Usage Rules
Make a sentence: Present perfect
Make a sentence: Past Simple
Present Perfect or Past Simple?
Past participle
100

If I'm talking about a definite time and using words such as "in 2006", "last night", "last year", "yesterday", and "last week", I should use...

Past simple

100
I / NEVER / SEE / A DOLPHIN
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A DOLPHIN.
100
SUSAN / FINISH / SCHOOL / 2001
SUSAN FINISHED SCHOOL IN 2001.
100
__________ YOU EVER _________ SUSHI? (eat)
HAVE YOU EVER EATEN SUSHI?
100

TO VISIT, TO LISTEN, TO WATCH

VISITED, LISTENED, WATCHED

200

When I'm talking about an indefinite time and using words such as "before", "yet", "ever" and "never", I should use...

Present perfect

200
HE / EVER / GO / TO EGYPT?
HAS HE EVER BEEN TO EGYPT?
200
HE / NOT WATCH / A MOVIE / LAST NIGHT
HE DIDN'T WATCH A MOVIE LAST NIGHT.
200
I ____________ (NOT GO) TO THE PARTY LAST NIGHT.
DIDN'T GO
200

TO DO, TO GO, TO BE

GONE, DONE, BEEN 

300

When I want to talk about something I did before and I still do, I should use...

Tip: in this case, I would use words such as "since" and "for" 

Present perfect

300
WE / NOT DO / OUR HOMEWORK / YET
WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR HOMEWORK YET.
300
I / SING / VERY WELL / AT THE AUDITION
I SANG VERY WELL AT THE AUDITION.
300
SHE ____________ (ALREADY/SEE) THAT MOVIE.
HAS ALREADY SEEN
300

TO FLY, TO GIVE, TO TAKE

FLOWN, GIVEN, TAKEN

400

When I want to talk about something I did before and I don't do anymore, I should use...


Tip: in this case, I would use words such as "from 1990 to 1995" 

Past simple

400
SHE / NEVER / FLY / ON A PLANE
SHE HAS NEVER FLOWN ON A PLANE.
400
THEY / NOT BE / FRIENDS / IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
THEY WEREN'T FRIENDS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL.
400

I ___________ (LIVED) IN THIS HOUSE FOR 10 YEARS. I REALLY LIKE IT.

HAVE LIVED

400

TO TRY, TO SEE, TO EAT

TRIED, SEEN, EATEN

500

The structure I should use when making a phrase in the Present Perfect is...

S + have/has + past participle verb 


500
YOUR DOG / EVER / EAT / A MOUSE?
HAS YOUR DOG EVER EATEN A MOUSE?
500
WHEN / YOU / START / TO LEARN ENGLISH?
WHEN DID YOU START TO LEARN ENGLISH?
500

I ______ (NOT / VISIT) MY HOMETOWN SINCE 2015

HAVE NOT VISITED

500

TO HAVE, TO MAKE, TO CALL

HAD, MADE, CALLED

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