Past Simple vs Present Perfect. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience.
The idea
Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Structure & examples
I saw that film last Saturday.
I have seen three films this week.
Notice the pattern
Ask whether the time window is finished. Last year and ten minutes ago place an event in a completed period. So far, yet and an unfinished period such as this week can connect the event to now. Do not use the present perfect simply because an event is recent.
I have already sent it.
We moved here last year.
Important notes & common mistakes
Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Before you practice
First choose a form from the options. Then produce it yourself using the word or structure in the instruction. Finally, build complete sentences. Check the explanation after each answer and revisit any mistakes in your review list.
Extended topic: Past Simple vs Present Perfect
Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
Examples in context
Notice how each form fits its sentence. Read the context before choosing a form.
I lost my keys yesterday.
She has lived here for ten years and still lives here.
When did you last see him?
We have served three customers so far this morning.
They moved to Madrid in 2019.
Your progress
Ready to move on?
Mark this lesson as studied when you have finished the explanation.
Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
I ___ Athens in 2019.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: visited
Completed sentence: I visited Athens in 2019. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
She ___ her passport and cannot find it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: has lost
Completed sentence: She has lost her passport and cannot find it. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
We ___ yet.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: have not finished
Completed sentence: We have not finished yet. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Did you ___ him yesterday?
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: see
Completed sentence: Did you see him yesterday? Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Question 1 of 50% complete
I ___ that film last Saturday.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: saw
Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: visited
Completed sentence: I visited Athens in 2019. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: has lost
Completed sentence: She has lost her passport and cannot find it. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: have not finished
Completed sentence: We have not finished yet. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: see
Completed sentence: Did you see him yesterday? Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: met
Completed sentence: Use meet: I met her last summer. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: have never tried
Completed sentence: Use never try in the present perfect: We have never tried surfing. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: started
Completed sentence: Use start: The lesson started ten minutes ago. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: has written
Completed sentence: Use write in the present perfect: She has written three pages so far. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: left
Completed sentence: Use leave: He left home at eight this morning. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: I have seen three films this week
Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now. Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: I have already sent it
I have already sent it. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now. Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: We moved here last year
We moved here last year. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now. Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Have you ever been abroad
Have you ever been abroad? Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now. Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: She bought it yesterday
She bought it yesterday. Use the past simple with a finished time. Use the present perfect for a period continuing until now. Yesterday takes the past simple, not the present perfect.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: lost
Completed sentence: I lost my keys yesterday. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: has lived
Completed sentence: She has lived here for ten years and still lives here. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: did
Completed sentence: When did you last see him? Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: have served
Completed sentence: We have served three customers so far this morning. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: moved
Completed sentence: They moved to Madrid in 2019. Use the present perfect to connect the past with now, including unfinished time and experience. Use the past simple for finished events and dates. An unfinished period can contain a finished past event, so context rather than a time word alone determines the tense.
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