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English grammar

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Updated 27 Oct 2026 4 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: Present perfect vs past simple — I have seen that film vs I saw that film yesterday, finished vs unfinished time
Short answer

Choose the past simple for an action in a finished time you can point to (I saw her yesterday), and the present perfect when the time is unspecified or still matters now (I have seen her). A finished-time word such as yesterday forces the past simple.

On this page10 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02Finished vs unfinished time
  3. 03Example sentences
  4. 04Common mistakes
  5. 05A short conversation
  6. 06Usage notes
  7. 07Compared with…
  8. 08Practice
  9. 09Quiz
  10. 10Recap cheat-sheet

Level: A2. This is one of the great English puzzles: I saw or I have seen? Both talk about the past, but they answer different questions. The past simple fixes an event in a finished time; the present perfect keeps it connected to now. Learn the signal words and the choice becomes clear.

The rule

The past simple (saw, went, worked) describes an action in a finished period of time — a time you could put on a calendar, even if you don’t say it. It answers when?: I saw her yesterday.

The present perfect (have/has + past participle: have seen, has gone) describes an action whose exact time is not given or not important, because the result or experience still matters now: I have seen that film (so I don’t need to see it again).

The quickest test is the time word. If the sentence has a finished-time marker — yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago, when I was a child — you must use the past simple. If the time is open or unstated — ever, never, so far, recently, since Monday, for three years — the present perfect fits.

Finished vs unfinished time

Use the past simple with… Use the present perfect with…
yesterday, last night, last week so far, up to now, recently
in 2019, in July, at 6 o’clock ever, never, before
two days ago, an hour ago for three years, since Monday
when I was young, then already, just, yet
a specific finished moment an unspecified or ongoing time

For and since go with the present perfect: for + a length of time (for two years), since + a starting point (since 2020). Ago goes with the past simple and always counts back from now (two years ago).

Example sentences

  1. I have seen that film.
    Present perfect — time unknown, the experience matters now.
  2. I saw that film last night.
    Past simple — a finished time (last night).
  3. She has lived in Rome.
    At some point in her life — unspecified time.
  4. She lived in Rome in 2015.
    A finished year needs the past simple.
  5. We have finished the project.
    It is done and the result matters now.
  6. We finished the project yesterday.
    'yesterday' forces the past simple.
  7. Have you ever eaten sushi?
    'ever' = at any time in your life → present perfect.
  8. Did you eat sushi on your trip?
    A finished trip → past simple.
  9. He has worked here for ten years.
    'for' + length of time, still true now.
  10. He worked there for ten years.
    Past simple — the job is over now.
  11. I have known her since 2010.
    'since' + starting point, up to now.
  12. I met her in 2010.
    A single finished event → past simple.
  13. They have just arrived.
    'just' with the present perfect — recent, no exact time.
  14. They arrived two hours ago.
    'ago' always takes the past simple.
  15. My phone has broken.
    It broke and it is still broken now.
  16. My phone broke last Tuesday.
    A named day → past simple.
  17. Prices have risen a lot recently.
    'recently' with present relevance → present perfect.
  18. Prices rose sharply in 2008.
    A finished year → past simple.
  19. I have never been to Japan.
    'never' over your whole life → present perfect.
  20. I went to Japan when I was twenty.
    A finished time in the past → past simple.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ I have seen him yesterday. → ✅ I saw him yesterday. A finished-time word (yesterday) always takes the past simple.
  • ❌ When have you bought this car? → ✅ When did you buy this car? When asks for a specific time, so use the past simple.
  • ❌ I have met her two years ago. → ✅ I met her two years ago. Ago marks finished time → past simple.
  • ❌ She lives here since 2018. → ✅ She has lived here since 2018. Since + a start point needs the present perfect, not the present simple.
  • ❌ I have worked here since three years. → ✅ I have worked here for three years. Use for with a length of time; since only with a starting point.
  • ❌ Did you ever eat snails? for a life question → ✅ Have you ever eaten snails? For “at any time in your life”, use the present perfect.

A short conversation

A: I’ve lost my keys! B: Oh no. When did you last see them? A: I had them this morning — I used them when I left the house. B: So you’ve already searched your coat? They’ve probably fallen inside the lining.

Usage notes

  • Why news starts in the present perfect. Headlines open with the result (A train has crashed near the city) because it matters now, then give details in the past simple (It left the station at 8 a.m. and hit…).
  • “Have you ever…?” vs “Did you…?” Use the present perfect for a whole life so far (Have you ever flown?); use the past simple for a finished occasion (Did you fly to the meeting?).
  • British vs American. British English prefers the present perfect with just/already/yet; American English often uses the past simple there (I just ate). With exact finished-time words, both varieties use the past simple.
  • Today, this week, this year. These can go with either: the present perfect if the period is still open (I have drunk three coffees today — the day isn’t over), the past simple once it feels finished (I drank three coffees today — looking back on it).

Compared with…

  • Present perfect for experience uses ever and never for life experiences at an unspecified time (I have never eaten octopus). This page is about choosing between that unspecified time and a named finished time. See Present Perfect for Experience.
  • Present perfect continuous (have been + -ing) stresses the ongoing activity or its duration (I have been waiting for an hour), while the simple present perfect stresses the completed result (I have waited long enough). See Present Perfect Continuous.

Cheat-sheet card: present perfect vs past simple — finished time takes the past simple, unspecified time takes the present perfect

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Present perfect vs past simple practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct sentence.
Show answer

I saw him yesterday. — 'Yesterday' is a finished time, so use the past simple: I saw him yesterday.

Hint: since + start point

Show answer

has lived — 'Since' points to a start time and the action continues now → present perfect: has lived.

3 Put the words in order.

Show answer

They arrived two hours ago — 'Ago' takes the past simple: They arrived two hours ago.

4 Match each time word to its tense.

  • yesterday
  • since Monday
  • two days ago
  • so far
Show answer
  • yesterday → past simple
  • since Monday → present perfect
  • two days ago → past simple
  • so far → present perfect

Finished-time words → past simple; open/unspecified-time words → present perfect.

5 Which question asks about your whole life?
Show answer

Have you ever eaten frog legs? — 'Have you ever…?' asks about any time in your life → present perfect.

Hint: a length of time

Show answer

for — Use 'for' with a length of time; 'since' only with a starting point.

Quiz

Check yourself

Present perfect vs past simple quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Which tense goes with a finished time like 'last week'?
    Show answer

    past simple — A finished-time word forces the past simple.

  2. 2Complete: 'I ___ my homework. Can I go out now?' (it's done, time not stated)
    Show answer

    have done — Result matters now, no time stated → present perfect: have done.

  3. 3Complete: 'We ___ to Spain in 2018.'
    Show answer

    went — 'In 2018' is a finished time → past simple: went.

  4. 4Which sentence is correct?
    Show answer

    I saw her two days ago. — 'Ago' takes the past simple: I saw her two days ago.

  5. 5Choose 'for' or 'since': 'She has studied English ___ 2015.'
    Show answer

    since — 2015 is a starting point, so use 'since'.

  6. 6Complete: 'They have lived here ___ ten years.'
    Show answer

    for — Ten years is a length of time, so use 'for'.

  7. 7Which asks about an experience at any time in life?
    Show answer

    Have you ever visited Rome? — 'Have you ever…?' = at any time in your life → present perfect.

  8. 8Complete: 'When ___ you born?'
    Show answer

    were — 'When' asks for a specific finished time → past simple of 'be': were.

  9. 9Pick the correct news opener and detail.
    Show answer

    A storm has hit the coast; it damaged many homes last night. — Open with the present perfect for relevance, then give finished-time details in the past simple.

  10. 10Which sentence is WRONG?
    Show answer

    I have met him in 2010. — 'In 2010' is a finished time; it cannot go with the present perfect.

  11. Show answer

    broke — A named finished day → past simple: broke.

  12. 12'I have drunk two coffees today' is possible because…
    Show answer

    the day is not finished yet — 'Today' can be an open period, so the present perfect works while the day continues.

Recap cheat-sheet

Question Tense Signal words
Is the time finished? Yes past simple yesterday, ago, in 2019
Time open or unstated? present perfect ever, never, so far, yet
From a start point to now present perfect since 2020
For a length of time present perfect for three years

Next

Your English course

All English grammar topics

Every grammar point in order, from your first sentence to advanced structures. Pick one and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.

Grammar path

125 topics 125 ready now
A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
  2. 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
  3. 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
  4. 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
  5. 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
  6. 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
  7. 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
  8. 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
  9. 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
  10. 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
  11. 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
  12. 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
  13. 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
  14. 14 Can and Can't for Ability
  15. 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
  16. 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
  17. 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
  18. 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
  19. 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
  20. 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
  21. 21 How Much vs How Many
  22. 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
  23. 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
  24. 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
  25. 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
  26. 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
  28. 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
  30. 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
  2. 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
  3. 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
  4. 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
  5. 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
  7. 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
  9. 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
  10. 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple You are here
  12. 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
  13. 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
  14. 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
  15. 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
  16. 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
  17. 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
  18. 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
  19. 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
  20. 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
  21. 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
  22. 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
  23. 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
  24. 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
  25. 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
  1. 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
  2. 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
  3. 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
  4. 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
  5. 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
  6. 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
  7. 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
  8. 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
  9. 64 Reported Questions
  10. 65 Reported Commands and Requests
  11. 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
  12. 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
  13. 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
  20. 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
  21. 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
  22. 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
  23. 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
  24. 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
  15. 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
  16. 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
  19. 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
  20. 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
  4. 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
  5. 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
  6. 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
  7. 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
  8. 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
  9. 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
  10. 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
  11. 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
  12. 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
  13. 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
  14. 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
  15. 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
  16. 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
  17. 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
  18. 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)