Simple Past vs Present Perfect

A2 Elementary · Lesson 1
A2

Simple Past vs Present Perfect

Simple Past

Use for finished actions at a specific time in the past.

  • The time is mentioned or known.
  • The action is completely finished.
I went to Paris last year.
She didn't eat breakfast this morning.
Did you watch the film yesterday?

Present Perfect

Use for life experience or a recent action with a result now.

  • No specific time is mentioned.
  • The result is important now.
I have visited Paris. (in my life)
She has just eaten. (she isn't hungry now)
Have you ever watched that film?

Form

Simple Past: subject + past form of verb (regular: +ed / irregular: own form)

go → went  |  eat → ate  |  see → saw  |  buy → bought  |  visit → visited  |  watch → watched  |  finish → finished  |  travel → travelled

Present Perfect: subject + have/has + past participle

go → gone  |  eat → eaten  |  see → seen  |  buy → bought  |  visit → visited  |  watch → watched  |  finish → finished  |  travel → travelled

Signal Words

Simple PastPresent Perfect
yesterday, last week, last year, last nightever, never
in 2019, in January, on Mondayjust, already, yet
ago (two days ago, a week ago)recently, before, so far
this morning (finished)today (still ongoing)

Exercise 1 · Which Tense?

Read each sentence. Click Simple Past or Present Perfect.

Exercise 2 · Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb form.

Exercise 3 · Matching

Match each sentence to its meaning.

Exercise 4 · Gap Fill

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Exercise 5 · Word Order

Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.

Exercise 6 · Word Sort

Click each sentence to sort it into the correct column.

Finished action at a specific time

Life experience or recent result

Exercise 7 · Complete the Conversation

Choose the correct verb form in each gap.

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