 weeks / for 10 years
  • since + start point: since 2010 / since Monday / since I was born
FINISHED TIME → Past Simple
  • He lived in New York for ten years. (He doesn’t live there now.)
  • How long did you work in the bank? (You don’t work there now.)
🧭Time expressions (choose wisely)

Present Perfect ✅

  • just, already, yet
  • ever, never, before
  • recently, lately
  • today / this week / this month (period incl. now)

Past Simple ✅

  • yesterday, last night/week/year
  • in 2019, on Monday, at 6 p.m.
  • … ago (two days ago)
  • when…? (When did you…?)
🚫Common mistakes
  • ❌ We have been to Malaysia last year.
    ✅ We went to Malaysia last year. / We’ve been to Malaysia. (no time)
  • ❌ How long did you live here? (if you still live here)
    ✅ How long have you lived here?
  • ❌ I haven’t finished already.
    ✅ I haven’t finished yet. / I have already finished.
  • ❌ Did you ever visit India?
    ✅ Have you ever visited India?
✅Quick checks
  • No time stated / relevant now? → Present Perfect
  • Specific past time or “when…?” → Past Simple
  • Starting in the past & still true? → Present Perfect (+ for/since)
  • Finished period? → Past Simple
🧪More natural examples
  • They’ve travelled a lot. → Where did they go first?
  • I’ve lost my keys. (I can’t open the door now.)
  • We moved to Lisbon in 2021. (finished past time)
Recap: Present Perfect = past → now connection (no finished time). Past Simple = a finished past moment, often with a time word or a “when” question. 🌟
Exercises:
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3

Present perfect or past simple?

Choose the correct present perfect or past simple forms to complete the dialogues below.

D1Old friends

A:I Maria yesterday evening. B:Oh really? I her for ages.

D2Lost & found

A: your keys yet? B:Yes, I them under the sofa a minute ago.

D3Weekend plan

A:What at the weekend? B:I to the mountains.

D4Travel chat

A: to Italy? B:Yes, I there in 2019.

D5How long?

A:We since primary school. B:Really? I you before university.

Present perfect or past simple?

Fill in the gaps with the correct present perfect or past simple forms of the verbs in brackets.
1
ALEX: (you/ever/try) Ethiopian food?
2
PRIYA: Yes, I (try) it last month.
3
ALEX: I (never/eat) injera before — this is my first time.
4
PRIYA: We (go) to a small place in Little Cairo yesterday.
5
It (be) great.
6
ALEX: Cool! I (already/book) a table for tonight.
7
PRIYA: Nice. How long (you/know) that restaurant?
8
ALEX: I (discover) it in 2019.
9
At that time I (live) on King Street.
10
PRIYA: Great. I (not/try) their vegan platter yet — can we order it?