present perfect or past simple

Both forms talk about the past. The choice depends on the time. If the sentence says or means a finished time, use the past simple. If no time is said, and the event matters now, use the present perfect.

Time words

Some time words go with the past simple: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago, when I was a child.

Others go with the present perfect: ever, never, just, already, yet, so far, since.

From the question to the story

A conversation often starts with the present perfect and then moves to the past simple. The first question asks if. The next ones ask when, where and how, so the time is now fixed.

Questions with when

A question with when asks for a finished time, so it takes the past simple.

Today, this week, this year

With a time that is not finished yet (today, this morning, this week), you can use the present perfect. When that time is over, use the past simple.

People who are not alive

For the life of someone who has died, use the past simple: the time is finished.

Common mistakes

• × I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday.
• × When have you arrived? → When did you arrive?
• × I've been to Spain in 2015. → I went to Spain in 2015.
• × Did you ever see a ghost? (about your life so far) → Have you ever seen a ghost?