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TermsEnglish (UK) · Present Perfect
Past Simple or Present Perfect?
Choose the tense by looking at the time.
- Past simple for a finished time in the past: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago, when I was ten. I saw Tom yesterday.
- Present perfect (have/has + past participle) for time that runs up to now: since, for ... now, so far, never, the first time. I have lived here since 2019. I have never been to Japan.
Never combine the present perfect with a finished time word: I have seen him yesterday is wrong; say I saw him yesterday.
With just, already and yet, British English uses the present perfect (I have just finished), while American English often uses the past simple (I just finished). Both are accepted here.
Examples
- I saw her yesterday.
- I have never seen the sea.
- We have lived here since 2015.
- He lost his job two years ago.
- I have just called her.
Try it yourself
I (to read) that book last week.Show answer
I read that book last week.
My brother (to never be) to Japan.Show answer
My brother has never been to Japan.
She (to start) her new job last May.Show answer
She started her new job last May.
They (to live) here since 2019.Show answer
They have lived here since 2019.
I (to just finish) my homework.Show answer
I have just finished my homework.
We (to be) in Spain last summer.Show answer
We were in Spain last summer.
I (to read) five books so far this month.Show answer
I have read five books so far this month.
He (to lose) his wallet two days ago.Show answer
He lost his wallet two days ago.
I (to lose) three umbrellas since September.Show answer
I have lost three umbrellas since September.
I (to see) Tom at the supermarket yesterday.Show answer
I saw Tom at the supermarket yesterday.