A fun way to see the differences between Past Simple and Present Perfect Simple

1. PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST
SIMPLE

2. Past Tense
It is used to express an action started and ended
at a specific time in the past.
e.g. I saw him yesturday at the cinema.
Did you see him yesturday at the cinema?
I did not see him yesturday at the cinema.

3. PRESENT PERFECT
● The action happened ● You can not use
at an unspecific time Present Perfect with
before now. specific time
● The exact time is not expressions such as:
important. yesturday, last week,
last year, before,
● We often use Present already, yet, etc.
Perfect to talk about
changes that happent
● It is not used to
over the time. describe a specific
event or a specific
time.

4. Examples Present Perfect Simple
● I have seen that ● He has never
movie twenty times. travelled by train.
● ●
● People have travelled ● Have you ever met
to the Moon. him?
● ●
● Have you read the ● The rain has not
book? stopped.

5. Examples Present Perfect vs. Past
Simple
● I left the house in a ● I have been to
hurry. England.
● ●
● Did you leave the ● Have you been to
house in a hurry? England?
● ●
● I did not leave the ● I have not been to
house in a hurry. England.