Present Perfect or Past Simple: how to stop mixing them up

This is probably the question we hear most in class. Both tenses talk about the past, but they look at it differently.

The short rule

Past Simple is for a finished event at a specific time in the past. When matters, even if it isn’t stated.

I visited London in 2023.

Present Perfect is for an experience or a result that matters now. Exactly when it happened isn’t important.

I have visited London. (It’s part of my experience.)

Three guiding questions

1. Is there a finished time in the past? (yesterday, last week, in 2020, when I was a child) → Past Simple.
2. Does the result matter now? (I’ve lost my keys — and still can’t find them) → Present Perfect.
3. Is the time period still going on? (today, this week, this year) → usually Present Perfect.

Common mistakes

• ✗ I have seen him yesterday. → ✓ I saw him yesterday.
• ✗ Did you ever try sushi? → ✓ Have you ever tried sushi? (life experience)
• ✗ I live here since 2020. → ✓ I have lived here since 2020.

Try it yourself

Choose the correct option:

1. She (finish / has finished) her project — look, it’s on the desk!
2. We (met / have met) at a conference last spring.
3. (Did you see / Have you seen) the new Marvel film yet?

Answers: has finished, met, Have you seen.

Curious how confident you are with grammar overall? Take our free level test — it takes about five minutes.