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Present Perfect or Simple Past

We usually use the Present Perfect Simple tense (have/has + past participle) in two situations:

1)To talk about a verb that happened and finished in the past, when our reader / listener does not know the time

Example:

I've traveled to Japan once.

In this example, the reader / listener knows the speaker has traveled to Japan once, but they do not know when it happened.

BulbIf we say when the verb happened, or our reader / listener already knows when the verb happened, we should use the Simple Past.

Example:

I traveled to Japan once when I was a teenager.

BulbWe do not use the Present Perfect in questions with “when”. We use the Simple Past instead.

Example:

When have you traveled to Japan?

When did you travel to Japan?

BulbAfter we start talking about a subject with a Present Perfect sentence, we often switch to the Simple Past when we give more details about the same subject, even though the time is still unknown to our reader / listener.

Example:

I've traveled to Japan once. I went there with my husband. We stayed in a great hotel for five nights. ...

BulbWe use the Simple Past to talk about historical events or dead people.

Examples:

Charlie Chaplin directed a lot of good movies.

Thousands of people died during the Second World War.

BulbWe often use “just”, “already”, and “yet” with the Present Perfect.

just(= a short time ago)We put it between "have / has" and the past participle.

Example:

I've just had a sandwich. (= I had a sandwich a short time ago.)

already(= before now / earlier than expected)We put it between "have / has" and the past participle.

Example:

"Come and eat with us. Dinner is ready!""Thanks, but I've already eaten something." (= I ate something before you asked.)

yet(= until now)We use it at the end of negative sentences and questions.

Example:

"Have you packed your suitcase yet?""No, I haven't packed it yet."

BulbWe often use the Present Perfect with "ever" and "never" to talk about life experiences. These words come between "have/has" and the past participle.

everWe usually use "ever" in questions.

Example:

Have you ever tried scuba-diving?

neverWe use "never" with a positive verb, but it gives a negative meaning.

Example:

He's never ridden a horse.

BulbSometimes, the Present Perfect means the situation is still true now. But the Simple Past means the situation is finished.

Examples:

I've lost my keys. (= I still don't have them.)

He was married for five years. (= He is not married now.)

BulbThe verb "go" has two past participles with different meanings:

gone (= The person is still there. He/she hasn't come back yet.)
been (= The person is not there now. He/she has come back.)

Examples:

Dad: "Where's your mom?"Son: "She's gone shopping."

Brother: "Our fridge is full!"Sister: "Yeah, mom's been shopping."

2)To talk about a state that started in the past and has continued until now

Example:

She has worked in this office for ten years.

BulbIn such sentences, we often use "for" and "since" in the time expression.

for + a period of time
since + the beginning of the time period

Examples:

We've lived in this apartment for three years.

They've been married since 2022.

BulbWe use “how long...?” with the Present Perfect to ask about the duration of a situation that has continued until now.

Example:

How long have you lived in this apartment?

RELATED TOPIC

linkTo Be (Past) (Elementary)

linkThe Past Simple (Regular Verbs) (Elementary)

linkThe Past Simple (Irregular Verbs) (Elementary)

linkThere Was / Were (Elementary)

linkThe Present Perfect Simple (Elementary)

Exercises

Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect or Simple Past from of the verbs in parentheses.

1I ____ to the barber's last week. (go)

I went to the barber's last week.

2She thinks she ____ this movie before. (see)

She thinks she has seen this movie before.

3I've ridden a horse once. It ____ a lot of fun. (be)

I've ridden a horse once. It was a lot of fun.

4My grandfather always ____ me with my problems. I'm afraid he passed away last year. (help)

My grandfather always helped me with my problems. I'm afraid he passed away last year.

5I ____ never ____ to Thailand. (go)

I have never been to Thailand.

6____ you ever ____ on stage in front of people? (sing)

Have you ever sung on stage in front of people?

7We ____ each other since we were at school. (know)

We've known each other since we were at school. (know)

8My brother isn't at home now. He ____ to his friend's house. (go)

My brother isn't at home now. He's gone to his friend's house.

9When ____ you ____ her? (call)

When did you call her?