What is the difference?

Read these explanations carefully. Look at the daily life examples!

🔵

Present Perfect

Something happened in the past, but it is connected to NOW. We don't say exactly when.

🟢

Past Simple

Something happened at a specific time in the past. It is finished. It has no connection to now.

🔵 Present Perfect

have / has + past participle (eaten, seen, done...)

Use this when you talk about experience, change, or news — without saying a time.

"I have eaten sushi before."

👉 It's your experience. We don't say WHEN you ate it.

"She has lost her phone!"

👉 This is news — it matters right now.

"They have lived here for 5 years."

👉 They still live here now.

🟢 Past Simple

verb + -ed OR irregular verb (went, saw, ate...)

Use this when you say a specific time: yesterday, last week, in 2020, when I was young...

"I ate sushi last Friday."

👉 You say exactly when! → Past Simple

"She lost her phone this morning."

👉 Specific time → Past Simple

"They moved here in 2019."

👉 We know the year → Past Simple

🔁 Quick Comparison

Question	🔵 Present Perfect	🟢 Past Simple
When exactly?	No specific time	Yes — we say when
Connection to now?	Yes	No (finished)
Key words	ever, never, already, just, yet	yesterday, last, ago, in 2020
Example	I have seen that film.	I saw it last night.

Signal Words

These words are like clues! They tell you which tense to use.

🔵 Present Perfect Signal Words

When you see these words, use Present Perfect!

ever"Have you ever been to Paris?"

never"I've never eaten a mango."

already"She's already finished."

yet"Has he arrived yet?"

just"They've just left."

for / since"I've lived here for 3 years / since 2020."

recently"He's recently started a new job."

so far"I've done 3 exercises so far."

🟢 Past Simple Signal Words

When you see these words, use Past Simple!

yesterday"I called him yesterday."

last night / week / year"She left last night."

ago"He arrived 2 hours ago."

in 2020"They met in 2020."

when I was..."When I was a child, I loved football."

this morning*"I missed the bus this morning."

* "This morning" = Past Simple if the morning is finished. Present Perfect if it's still morning.

💡 Memory Trick

Ask yourself one question:

"Do I know WHEN it happened?"

✅ YES → Use Past Simple ("I ate pizza last night")

❌ NO → Use Present Perfect ("I have eaten pizza before")

Practice Questions

Choose the correct answer. You will get instant feedback!

Final Quiz

Answer all 10 questions. You will see your score at the end. Good luck! 🍀

English Grammar Practice: Present Perfect and Past Simple

🎓 Grammar Practice Tool

Present Perfect

Past Simple