Use for completed actions at a specific, finished time.
Use when the past connects to the present: experience, recent result, or ongoing situation.
At B1 level it is important to understand how for and since work with the present perfect, and how to recognise whether a time period is finished or still ongoing.
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| for + duration (PP) | Period continues up to now | She has worked here for six years. |
| for + duration (SP) | Period is completely finished | She worked there for six years before leaving. |
| since + point in time | From that point until now | He has maintained this blog since 2018. |
| Unfinished period (this week / today / this year) | Period not yet over → present perfect | I have achieved a lot this month. |
| Finished period (last week / yesterday / in 2020) | Period over → simple past | I achieved a lot last month. |
| Simple Past | Present Perfect |
|---|---|
| yesterday, last week/month/year | ever, never, already, yet, just |
| in 2015, on Monday, ago | since (+ point in time), for (ongoing) |
| when (finished clause) | this week / this year / today (unfinished) |
| for (finished period) | recently, so far, up to now |
Simple Past: verb in past form (regular +ed / irregular own form)
Present Perfect: have / has + past participle
Negative: didn't + base form | haven't / hasn't + past participle
Question: Did + subject + base form? | Have/Has + subject + past participle?
Read each sentence. Click Simple Past or Present Perfect.
Choose the correct verb form.
Match each sentence to its meaning.
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
Click each sentence to sort it into the correct column.
Choose the correct verb form in each gap.
Total Score
out of 56
Scores update when you check each exercise.