Past Simple vs Present Perfect

English can be hard to learn because there are 12 verb tenses and these have a range of often confusing rules about their usage. Sometimes learners do not know which tense to use and that is often the case with past simple and present perfect. While both tenses are used to talk about actions in the past, they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts.

In this lesson, I will explain how to use these verb tenses correctly.

Table of Contents

• What is Past Simple?
  • Forming Past Simple
• What is Present Perfect?
• Key Differences Between Past Simple and Present Perfect
• Real-world Applications:
  • Past Simple
  • Present Perfect
• Past Simple vs Present Perfect: An Exercise for English Learners
• Conclusion

What is Past Simple?

The past simple tense usually describes actions that happened at a specific time in the past and are now completed. It can also be used for repeated actions in the past. It does not have a direct connection to the present moment.

You can often recognise the need for the past simple by the use of certain time markers, such as “yesterday,” “last year,” or “in 2001.”

Forming Past Simple

To form the past simple tense, regular verbs add “-ed” to the base form (e.g., “play” becomes “played”). For irregular verbs, the past form varies and needs to be memorised (e.g., “go” becomes “went”).

Examples:

1. I visited Paris last summer.
2. She ate an apple yesterday.

Additional Examples:

Regular Verbs:

3. He cleaned the kitchen two days ago.
4. They danced at the party last weekend.
5. She listened to the new album yesterday.

Irregular Verbs:

6. We saw a movie last night.
7. She broke her phone last week.
8. I swam in the ocean during my vacation.

In each of these examples, the action is clearly situated in the past and is complete, without a direct bearing on the present moment.

These examples should help to solidify your understanding of the past simple tense and its correct formation and usage.

You can learn more about the past simple tense in this lesson. There is also a video lesson here and there are more lessons in my book, Grammar for IELTS Writing.

What is Present Perfect?

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have a connection to the present moment, either because they have just been completed or because they have an effect on or relevance to the present. It is also used for events that took place at an unknown point in the past, and so we often use it for general experiences like “I have been to France.”

The important thing is that the time period continues (or could continue) now. In other words, we cannot talk about the experiences of dead people and we can’t talk about things that happened at a fixed point in the past. You will often see vague time markers like “recently,” “already,” and “ever.”

Forming Present Perfect

The present perfect is formed by using “have/has” + past participle of the verb (e.g., “have eaten,” “has gone”).

Examples:

1. I have visited Paris. (This happened at an unstated point in the past)
2. She has eaten three cookies today. (The time period continues in the present – i.e. she could still eat more cookies)

Additional Examples for Forming Present Perfect:

Regular Verbs:

3. He has cleaned the kitchen. (Implies that the kitchen is now clean, affecting the present)
4. They have danced at parties before. (The specific time is unknown)
5. She has listened to the new album. (This happened in the past and affects the present)

Irregular Verbs:

6. We have seen that movie. (Implies that we are now familiar with the movie, affecting the present)
7. She has broken her phone. (Implies that her phone is currently broken)
8. I have swum in the ocean. (This is a past experience from an unknown time)

You can learn much more about the present perfect tense in this lesson. It gives lots of useful information about how and when to use this vital verb tense.

Key Differences Between Past Simple and Present Perfect

Here are the basic differences between these two tenses:

1. Time Specificity: The past simple is time-specific, while the present perfect is not.
2. Relevance to Present: Present perfect actions are usually relevant to or affect the present; past simple actions do not.
3. Time Markers: Past simple often uses specific time markers, while present perfect usually does not.

Essentially, we can think of it this way:

• For completed past actions and repeated actions in the past, use the past simple tense.
• For actions that began in the past and continue (or could continue) now, use the present perfect tense.

Here’s a simple overview of the differences:

The above explanation includes the past perfect tense. You can learn about the differences between present perfect and past perfect here.

Real-world Applications:

Past Simple

1. Employment History:

• Example: “I worked at Google from 2018 to 2020.” (Specific, completed action)
• Context: If you’re in a job interview and the interviewer asks about your previous work experience, the past simple is most appropriate because you’re talking about a specific period that has ended.

2. Academic Achievements:

• Example: “I graduated from college in 2015.” (Specific, completed action)
• Context: When listing educational qualifications on a resume or in an academic setting, using the past simple provides clear information about an action completed at a specific time.

3. Travel Experiences:

• Example: “I visited Italy last summer.” (Specific, completed action)
• Context: When sharing travel stories or filling out a travel history form, the past simple tense indicates specific trips that occurred at a definite time.

Present Perfect

1. Skills and Experience:

• Example: “I have worked in digital marketing.” (The experience has relevance to my current skill set)
• Context: If you’re discussing your general work experience without specifying when you did it, the present perfect is useful. It shows that you have experience that is relevant to the present, possibly making you a good candidate for a job in digital marketing.

2. Academic Achievements:

• Example: “I have graduated from college.” (The act of graduating has relevance to my current status)
• Context: When the focus is not on when the action happened but on the fact that you have a degree, the present perfect can be useful. This can be particularly relevant in situations like job interviews, where the completion of a degree is a requirement.

3. Life Experiences:

• Example: “I have visited Italy.” (The experience of visiting Italy is relevant to a current conversation about travel)
• Context: In a conversation where the focus is on life experiences rather than when those experiences occurred, the present perfect serves to indicate that you have the experience of visiting Italy, which could be relevant to the current discussion

Past Simple vs Present Perfect: An Exercise for English Learners

Here’s a grammar test about past simple vs present perfect:

I made this for my followers on Twitter (now X). Teachers are welcome to use this in their lessons.

Conclusion

Understanding how to use past simple and present perfect correctly will not only improve your grammar but also make your communication more effective in a variety of real-world situations.

In summary, mastering the differences between the past simple and present perfect tenses is crucial for effective communication. Keep the rules and examples in mind as you navigate through English conversations and writings, and you’ll find it becomes second nature to choose the right tense for the right occasion.

If you found this lesson useful, you might appreciate learning about present simple vs present present.