Practise this grammar point with a scored quiz, sentence exercises and writing tasks—all with explanations or review guidance.
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Past simple places an event in a finished past time. Present perfect connects a past event or period to now and does not combine with a specific finished time such as yesterday. Some usage varies between British and American English.
| Use | Example | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Finished time | I emailed her yesterday. | Yesterday locates the action in a completed past period. |
| Experience up to now | I have emailed her before. | The exact occasion is not the focus. |
| Continuing situation | I have lived here for two years. | In this context, I still live here. |
Check: I have emailed her yesterday
Use: I emailed her yesterday
A specific finished time normally takes past simple. Regional usage may differ with words such as already and yet.
Read the example and explain the choice before answering. After the exercise, write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any answer you could not explain, even if you guessed correctly.
4 sets · 40 exercises · about 50–70 minutes with writing and review.
10 scored questions, 20 sentence exercises and 10 writing challenges. Time depends on your pace. Start with the quiz or choose the practice you need.
Your scored quiz and self-reviewed exercises are tracked separately on this device.
Questions 1–5 build confidence; 6–10 check transfer and detail. Use Practice for feedback after each answer, or Test yourself to check at the end.
10 questions · 10 XP per correct answer · explanations included
finished. Yesterday is a finished past time, so use past simple.
has read. So far this month describes a period continuing up to now.
Have. Have you ever asks about experience up to now.
moved. In 2021 identifies a finished past time.
have not seen. Since Monday links a starting point to the present.
saw. Last Saturday is a finished past time, so use past simple.
has lived. Present perfect connects a starting point in the past with a situation continuing now.
Have / been. Have you ever been asks about experience up to now without a finished past time.
visited. In 2019 specifies a finished past period, requiring past simple here.
He sent the email ten minutes ago.. Ago locates the event in finished past time. Use sent, the past simple form.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
visited
We visited that gallery in 2018. (visit)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have known
I have known Lina since primary school. (know; still true)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
sent
He sent the parcel yesterday. (send)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
has never tried
She has never tried skiing in her life so far. (never try)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
moved
They moved to Bristol last year. (move)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have lived
We have lived here for six months and still live here. (live)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
lost
I lost my ticket on the bus yesterday. (lose)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
Have / eaten
Have you ever eaten olives? (eat)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
started
The course started three weeks ago. (start)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
has worked
He has worked for this company since 2021 and still does. (work)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
Complete the missing words, then compare the expected form. More than one natural answer may be possible; use the cue and explanation.
bought
She bought her laptop last Tuesday. (buy)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have not met
We have not met before, as far as I remember. (not meet)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
finished
I finished the project at five o’clock yesterday. (finish)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have been
They have been friends for years and still are. (be)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
did / arrive
When did you arrive yesterday? (arrive)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have seen
This is the first time I have seen this painting. (see)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
wrote
He wrote that novel in 1999. (write)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
has owned
She has owned this house since 2010 and still owns it. (own)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
went
We went to the coast last weekend. (go)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
have read
I have read three of her books so far. (read)
A finished past time usually takes past simple. Present perfect links experience or a continuing situation to now without a finished past-time marker.
Write an original answer for each task. Review the guidance to check your work. These are self-review tasks, not automatic grammar grading.
Your wording can vary.
Use past simple with the finished time.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use Have you ever plus a past participle.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use present perfect with since.
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Your wording can vary.
Use present perfect with for.
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Your wording can vary.
Use did plus the base verb for a finished past event.
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Your wording can vary.
Use present perfect for experience and past simple for the dated visit.
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Your wording can vary.
Use have/has never plus a past participle.
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Your wording can vary.
Present perfect is appropriate for the open period up to now.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Use visited with last year.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Your wording can vary.
Since may mark a continuing situation; in names a finished period for a past event.
Check both the form and the meaning. If you are unsure, compare the lesson explanation before marking this exercise reviewed.
Print this lesson’s original questions with a separate answer key. Use the worksheet for another round without looking at the explanations.
Try these two tasks before opening the answers. They practise explanation and writing; they do not change your quiz score.
Repair: I have sent the email yesterday.
I sent the email yesterday. Yesterday locates the event in a finished past period.
Describe an unfinished week: three tasks are already complete. Then give one finished time detail.
I have completed three tasks this week. I finished the reading task on Monday. The first counts progress up to now; the second places one event at a finished past time.
Other wording may be correct. Compare the meaning and verb pattern, not just the words.
Build a clear sequence of past events.
Both can appear in the same sentence because they do different jobs: I have lived here since I moved in 2022. Have lived describes the situation continuing now; moved gives the finished event when it began.
Compare I lived there from 2022 to 2024. That period is finished, so past simple fits. Since is not an instruction to put every verb in present perfect.
I have known her since we met at school. Knowing continues now; meeting is the past starting event.
Choose the time you have. These are suggested study plans, not timers.
Answer the ten-question quiz. Read the explanation for each mistake before trying again.
Take the scored quiz →30 MINComplete the warm-up, then sets 2 and 3. Compare your answers and correct the patterns you missed.
Open sentence practice →60 MINWork through all four sets. Spend the final part writing, comparing and improving your own sentences.
Explore all four sets →Open the question that matches where you got stuck.
Past simple places an event in a finished past time: “I submitted it on Monday.” Present perfect looks back from now: “I have submitted it, so you can read it.” The event can be complete in either sentence; the difference is the time viewpoint.
For a situation continuing now, use present perfect: “I have lived here since 2022” or “for four years.” Since gives the starting point; for gives the duration. For also works with past simple for a finished period: “I lived there for four years, then moved.”
Normally, use past simple when yesterday tells us when the event happened: “I finished yesterday.” But “I have not slept since yesterday” is different: since yesterday describes a period continuing to now.
Yes. “I have answered three emails today” counts work up to now in an open period. “I answered three emails today before lunch” presents a finished occasion. Decide what you mean, rather than choosing a tense from the word today alone.
Further reference: British Council: present perfect. Padworth examples and activities are original.
A fresh set of 10 questions with explanations. Continue when you are ready.
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