Present perfect vs past simple
Two ways to look at the past
- Both tenses talk about the past — but in different ways.
- Past simple = a finished time. Present perfect = connected to now.
- I saw it yesterday. / I have seen it.
I lost my keys yesterday; I have found three old receipts since.
Deux façons de voir le passé
- Les deux temps parlent du passé — mais de différentes manières.
- Past simple = un temps terminé. Present perfect = connecté au présent.
- I saw it yesterday. / I have seen it.
I lost my keys yesterday; I have found three old receipts since.
Finished time → past simple
- Use the past simple with a finished past time.
- yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago.
- We met in 2018. She called an hour ago.
Temps terminé → past simple
- Utilisez le past simple avec un temps passé terminé.
- yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago.
- We met in 2018. She called an hour ago.
Connected to now → present perfect
- Use the present perfect for experience or the recent past, with no exact time.
- I have visited Japan. He has just left.
- It matters now — the result or the experience.
Connecté au présent → present perfect
- Utilisez le present perfect pour une expérience ou le passé récent, avec aucun temps exact.
- I have visited Japan. He has just left.
- Cela importe maintenant — le résultat ou l'expérience.
Complete: Have you ever ___ (be) to London? · Complétez : Have you ever ___ (be) to London?
Experience with “ever” → present perfect: “Have you ever been …?” · Expérience avec « ever » → present perfect : « Have you ever been …? »
Signal words
- Past simple: yesterday, … ago, last …, in 2019.
- Present perfect: just, already, yet, ever, never, since, for.
- Never put a finished time with the present perfect.
Mots signaux
- Past simple : yesterday, … ago, last …, in 2019.
- Present perfect : just, already, yet, ever, never, since, for.
- Ne mettez jamais un temps terminé avec le present perfect.
Which tense does the signal word want? · Quel temps le mot indicateur demande-t-il ?
A finished time → past simple; an open / 'up to now' word → present perfect. · Un temps fini → past simple ; un mot ouvert / « jusqu'à maintenant » → present perfect.
Choose the correct sentence. · Choisissez la phrase correcte.
“yesterday” is a finished time → past simple: “I saw him yesterday.” · « yesterday » est un temps fini → past simple : « I saw him yesterday. »
Is this correct? “I have finished my homework an hour ago.” · Est-ce correct ? « I have finished my homework an hour ago. »
“an hour ago” is a finished time → past simple: “I finished … an hour ago.” · « an hour ago » est un temps fini → past simple : « I finished … an hour ago. »
Translate into English: 我从没去过北京。 · Traduisez en anglais : 我从没去过北京。
Experience (never) → present perfect: “I have never been to Beijing.” · Expérience (never) → present perfect : « I have never been to Beijing. »
Common mistakes
- ❌ When have you arrived? → ✓ When did you arrive? — when asks for a past time.
- ❌ This is the first time I go here. → ✓ …the first time I have been here.
- just now → past simple; just → present perfect: I finished just now. / I have just finished.
Erreurs courantes
- ❌ When have you arrived? → ✓ When did you arrive ? — when demande un temps passé.
- ❌ This is the first time I go here. → ✓ …the first time I have been here.
- just now → past simple ; just → present perfect : I finished just now. / I have just finished.
Which sentence is correct? · Quelle phrase est correcte ?
last year is an exact past time → past simple. · last year est un temps passé exact → past simple.
Complete with one word: I have ___ finished — the report is on your desk. · Complétez avec un seul mot : I have ___ finished — the report is on your desk.
just sits inside the present perfect; just now would need the past simple. · just se place dans le present perfect ; just now nécessiterait le past simple.
- Finished past time → past simple.
- Experience / recent, no time given → present perfect.
- yesterday → past simple; just / already / ever → present perfect.
- Temps passé terminé → past simple.
- Expérience / récent, aucun temps donné → present perfect.
- yesterday → past simple ; just / already / ever → present perfect.
Write one sentence about something you have done recently, using the present perfect (no exact time). · Écrivez une phrase sur quelque chose que vous avez fait récemment, en utilisant le present perfect (sans heure exacte).
Example: “I have just finished a good book.” · Exemple : « I have just finished a good book. »