eng7-2.2· Unit 2: Present Perfect & the Future· ~12 min

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

for / since and choosing the right past tense.

The Present Perfect and the Past Simple both talk about the past, but we choose between them by looking at time. We use the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) when an action started in the past and is still true now, or when the exact time is not important because we care about the result. With it we often use "for" and "since": we use "for" with a length of time, like "for three years" or "for two hours", and we use "since" with a point in time, like "since 2019" or "since Monday". We use the Past Simple when the action is completely finished and we know (or say) the exact past time. Words such as "yesterday", "last week", "in 2010", and "two days ago" point to a finished time, so they need the Past Simple. So we say "We have lived here since 2019" (we still live here now) but "We lived in Baku in 2010" (that time is finished). Choosing the right tense means asking: is the time finished, or is the action still connected to now?

Key terms

Present Perfect — have/has + past participle. Used when an action started in the past and is still true now, or when the exact time is not important because we care about the result. Example: We have lived here since 2019.
Past Simple — The tense for a completely finished action when we know or state the exact past time. Example: We lived in Baku in 2010.
Finished time — A past time that is over and closed, such as yesterday, last week, in 2010, or two days ago. Finished time needs the Past Simple.
Unfinished time — A time still connected to now, when the action continues or its result still matters. Words like since, for, just, already, yet, ever, and never point to it and need the Present Perfect.
for — Used with a PERIOD (length) of time to show how long an action has lasted: for two hours, for three years, for a long time.
since — Used with a POINT in time to show when an action started: since 2019, since Monday, since this morning, since he was seven.
Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
AspectPresent PerfectPast Simple
Time referenceAction continues now or exact time is not givenAction is finished and the time is known
Signal wordsever, never, yet, already, just, for, sinceyesterday, last week, in 2010, ... ago
ExampleWe have lived here since 2019.We lived in Baku in 2010.
Signal words and the tense they trigger
Signal wordTense it triggersExample
agoPast SimpleHe lost his keys two days ago.
yesterdayPast SimpleI did my homework yesterday.
last (week/summer)Past SimpleWe went to London last summer.
ever / neverPresent PerfectI have never been to Paris.
yet / already / justPresent PerfectShe has already finished her lunch.
forPresent PerfectThey have waited for two hours.
sincePresent PerfectMy father has worked here since 2015.
✎Choosing the tense from the signal word
  1. 1Sentence: We ___ to London last summer. (go)
  2. 2Find the time signal: The phrase last summer points to a finished, closed time.
  3. 3Apply the rule: Finished time needs the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect.
  4. 4Answer: We went to London last summer.
✎Choosing for or since
  1. 1Sentence: She has studied English ___ three years.
  2. 2Check the time expression: Three years is a PERIOD (a length of time), not a single point.
  3. 3Apply the rule: Use for with a period of time; use since only with a point in time like since Monday or since 2019.
  4. 4Answer: She has studied English for three years.
🚫Common mistake

Never use the Present Perfect with a specific finished past time. Say "I saw him yesterday", not "I have seen him yesterday". Words like yesterday, last week, in 2010, and ... ago always need the Past Simple.

🚫Common mistake

Do not mix up for and since. Use for with a PERIOD of time (for five years, for two hours) and since with a POINT in time (since 2019, since Monday). "since five years" is wrong; say "for five years".

⚠️Caution

When since or for shows an action that is still true now, you must use the Present Perfect, not the Past Simple. "We have lived here since 2019" (still true), not "We lived here since 2019".

💡Note

Question words tell you the tense too: "When did you buy this car?" asks for a specific past time, so it takes the Past Simple, while "Have you ever eaten sushi?" asks about experience up to now, so it takes the Present Perfect.

Rules

  1. 1Use "for" with a PERIOD of time (for two hours, for three years), and "since" with a POINT in time (since Monday, since 2019).
  2. 2Use the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) when the action continues now or the result matters and the exact time is not given.
  3. 3Use the Past Simple when the action is finished and the time is known: yesterday, last week, in 2010, two days ago.
  4. 4Finished-time words (yesterday, ago, last ...) signal Past Simple; unfinished-time words (since, for, just, already, yet, ever, never) signal Present Perfect.
  5. 5Never use the Present Perfect with a finished past time: say "I saw him yesterday", NOT "I have seen him yesterday".

Practice

10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard

10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed