Present Perfect vs Past Simple
This is one of the most important contrasts at B1. Both tenses talk about the past, but they answer different questions. Past Simple talks about a finished time; Present Perfect…
This is one of the most important contrasts at B1. Both tenses talk about the past, but they answer different questions. Past Simple talks about a finished time; Present Perfect connects the past to now.
The core difference
| Tense | Use it when | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | the time is finished and known (yesterday, last year, in 2019, at 8pm) | I visited London last year. |
| Present Perfect | the time is unfinished or unimportant; the result matters now | I have visited London. (I have the experience now) |
The key questionAsk yourself: is the time finished? If you say when (a finished time), use Past Simple. If you only care about the experience or result up to now, use Present Perfect. “I saw that film yesterday” vs “I have seen that film” (at some point — no time given).
Form
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | subject + past form (verb-ed / irregular) | She worked. / He went. |
| Present Perfect | subject + have/has + past participle | She has worked. / He has gone. |
Time words that signal each tense
| Past Simple signals | Present Perfect signals |
|---|---|
| yesterday, last week, in 2020, ago, when I was young | ever, never, already, yet, just, since, for, recently, so far |
Examples from EduCareer
- Aisha started her course in January. (finished time → Past Simple)
- Aisha has finished three lessons so far. (up to now → Present Perfect)
- Have you ever spoken to a native teacher?
- Omar has just booked his first lesson.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersArabic doesn’t separate these two ideas with different tenses the way English does, so it’s common to use Past Simple everywhere. Train your ear on the helper word have/has — if there is a finished time word (yesterday, last week), drop “have” and use Past Simple. Also remember: since + a point in time (since 2020), for + a length of time (for two years).
Common mistakes
- I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday. (finished time)
- I have been here since two years. → I have been here for two years.
- Did you ever eat sushi? → Have you ever eaten sushi? (life experience)
- She has went home. → She has gone home. (past participle)
Practise the contrast with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."I ___ London last year."
'last year' = finished time → Past Simple.
2."I ___ London. I know it well now." (no time given)
No time word, experience up to now → Present Perfect.
3."She ___ her homework yesterday."
'yesterday' → Past Simple.
4."She ___ three lessons so far."
'so far' = up to now → Present Perfect.
5."___ you ever spoken to a native teacher?"
'ever' (life experience) → Present Perfect with Have.
6."Omar ___ just booked his first lesson."
'just' → Present Perfect; he/she → has.
7.Which time word goes with Past Simple?
'yesterday' is a finished time.
8.Which time word goes with Present Perfect?
'never' signals Present Perfect.
9."I have lived here ___ 2020."
since + a point in time.
10."I have lived here ___ five years."
for + a length of time.
11.Which is correct?
Finished time → Past Simple.
12.Which is correct?
Present Perfect needs the past participle 'gone'.
13."___ you finish the report last night?"
'last night' → Past Simple question with Did.
14."We ___ already eaten."
'already' → Present Perfect.
15."He ___ to Paris in 2018."
'in 2018' = finished time → Past Simple.
16."I haven't seen that film ___."
'yet' is used in negatives/questions with Present Perfect.
17."They ___ the project two days ago."
'ago' → Past Simple.
18."This is the best book I ___ ever read."
'ever' with experience → Present Perfect.
19.Past participle of 'eat':
eat – ate – eaten.
20."When ___ you start learning English?"
'When' asks about a specific finished time → Past Simple with did.
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