Present Perfect vs Past Simple — Which One?

B1 — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing

Kenji: Have you ever eaten at that new restaurant?

Sofía: Yes! I have been there twice. I went on Friday... and I went back on Saturday. No regrets.

Ben: I have never tried it... because I lost my wallet last week.

Abuela Carmen: I have cooked ten thousand dinners in my life, and nobody ever paid me. Invite her, Ben.

Common mistake: “I have visited Paris last year.” — Correct: “I visited Paris last year.”

Choose past simple when the moment is closed (yesterday, in 2020, ago); choose present perfect when the time is still open or the exact moment doesn't matter.

• past yesterday — the completed day preceding today (past simple)
• past last year — the previous calendar year (past simple)
• past in 2020 — a closed historical year (past simple)
• past two days ago — forty-eight hours before now (past simple)
• present perf already — sooner than anticipated (present perfect)
• present perf yet — up to this moment in questions / negatives
• present perf just — an immediate moment before now (present perfect)
• present perf ever — at any point in lifetime up to now
• present perf never — at zero points in lifetime up to now
• duration for 5 years — duration continuing up to the present moment
• start point since May — starting point anchored in May until now
• time window this morning — open or finished depending on time of day

• I have been to Madrid twice. I went there in 2020 and 2023.
• Ben has broken his arm three times in his life.
• Ben broke his arm last year.
• Sofía has already sent the email. She sent it this morning.
• I haven't seen that movie yet.
• I didn't see the movie last night.
• Kenji hasn't visited Cartagena yet, but he visited Bogotá in May.
• Have you ever been to Madrid?
• When did you go there?
• Has she sent the email yet?
• Have you finished? Yes, I have — I finished an hour ago.
• Did you go out last night? No, I didn't.
• Has Ben ever broken a bone? Yes, he has.

Practice

1. I ___ Paris last year. (visited, have visited, have visit)
2. I ___ Paris three times in my life. (visited, have visited, was visiting)
3. When ___ you go there? (have, has, did)
4. She hasn't finished ___. (yesterday, yet, last night)
5. With finished time expressions (yesterday, in 2020, ago) we use past simple.
6. 'I have seen him yesterday' is correct.
7. Ben ___ (break) his arm last year.
8. Ben ___ (break) his arm three times in his life.
9. Kenji hasn't visited Cartagena ___.
10. Unscramble: I, have, been, to, Madrid, twice
11. Unscramble: when, did, you, go, there
12. Find the mistake: I have visited Paris last year.
13. Find the mistake: Did you ever been to Europe?
14. Find the mistake: We have saw that movie already.
15. You have been to Madrid. — Ask for the specific moment (use 'when' + past simple).
16. Have you ever tried sushi? (Yes — last month) — Answer with the short answer + the detail in past simple.
17. She has sent the email. — Write the negative form.
18. They went out last night. — Write the negative form.
19. He has already finished. — Write the negative form (use 'yet').
20. Have you ever been to Madrid? (short answer)
21. Did you study English yesterday? (short answer, No)

Listening

Sofía: Ben, have you found your wallet yet?

Ben: Yes, I have! I found it this morning. It was in the fridge.

Kenji: The fridge? How did it get there?

Ben: I put it there on Tuesday... next to the cheese. Don't ask.

Abuela Carmen: I have seen many strange things in my life, but I have never seen a wallet in a fridge.

Sofía: You have now, Abuela. You have now.

Reading

Sofía's client interview, part two. 'Have you ever worked with a difficult client?' they asked her. 'Yes, I have,' she said. 'Last year, a client changed the logo eleven times. He asked for more blue, but less blue. I finished the project in December, and I have never used that shade of blue again.' 'And have you ever missed a deadline?' 'No, I haven't. I have been a designer for seven years, and I delivered every single project on time. Even the blue one.'

• Sofía has worked with a difficult client.
• The client changed the logo three times.
• She finished the blue project in December.
• Sofía has missed many deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect?

Use the Past Simple when the time period is finished (yesterday, last year, in 2020) and the action is completed. Use the Present Perfect when the time is unfinished (today, this week, in my life) or when a past action has a direct result in the present moment.

Which time expressions signal the Past Simple vs Present Perfect?

Past Simple uses definite past time markers: yesterday, ago, last night, in 1999, when I was a child. Present Perfect uses indefinite or open time markers: already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for, so far, recently.

Why is 'I have lived here for 3 years' correct, but 'I lived here for 3 years' means something else?

'I have lived here for 3 years' (Present Perfect) means you moved here 3 years ago and you STILL live here today. 'I lived here for 3 years' (Past Simple) means the period is finished and you no longer live there.

What is the #1 mistake Spanish speakers make with Present Perfect?

Spanish speakers often translate directly from 'He visto a María ayer' and say 'I have seen Maria yesterday' (*incorrect). In English, as soon as you say 'yesterday', the rule forces Past Simple: 'I saw Maria yesterday'.