If there’s one piece of English grammar that catches B1 learners out more than any other, it’s the difference between the past simple and the present perfect. Nine times out of ten, when a B1 student makes a tense mistake in conversation, this is the pair behind it.
The tricky bit isn’t the form — most learners can build both tenses on paper. The problem is choosing the right one in the moment. I lost my keys or I have lost my keys? They feel almost the same, but native speakers hear a clear difference. In this lesson we’ll slow it right down, learn a mental test you can run in your head, and finish with a 12-question quiz.
Past simple — finished time, finished action
The past simple is the tense for things that happened at a finished moment in the past. The action is over, the time is over, no real connection to the present any more. It’s history.
The form: I worked, she went, they didn’t see, did you work?
The big clue that you need the past simple is a finished time expression — yesterday, last week, in 2010, two days ago, when I was a child.
For example:
- I watched a great film last night.
- She studied in Madrid in 2018.
- We didn’t go out yesterday.
- Did you see Tom on Saturday?
Each sentence points to a clear, closed-off moment. Last night is over, 2018 is over, Saturday is over. The past simple loves a finished time.
Present perfect — a connection to now
The present perfect is a bit more philosophical. It describes a past action that is still connected to the present in some way. The action happened before now, but the time isn’t fully closed off, or the result is still relevant today.
The form is have/has + past participle: I have worked, she has gone, they haven’t seen, has she finished?
We use it in three main situations:
1. Life experience. I’ve been to Japan. Have you ever ridden a horse? The exact moment doesn’t matter — the point is the experience exists somewhere in your life so far.
2. Recent past with a present result. I’ve lost my keys (so I can’t get into my flat right now). She’s broken her arm (and it’s still in plaster). The action is past, but the consequences are very present.
3. Unfinished time periods. I’ve drunk three coffees today. She’s worked here for ten years. Today, this week, this year — these periods aren’t over yet, so the actions inside them aren’t fully past.
Time expressions that go with each tense
One of the fastest ways to choose between the two tenses is to learn which time expressions belong to each. They’re like little signposts.
Past simple signposts (finished time): yesterday, last night/week/year, two days ago, in 2015, in July, when I was younger.
Present perfect signposts (unfinished or unspecified time):
- ever, never — life experience: Have you ever flown?
- just — very recent: I’ve just finished lunch.
- already — sooner than expected: She’s already left.
- yet — negatives/questions: I haven’t read it yet.
- for + length of time: for ten years
- since + starting point: since 2020, since Monday
- this week, today, this year — when the period isn’t over
Spot one of these signposts and you’re 80% of the way to choosing the right tense.
The rule of finished time — a quick mental test
Here’s the trick I teach my students. Whenever you’re about to use one of these two tenses, ask yourself one question:
Is the time I’m talking about completely finished?
If the answer is yes — it’s yesterday, last week, two years ago, when I was a teenager — use the past simple.
If the answer is no — the time isn’t specified, or it’s still ongoing (today, this week, in my life so far) — use the present perfect.
That’s really it. You don’t need a more complicated rule than that at B1. Try it on these:
- I ___ (see) that film last weekend. → Last weekend is finished → saw.
- I ___ (see) that film three times. → No specific time, life experience → have seen.
- She ___ (live) here since 2019. → Still happening → has lived.
- She ___ (live) in Berlin in 2019. → In 2019 is finished → lived.
Same verbs, different tenses, all because of the time frame.
Examples side-by-side
It helps to see the two tenses sitting next to each other. Watch how the meaning changes:
- I lost my keys. (At some finished moment — maybe yesterday. Could be fine now.)
- I‘ve lost my keys. (And I still can’t find them. Right now, problem.)
- I went to Paris last year. (One specific finished trip.)
- I‘ve been to Paris. (At some point in my life — the point is the experience.)
- She worked at the hotel for five years. (Not any more. Over.)
- She‘s worked at the hotel for five years. (And still does.)
- Did you eat breakfast this morning? (It’s the afternoon now, so the morning is over.)
- Have you eaten breakfast today? (Today isn’t finished yet.)
Whether you say did you eat or have you eaten can literally depend on what time of day it is.
Common mistakes to watch out for
Right, here are the two biggest errors I hear at B1 level — and the good news is, once you spot them, they’re easy to fix.
Mistake 1: Present perfect with a finished time marker.
- ❌ I have seen him yesterday.
- ✅ I saw him yesterday.
As soon as you see yesterday, last week, in 2020, or two hours ago — close the door on the present perfect. The past simple is the only option. This is probably the single most common mistake on the planet.
Mistake 2: Past simple with an unfinished time period.
- ❌ I drank three coffees today. (if it’s still today)
- ✅ I’ve drunk three coffees today.
If the time period is still going — today, this week, this morning (while it’s still morning) — you generally need the present perfect, because there’s a chance you’ll do the action again before the period ends.
Mistake 3: Present perfect for a specific past story.
- ❌ Last summer I have visited my grandparents and we have gone to the beach.
- ✅ Last summer I visited my grandparents and we went to the beach.
When you’re telling a story about a specific finished time, drop into the past simple and stay there.
Mini quiz — 12 questions
Time to test yourself. Choose the correct form for each sentence. Some need past simple, some need present perfect — apply the finished-time test as you go.
- I (saw / have seen) a great film last night.
- (Did you ever try / Have you ever tried) Maltese food?
- She (lived / has lived) in Malta since 2019.
- We (went / have been) to Gozo three times this year.
- I (didn’t have / haven’t had) breakfast yesterday.
- Tom (just finished / has just finished) his homework.
- When I was a student, I (worked / have worked) in a café.
- I (didn’t see / haven’t seen) Anna this week — is she on holiday?
- (Did you eat / Have you eaten) sushi when you were in Tokyo?
- They (moved / have moved) to Berlin two years ago.
- I (lost / have lost) my passport — I can’t fly tomorrow!
- She (didn’t visit / hasn’t visited) her grandmother for ages.
Answers
How did you get on? Here are the answers with a quick reason.
- saw — last night is finished.
- Have you ever tried — ever = life experience.
- has lived — since 2019 is unfinished.
- have been — this year isn’t over.
- didn’t have — yesterday is finished.
- has just finished — just pairs with present perfect.
- worked — when I was a student is finished.
- haven’t seen — this week is ongoing.
- Did you eat — when you were in Tokyo is finished.
- moved — two years ago is finished.
- have lost — present result (I can’t fly).
- hasn’t visited — for ages = unfinished up to now.
If you got 10 or more right, you’ve cracked the hardest tense pair in B1 English. If you scored fewer, don’t worry — this kind of thing clicks much faster with a real teacher correcting you in real time. Get a quick quotation for an English course in Malta and you could be drilling these tenses in a sunny classroom by our rooftop pool, with small classes and proper feedback every step of the way.
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