Past Simple vs Present Perfect

The past simple is used to talk about situations that occurred and concluded in the past {see past simple, A1 Level}.

The present perfect is used to talk about completed actions which have occurred in the past, but which are connected to the present and still have effects on it {see present perfect, A2 Level}.

Past simple and present perfect are tenses slightly different in form and meaning.

The past simple of regular verbs in their affirmative form has this structure:
Subject + [past form of the verb].

The present perfect of regular verbs in their affirmative has this structure:
Subject + have/has + past participle.

• Have/has: in the interrogative form, the third person singular changes from have to has.

• Past simple
  • I lived in Chicago for 10 years, now I live in San Diego.
  • She played the piano for 3 years, she stopped last year.
  • They were together for a year, they are not together anymore.
• Present perfect
  • I have lived in Chicago for 10 years, I still live in Chicago.
  • She have played the piano for 3 years, she play every day.
  • They have been together for a year, they are still together.

We use past simple to express short/long finished actions and events, repeated events and habits which occurred in the past, with finished time expressions (two weeks ago, last year, in 2010, yesterday, etc.).

We use present perfect to express short/long unfinished actions and events, past situations with results in the present, with unfinished time expressions (this month, today, this year, etc.).

The past simple and present perfect tenses differ in meaning and how they are formed.

We use the past simple to talk about situations that occurred in the past and have now concluded.
The structure in its affirmative is as follows:
Subject + [past form of the verb].

We use the present perfect to talk about completed actions which have occurred in the past, but which are connected to the present and still have effects on it. In its affirmative, it has this structure:
Subject + have/has + past participle (has for third person singular).

For example:
— “I went to the cinema four times last month.” = We use the past simple to express the idea that the action started and concluded in a past period of time that is not going on anymore.
— “I have been to the cinema four times this month.” = We use the present perfect to express the idea that the action started in a period of time which hasn’t been finished yet.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.