2025-04-24 Present perfect or past simple? – Ask BBC Learning English

Introduction

Maryam has sent us a question. She wants to know the difference between present perfect and present simple.

Sian’s 4 differences!

1. We can use both present perfect and past simple for things that happened in the past. But if there’s a result in the present, we tend to use the present perfect.

• I’ve lost my phone. Can you call me? (present perfect)
• I lost my phone last week, but someone handed it in. (past simple)

2. With finished time words like ‘yesterday’, we use the past simple. With unfinished time expressions like ‘this year’, we normally use present perfect.

• I bought myself some flowers yesterday. (past simple)
• I’ve bought so many clothes this year. (present perfect)

3. If the action started in the past but is still true or still happens now, we can use the present perfect. 

• I’ve lived in Brighton for eight years. I still live here now. (present perfect)
• I’ve worked at the BBC for ten years. I still work at the BBC. (present perfect)

4. If you want to talk about an experience in your life but not say when, you can use the present perfect. This is because your life is still happening. But if you want to talk about a specific event in the past, then we use the past simple.

• I’ve seen the Northern Lights. (present perfect simple)
• When I visited Iceland, I saw the Northern lights. (past simple)