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Present perfect vs past simple
The hardest choice in English — and the one mechanical rule that settles it.
First page · how to decide, sentence by sentence
The choice
1
Does the sentence say WHEN, with a finished time? (yesterday, last week, in 2019, ago, when I was a child)
sì → past simple — always, no exceptions
no → keep going down
2
Is the time period still open? (today, this week, this year, ever, never, so far)
sì → present perfect
no → keep going down
3
Are you asking or telling about experience, at no particular time? (Have you ever…, I've never…)
sì → present perfect
no → keep going down
4
Does the past action explain a situation that is true NOW? (I've lost my keys — so I can't get in)
sì → present perfect
no → keep going down
5
Did it start in the past and is it still going on? (for two years, since 2020)
sì → present perfect
no → past simple: it is a finished event
: . : . — , .
: : , , . (, ), — .
: : , , 2019, . : . .
.
2019.
.
.
2020.
| Which tense, and why | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time expression | Tense | Why |
| yesterday, last week, in 2019, ago | past simple | the period is closed |
| when I was a child, then | past simple | the period is closed |
| today, this week, this month | present perfect | the period is still open |
| ever, never, so far, up to now | present perfect | no particular time, whole life |
| just, already, yet | present perfect | the result matters now |
| for two years, since 2020 | present perfect | it started then and still goes on |
Golden rule
, . , — , . . .
…? , . : ? — , 2018. , . : .
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