ep
LoginRegister
← Tiempos Perfectos y Voz Pasiva

Chapter 2

⚖️Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

When to use each correctly

10 activities Use speaker buttons for highlighted phrases

Sign in to save activity and chapter progress.

Practice this chapter in Learn

What you will learn

  • • Differentiate the use of the past simple and the present perfect
  • • Recognize temporary signs that determine the use of each one
  • • Avoid common errors of confusion between both times

Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Regla clave

Past SimplePresent Perfect
Action completed at a specific timeExperience or action without specific time
yesterday, last week, in 2020, agoever, never, already, yet, just

Ejemplos comparados

Past SimplePresent Perfect
I visited Paris last year.I have visited Paris. (alguna vez)
She saw that movie yesterday.She has seen that movie. (already seen her)
They ate sushi on Monday.They have eaten sushi. (in his life)
He went to Japan in 2019.He has been to Japan. (alguna vez)

Temporary signs

Past Simple signalsPresent Perfect signals
yesterdayever / never
last week/month/yearalready / yet
ago (two days ago)just
in 2020 / on Mondayso far / up to now
when I was youngrecently / lately
at 3 o'clocksince / for

With "since" and "for"?

  • Since (point in time): I've lived here since 2018.
  • For (duration): I've lived here for 6 years.
  • Both → Present Perfect (the action continues until now).

Errores comunes

  • ❌ I have visited Paris last year. → ✅ I visited Paris last year.
  • ❌ I saw that movie already. → ✅ I have seen that movie already.
  • ❌ Did you ever eat sushi? → ✅ Have you ever eaten sushi?
Back to top