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Teacher cue
B1 · English Grammar

Present Perfect
vs Simple Past

I have been to Japan.  ·  I went to Japan last year.

time unknown specific time
The key question

Does the time matter?

Present Perfect
Time unknown / not important

I have been to Japan.
(some time in my life — when doesn't matter)

Simple Past
Specific time mentioned or understood

I went to Japan last year.
(specific time → simple past)

Present perfect

When to use it

I have been to Japan. (life experience — when = not important)
She has tried sushi before. (at some point)
Have you ever been to London? (ever = any time in your life)
Simple past

When to use it

I went to Japan last year. (specific time)
She tried sushi when she was in Tokyo. (specific situation)
They saw that film on Saturday. (specific day)
Signal words

The word often tells you which tense to use.

Present Perfect
ever · never · before · once · twice
in my life · this week / year · recently
Simple Past
yesterday · last week · last year
in 2019 · two days ago · when I was a child
⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

I have went to Paris.

I have been to Paris.

Have you ever ate Thai food?

Have you ever eaten Thai food?

She has called me yesterday.

She called me yesterday.

I have gone there last year.

I went there last year.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap the blank to reveal

Present perfect or simple past?

(you / ever / be)to Mexico?
I(see)that film last Friday.
She(never / try)sushi before.
We(visit)Paris when we were students.
He(lose)his keys — he can't find them.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

Marie Curie wasA a brilliant scientist andB she has wonC two Nobel Prizes duringD her lifetime.

Cshe has won → she won

✓ a completed life → past simple

My sister and me haveA just finished the project, andB we sentC it toD the client this morning.

AMy sister and me have → My sister and I have

✓ subject position → I, not me

We have knownA each other forB years, butC we have metD in Lisbon in 2011.

Dwe have met → we met

✓ a stated past year → past simple

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Complete the sentence

Have you ever been to Japan?
She has never tried Indian food —
I saw that film on Saturday.
He's lost his phone.
Speak & write

Your turn

Mix present perfect (experience) and simple past (detail).

Have you ever eaten food from another country? When and where?
Have you ever had a really bad day? What happened?
What's the best film you've ever seen? When did you see it?
Have you been to any concerts? Who did you see?
Recap

Remember this

Present Perfect
time not mentioned / ever, never
Simple Past
specific time: yesterday, last year…
Key test
does the time matter?
Top error
"have + went" → gone

Spot the time word → you have your answer.

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