This document summarizes the uses of the past simple and present perfect tenses in English. The past simple is used for finished actions in a definite past time, states that cannot happen again, and sequential past actions. The present perfect is used for unfinished actions with results in the present, very recent actions, actions that began in the past and continue to the present, and experiences over one's lifetime. The document provides examples to illustrate the uses and contrasts the tenses using time expressions like "yesterday" for past simple and "since, for" for present perfect.

1. Past simple / present perfect
Past simple is used:
Present perfect is used:
• Actions that finished in a
definite time in the past
•
I bought this car last week.
I have lost my key. (I can’t find it
now)
Have you seen Ann? (She is not
here now)
• To ask when? what time?
Where?
They have arrived. ≠
When did they arrive?
An hour ago.
Actions which happened in an
indefinite time in the past and
with visible results in the present
•
To describe very recent actions
She has just moved to a larger
flat.

2. Past simple / present perfect
Past simple is used:
Present perfect is used:
•
• To talk about past states that
cannot happen again
Shakespeare was a writer. He
wrote plays and poems. (from
1564 to 1616)
• For actions which finished in
the past, one after the other.
She lived in this house for ten
years and then moved to
another one. (sequence of
past actions)
For actions which started in the past
and continue in the present
She has lived in this flat since 2005.
She has lived there for three years.
(She still lives there!)
•
To describe experiences in our lifetime
Have you ever eaten Chinese food?
I have already eaten Chop Suey.
I haven’t eaten Japanese food yet.
(in your life until now)
≠ Did you eat Chinese food when you
were in China? Yes, I did.
(specific time in the past)

3. Past simple / present perfect
Time expressions:
Time expressions:
• Yesterday
• last week (...)
• six months ago
• in 1975, at 3 o’clock
• Just, recently
• ever, never
• already, yet
• since, for
• so far
• how long