English grammar
Past simple or present perfect? 📕
Both tenses talk about the past. The difference is when and the link to now.
| Past simple | Present perfect |
| Finished time. We say or know when. | Time is not finished, or not important. |
| I saw the film last week. | I have seen the film. |
| She lived in Oslo for two years. (she doesn't live there now) | She has lived in Oslo for two years. (she still lives there) |
| I lost my keys yesterday. | I have lost my keys. (I still don't have them) |
The time word decides
| Past simple | Present perfect |
| yesterday, last year, in 2019, ago, when ...? | ever, never, yet, just, since, so far |
✗ I have seen him yesterday.
✓ I saw him yesterday.
✗ When have you arrived?
✓ When did you arrive?
✗ Did you ever eat sushi? (about your whole life)
✓ Have you ever eaten sushi?
Telling a story
Start with the present perfect, then give the details in the past simple:
I've been to Rome. I went there in 2022. It was wonderful.