Past Simple vs Present Perfect: Finished Time or Present Connection?

The key difference is not “old past” versus “recent past”. Ask whether the time is finished.

Past Simple: finished time

Use Past Simple when the event belongs to a completed period or when you say exactly when it happened.

• I visited London in 2022.
• She finished the report yesterday.
• We had three meetings last week.

Yesterday, last year, in 2024, two days ago normally point to Past Simple.

Present Perfect: a connection to now

Use have/has + past participle when the exact finished time is not important, for life experience, or when the result matters now.

• I have visited London several times.
• She has finished the report, so we can send it now.
• We have had three meetings this week.

Experience and specific time

Have you ever tried Korean food? If the conversation then moves to a specific occasion, switch to Past Simple: When did you try it? — I tried it in Seoul last year.

Been and gone

She has gone to the bank means she is still there or on the way. She has been to the bank means she went and came back.

Quick practice

1. I ___ (not see) Amir today.
2. We ___ (move) here in 2023.
3. ___ you ever ___ (give) a presentation in English?
4. My lesson ___ (finish) ten minutes ago.

Answers: haven’t seen; moved; Have / given; finished.

Reliable question: is the time clearly finished? If yes, Past Simple is usually safest. If no finished time is stated and the experience or result connects to now, Present Perfect is often more natural.