Past Simple describes a finished action at a specific time in the past, while Present Perfect connects the past to now: an experience, or a result you can see today. If the sentence names an exact past time, use Past Simple.
Past Simple or Present Perfect: when to use which
Use Past Simple when the event is finished and only the fact matters. Use Present Perfect when the experience or the result now is important: I’ve lost my keys means I still don’t have them.
- Past Simple: V2 (worked, went, saw). Questions and negatives use did / didn’t.
- Present Perfect: have / has + V3 (worked, gone, seen). Find irregular V3 forms in the irregular verbs table.
- I saw that film last year.A finished time (last year): Past Simple.
- Have you ever been to Lviv?An experience with no specific time: Present Perfect.
- I’ve never tried sushi.An experience up to now.
- I can’t find my keys — I’ve lost them.The result matters now: the keys are still lost.
- She has just finished her homework.A recent action with a result now.
- We moved to Odesa in 2018.A specific year in the past: Past Simple.
Time markers: the words that give it away
- Past Simple: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago, when I was a child, at six o’clock — the time is over or named exactly.
- Present Perfect: ever, never, already, yet, just, recently, so far, and today, this week while the period is still going on.
The most common mistake is putting Present Perfect next to an exact past time. Learners often say I have seen him yesterday, but the correct form is I saw him yesterday. If the sentence has yesterday, in 2019 or ago, use Past Simple.
Check yourself
Complete the sentences with the correct form, then check the answer:
1.I ___ (visit) Paris twice, and I loved it.
Answer
I’ve visited Paris twice, and I loved it.
2.___ you ___ (eat) yet?
Answer
Have you eaten yet?
3.She ___ (read) this book last month.
Answer
She read this book last month.
4.I ___ (lose) my wallet, so I can’t pay now.
Answer
I’ve lost my wallet, so I can’t pay now.
Full explanations and plenty of practice are part of our lessons. To try more exercises, use our grammar quizzes, then book a free trial lesson.
