Simple Past or Present Perfect - Test
Level A2
Past experiences
Use the present perfect to talk about past experiences that somebody has made in their life up to now. The date is not important and not mentioned.
We have been to Japan before.
Use the simple past to talk about experiences and other completed actions at a specific date in the past. Note that we also use the simple past to talk about the experiences of dead people (no connections to the present).
We were in Tokyo in 2018.
William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet between 1599 and 1601.
Present results
Use the present perfect to talk about past actions (mostly in the recent past) that can explain a present result.
He can´t drive to work because somebody has stolen his car.
Use the simple past to talk about past actions without a direct present result.
Somebody stole her bicycle last summer.
Until now
Use the present perfect to talk about situations that started in the past and are still true and continuing. Note that we usually use the present perfect progressive (have been asking) to talk about actions that started in the past and are still continuing.
My brother has been a teacher since 2023.
Use the simple past to talk about situations and actions that started in the past and ended in the past.
My sister was a good swimmer when she was a child.
Time expressions
Time expressions – present perfect:
since (a point in time)
for (a period of time until now)
just
ever
never (talking about a time until now)
already (with statements)
yet (with questions and negatives)
Time expressions – simple past:
yesterday
last week/last Friday/last year/etc.
two minutes ago/two decades ago/etc.
in 2021