Present perfect or past simple? How to choose in 10 seconds
When to use the present perfect and when to use the past simple, with examples and a short quiz.
Vietnamese doesn't change the verb for tense, so "Tôi đã ăn sáng" could be I have eaten breakfast or I ate breakfast. So how do you choose?
The most important question: is there a specific time?
Rule
If the sentence has a finished time (yesterday, last week, in 2020, two days ago), use the past simple.If it doesn't say when, or the time period isn't over yet (today, this week, ever, never, so far), use the present perfect.
A result now
The present perfect focuses on the result now. The past simple just tells you what happened.
Words that often go with each
| Present perfect | Past simple |
|---|---|
| already, yet, just | yesterday, last …, … ago |
| ever, never | in + year, when I was … |
| for, since | at 5 pm, on Monday |
| so far, recently | then, after that |
Don't say
I have seen that film last week.
Say
I saw that film last week.
Don't say
Did you ever eat durian?
Say
Have you ever eaten durian?
Practice
Quick check
3 questions · nothing is savedI ___ to Da Lat last summer.
___ you ever ___ sushi?
She ___ three emails so far today.
Practise with your own reading
Rock Egg turns articles you choose into quizzes at your level, with daily vocabulary and dictation. Find out where you are with a Level Check.
Keep reading
Used to, be used to, get used to: three phrases, three meanings
They look almost the same, but one is about the past, one is about what feels normal, and one is about change.
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When to use a, when to use an, when to use the, and when to use nothing at all.