Simple Past tells us a story is over. Present Perfect says something different: this is still part of my life. Learn when to keep the door open, and when to close it, and your conversations will start to sound natural.
How Present Perfect Works
Simple Past is for things that are finished and closed: yesterday, last week, in 2018. Present Perfect is for things that start in the past and reach today, or that have no specific time at all. The time isn't over yet, so the story isn't either.
The structure is always the same: HAVE or HAS carries the present, and the main verb goes in its 3rd form (the participle). The participle never changes, for anybody.
I
I
"Have you played it?" "Yes, I played." The question starts with
In Mexico we say ya llegué, ya terminé: we use the past for almost everything. In Madrid they say he llegado, he terminado, and that is exactly the English structure. He comido =
HAVE Keeps the Door Open
Think of Simple Past as a closed chapter and Present Perfect as a door that is still open. Even when your answer is "no", there is a possibility:
| Simple Past (DID / WAS) | Present Perfect (HAVE / HAS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Finished | Started before, still open |
| Time words | yesterday, last week, in 2018, two years ago | ever, never, today, this week, recently, yet, just, for, since |
| Example | I visited Rome in 2019. | I have visited Rome. |
| Feeling | Closed chapter | Open door |
"I have seen it yesterday." Yesterday is finished, so use Simple Past:
The 3 Main Uses
Life experiences. Did it ever happen in your life? We don't say when, we only say yes or no.
Ever = "in all your life". It only goes in questions.
Never = zero times, so no "haven't" needed: I've never, not "I haven't never".
A dream born in the past that you still have. Never "I wanted", because that dream would be over.
Unfinished time. The period started in the past and includes right now: today, this week, this year, for two years.
"How was your day?" is for a day that's over. Not over yet? Use has been.
For + a length of time: for two years, for a week, for ages.
Since + a starting point: since 2020, since Monday, since I was a kid.
One action that lasts a long time. Same idea: "I have taught English for 15 years."
Recent news with a result now. Something just happened, and you can see or feel the result today.
Just = "a very recent past" (acabo de...).
Already = ya, earlier than expected. Use it in affirmative sentences.
Yet = todavía / ya, in questions and negatives. It usually goes at the end.
Open with HAVE, Tell the Story with DID
Natural conversations follow a pattern. First you open the door with HAVE: yes or no. Then, as soon as you give details (when, where, who), you switch to Simple Past, because now you're telling one specific, finished event.
| Question (HAVE) | Short answer (HAVE) | Details (DID) |
|---|---|---|
| Have you ever been to Italy? | Yes, I have. | I went to Rome in 2019 and stayed for a week. |
| Have you ever broken a bone? | Yes, I have. | I broke my arm when I was ten. |
| Have you tried the new café? | No, I haven't. | But my sister went last week. |
After "Yes, I have", ask yourself
📝 Want to practice HAVE before moving on?
Free exercises →The 3rd Form of the Verb
Verbs have three forms: present, past, participle. For regular verbs there is nothing new: the participle is the same as the past (verb + ED), and the 3 sounds of -ED still apply. For irregular verbs you need to memorize the third form.
| Present | Past | 3rd form |
|---|---|---|
| work (regular) | worked | |
| play (regular) | played | |
| do | did | |
| go | went | |
| be | was / were |
Past and 3rd form are the same. Learn one, get two.
Easy ones. Cut and put don't change at all.
In GHT we never pronounce the G.
The 3rd form ends in -N. Past and 3rd form are different.
Say "I saw" in the past, but "I have seen" with have. Never "I have saw".
A fun pattern: the vowels go I, A, U.
Don't memorize a list. Take 10 minutes before bed and ask: what did I do today, and how do I say it? Every time you don't know a verb, look it up. Only about 15% of English verbs are irregular, but they're the most common ones, so you get lots of practice.
In Spanish: he olvidado, has olvidado, hemos olvidado, han olvidado. The participle stays the same, and only haber changes. English works the same way:
HAVE Has Two Jobs
Until now, have probably meant tener ("I have a car"). In Present Perfect it is a helper, and it doesn't translate. It only tells us the structure. That is why
In speech we use contractions:
| What follows 's | It means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| an adjective | is | She's tired. |
| verb + ING | is | She's working. |
| 3rd form | has | She's worked all day. |
Use the contraction in sentences (
"Have you ever…?", "How long have you…?" and "Have you tried…?" are some of the first questions people ask when they meet you. Answer with "Yes, I have" and one detail in the past, and your English sounds natural right away.
🎧 Can you choose between Simple Past and Present Perfect? Test yourself.
Do the exercises →Practice: Write down the answers
Open the door with HAVE, then give the details in the past
- Have you ever been to another city or country? Where? When did you go?
- What is the most delicious food you have ever eaten? Where did you eat it?
- What place have you always wanted to visit but haven't yet?
- How long have you worked or studied in your current place?
- How has your week been so far?
- Have you finished everything you needed to do today?