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Search concise B2 First grammar, vocabulary, functional phrases and exam strategy — without leaving the course to hunt through past lessons.
Practise thisOpen cloze — grammar words under pressureKey word transformations — 10 extra itemsCommon errors — spot and fixExtra Practice
What it is
Two ways of talking about the past. The present perfect links a past action to now; the past simple puts the action in a finished time.
Form
| Type | Pattern | Model sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | subject + have/has + past participle | They have finished the report. |
| Negative | subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle | They haven't finished the report. |
| Question | Have/Has + subject + past participle? | Have they finished the report? |
| Short answer | Yes, subject + have/has. / No, subject + haven't/hasn't. | Yes, they have. / No, they haven't. |
| Past simple | subject + V2 (+ finished time) | They finished the report on Friday. |
Past simple questions and negatives use did: Did they finish? / They didn't finish.
Use it when
- The result of the action still matters now (I've lost my keys — I can't get in).
- The time period is unfinished: today, this week, this year.
- You give news without saying when.
- You switch to the past simple as soon as you add a finished time.
Examples
- I've broken my phone, so I can't call you.— result now
- I broke my phone on Saturday.— finished time
- We've had three meetings this week.— week not over
- We had three meetings last week.— week over
Watch out
I have seen him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
A finished time word forces the past simple.
How long do you live here?
How long have you lived here?
A situation that started in the past and continues needs the present perfect.
- ago / yesterday / last … → past simple
- for / since / yet / already / just → present perfect
Remember
Say when → past simple. Don't say when → present perfect.
Quick check
- 1.She ___ (live) in Rome since 2019.
- 2.I ___ (not / see) that film yet.
- 3.When ___ you ___ (arrive)?