B2-PRESENT PERFECT VS SIMPLE PAST
Explicación
Tower Languages
Online Learning is Today
Created by Julio Ángel R. — Bilingual Educator
Present Perfect vs Simple Past
Grammar Guide
📗 Present Perfect
🔷 Structure
✅ Positive — Subject + have / has + past participle
I have eaten sushi.
She has finished her homework.
❌ Negative — Subject + have / has + not + past participle
I haven't seen that movie.
He hasn't arrived yet.
❓ Questions — Have / Has + subject + past participle?
Have you finished your homework?
Has she called you?
📌 Uses
1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
Used with for and since to show duration.
I have lived here for five years. She has studied English since 2020.
2. Life experiences (unspecified time)
Used to talk about whether something has ever happened.
She has visited Japan twice. I have tried sushi.
3. Actions with a result in the present
The action happened in the past but affects the present.
I have lost my keys. (I can't find them now) She has broken her phone. (it doesn't work now)
4. Unfinished time periods
Used with expressions that refer to a period that is still ongoing.
We have had three meetings this week. I have studied a lot today.
5. Recent actions
Often used with signal words that indicate something just happened.
I have just finished my report. She has already eaten. Have you finished yet?
⏱️ Common Signal Words
⚠️ Important: Do NOT use Present Perfect with finished time expressions like: yesterday, last year, in 2010.
📗 Simple Past
🟢 Structure
✅ Positive — Subject + past verb
I visited my grandma.
She watched TV.
❌ Negative — Subject + did not + base verb
I didn't visit her.
He didn't finish his homework.
❓ Questions — Did + subject + base verb?
Did you visit your grandma?
Did she watch TV?
📌 Uses
1. Finished actions
I visited Paris last year.
She watched a movie yesterday.
2. Specific time
I met him in 2020.
She arrived at 8 pm.
3. Sequence of actions
I woke up, ate breakfast, and left.
She studied and passed the exam.
4. Past habits
I played soccer when I was a child.
She walked to school every day.
⏱️ Time Expressions
⚖️ Key Difference
| Present Perfect | Simple Past |
|---|---|
| Time is not specific | Time is specific |
| I have seen that movie. | I saw that movie yesterday. |
| She has visited Japan. | She visited Japan in 2019. |
| I have lost my keys. | I lost my keys this morning. |
🧠 Final Rule — Easy Way to Decide
Ask yourself: Is the time mentioned in the sentence?
🔷 Time is NOT mentioned
→ Use Present Perfect
"I have seen that movie."
→ Use Present Perfect
"I have seen that movie."
🟢 Time IS mentioned
→ Use Simple Past
"I saw it yesterday."
→ Use Simple Past
"I saw it yesterday."
Ejercicio 1
Tower Languages
Online Learning is Today
Created by Julio Ángel R. — Bilingual Educator
Present Perfect vs Simple Past
— / 22
Instrucción: Select the correct verb form according to the context. Pay attention to the time expressions!
1
Researchers
a new treatment last year, but they
it on humans yet.
2
I
several articles about climate change this week, and I
a lot so far.
3
She
her presentation an hour ago, but she
it to the manager yet.
4
Scientists
about rising sea levels for decades, and governments
taking action recently.
5
We
the museum last Saturday and
an exhibition on modern technology.
6
He
on this project since January, and he
significant progress so far.
7
They
the campaign in 2022, and it
a lot of attention since then.
8
She
three reports this morning, and she
one of them already.
9
We
at a conference two years ago, and we
on several projects since then.
10
The government
new policies last year, but many citizens
any real improvements yet.
Check Answers ✓
Ejercicio 2
Tower Languages
Online Learning is Today
Created by Julio Ángel R. — Bilingual Educator
Present Perfect vs Simple Past
— / 12
Instrucción: Read the story and select the correct verb form for each blank. Pay attention to the time expressions!
🌱 Community Garden Mystery
A reading exercise — Present Perfect & Simple Past
Paragraph 1
A group of volunteers
a beautiful community garden in Greenfield Park. Over the past few months, they
flowers, vegetables, and small trees.
Paragraph 2
Last weekend, however, something unusual happened. On Saturday night, someone
the wooden fence around the garden. The next morning, the volunteers
that several plants were missing.
Paragraph 3
Since then, the local community
meetings to discuss what to do. They
the missing plants yet.
Paragraph 4
Yesterday, a neighbor
seeing a truck near the park late at night. The police
an investigation and
residents for information so far.
Paragraph 5
Recently, more people
the project to help rebuild the fence. The organizers
new tools, and they
a special event last Sunday to raise awareness.
Check Answers ✓