English
Present perfect vs past simple: have done or did
English has two ways to talk about the past, and learners mix them constantly. The past simple (I did) drops an action at a finished time. The present perfect (I have done) keeps a past action connected to right now.
Finished time, or still connected
Past simple pins an action to a finished moment. Present perfect keeps it connected to now.
Past simplefinished time
- I saw him yesterday.
- a specific, done moment
- with yesterday, in 2019, last week
Present perfectlinked to now
- I have seen him.
- when is not the point
- with ever, already, yet, just
The time markers decide
I lost my keys yesterday.past simple: a finished time is given
I have lost my keys.present perfect: they are still lost now
Have you ever been to Rome?present perfect for life experience
for and since
For something still going on, the present perfect pairs with for (a length of time) and since (a starting point).
I have lived here for five years.a duration
I have lived here since 2019.a starting point
American English blurs it
American English often uses the past simple where British English prefers the present perfect: Did you eat yet? against Have you eaten yet? Both are understood, so pick the one that matches your track.
The forms are easy; the choice is the skill, and it only sharpens with contrast. Verboteca drills the past simple and the participle of each verb as separate cards, so the pair that decides this tense is exactly what you practise.