Present Perfect or Past Simple?
The basic rule: a finished time like yesterday or in 2019 takes the past simple, and no time at all takes have / has + past participle (the third form: go, went, gone). The harder case is a time phrase for a period that is still going on: today, this week, this year.
UNFINISHEDToday is not over
It is still today. There may be more.
I've had two meetings today.
FINISHEDYesterday is over
I had two meetings yesterday.
Unfinished time takes the present perfect. Finished time takes the past simple.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"We blank any customers so far today. It's so quiet!"
The forms
UNFINISHED
Shave / has + past participletoday / this week / this year
Hưng has worked late every day this week.
FINISHED
Spast formyesterday / last week / in 2020
Hưng worked late every day last week.
Past form: worked, had, went.
FIRST TIME
It's / This is the first timeShave / has + past participle
It's the first time I've cooked for my in-laws.
WHEN
When / What timedidSbase verb?
When did you start your new job?
Base verb: the verb with nothing added.
News comes first in the present perfect. The details follow in the past simple: I've lost my phone. — Oh no! Where did you lose it?
TRY IT
- Question 1
"This is the first time I blank sushi."
This Morning: Which Tense?
The same phrase can take either tense. It depends on when you speak.
| AT 10 A.M. | AT 3 P.M. | |
|---|---|---|
| The morning | not over | over |
| Example | I've drunk three coffees this morning. | I drank three coffees this morning. |
Time words are only a hint. What decides is whether the period is finished.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"It's 4 p.m. now. I blank two glasses of milk this morning."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:When have you bought this bag?
Correct:When did you buy this bag?
When asks about a finished time. Use did.
Incorrect:This is the first time I come here.
Correct:This is the first time I've been here.
The first time counts up to now: present perfect.
Incorrect:I've been to Hà Nội. I've gone there last summer.
Correct:I've been to Hà Nội. I went there last summer.
Last summer is finished. Details go in the past simple.
Incorrect:Have you seen the match last night?
Correct:Did you see the match last night?
Last night is over, so the question uses did.
Quick check · 5 questions
Choose the correct tense:
So far this season, our team has won three matches, and there are two more to play.
- A. has won — Correct
- B. won
- C. wins
Answer: A. has won
Unfinished time: has + past participle.
Choose the correct tense:
I lost my keys this morning, but I found them in the afternoon.
- A. lost — Correct
- B. have lost
Answer: A. lost
The speaker is telling the story of the whole day. Use the past simple.
Choose the correct form:
Is this the first time you have been to Huế?
- A. have been — Correct
- B. are
- C. went
Answer: A. have been
After "the first time", use have / has + past participle.
Choose the correct helper verb:
What time did your flight land last night?
- A. did — Correct
- B. has
- C. have
Answer: A. did
What time and when ask about a finished time. They don't take the present perfect.
Choose the correct reply:
— I've cut my finger. — Oh no! How did you do that?
- A. did you do — Correct
- B. have you done
- C. you did
Answer: A. did you do
The question asks how it happened, a finished event.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 14 questions
