B1
Past Simple vs Present Perfect
Master the difference between finished actions and present experiences
Key Differences
🇬🇧 English
Past Simple: Use for finished actions with a known time.
Present Perfect: Use for experiences or when the time is not specified.
🇫🇷 Français
Prétérit: Utilisez pour des actions terminées à un moment précis.
Present Perfect: S'utilise pour exprimer une expérience ou un lien avec le présent.
Detailed Comparison
| Aspect | Past Simple | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Finished actions with known time | Experiences or actions with present relevance |
| Time markers | yesterday, last week, in 2020, ago | ever, never, just, already, yet, since, for |
| Focus | When it happened | The result or experience |
| Example | I visited Paris last year. | I have visited Paris several times. |
| Question form | When did you go? | Have you ever been there? |
Common Mistakes
I have seen her yesterday.
I saw her yesterday.
Use Past Simple with specific time (yesterday)
Did you ever visit London?
Have you ever visited London?
Use Present Perfect for life experiences with 'ever'
I have finished my homework at 3pm.
I finished my homework at 3pm.
Use Past Simple with specific times