Present Perfect vs Past Simple 2 | Unit 14 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 14 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 14 · Leçon de Grammaire

Present Perfect vs Past Simple 2
Finished Times, Time Periods & Keyword Signals Présent Parfait vs Passé Simple 2
Temps Révolus, Périodes & Mots-Clés

Never use the present perfect with finished time expressions like yesterday or last year — and master the contrast between open periods (today, this week) and closed ones

N'utilisez jamais le présent parfait avec des expressions de temps closes comme yesterday ou last year — et maîtrisez le contraste entre périodes ouvertes (today, this week) et closes

B1 – B2 2 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 2 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

Unit 13 showed us when the present perfect connects to the present. In this unit we focus on one key rule: never use the present perfect with a finished time expression (yesterday, last week, in 1990, etc.). We also compare open time periods (today, this week, recently — perfect) with closed ones (yesterday, last week — simple).

L'unité 13 nous a montré quand le présent parfait est connecté au présent. Dans cette unité, nous nous concentrons sur une règle clé : n'utilisez jamais le présent parfait avec une expression de temps close (yesterday, last week, in 1990, etc.). Nous comparons aussi les périodes ouvertes (today, this week — parfait) avec les périodes closes (yesterday, last week — simple).

Finished Times → Always Use the Past Simple

Temps révolus → Toujours le passé simple

When we refer to a finished time in the past — a specific moment or period that is now over — we must use the past simple, never the present perfect.

Quand on fait référence à un temps révolu dans le passé — un moment ou une période spécifique maintenant terminé(e) — on doit utiliser le passé simple, jamais le présent parfait.

Finished time word + past simple (NEVER present perfect)
Examples: yesterday · last night · last week · in 1999 · two hours ago · when I was young

✓ Past simple — correct

✓ Passé simple — correct

It was very cold yesterday.

Paul and Lucy arrived ten minutes ago.

Did you eat sweets when you were a child?

I got home late last night.

When did your friends arrive?

What time did you finish work?

✗ Present perfect — wrong here

✗ Présent parfait — incorrect ici

It has been cold yesterday.

They have arrived ten minutes ago.

Have you eaten sweets when you were a child?

I have got home late last night.

When have your friends arrived?

What time have you finished?

⚠️

Always use past simple with: Toujours le passé simple avec : yesterday, last night/week/year/month, … ago, in [year], when I was…, at [time], on [day]. Also use the past simple — never the perfect — to ask When…? or What time…? yesterday, last night/week/year/month, … ago, in [year], when I was…, at [time], on [day]. Utilisez aussi le passé simple — jamais le parfait — pour poser When…? ou What time…?

Open Periods (Perfect) vs Closed Periods (Simple)

Périodes ouvertes (parfait) vs Périodes closes (simple)

The key contrast: use the present perfect for a period of time that continues until now (still open). Use the past simple for a finished period that is now over.

Le contraste clé : utilisez le présent parfait pour une période qui continue jusqu'à maintenant (encore ouverte). Utilisez le passé simple pour une période terminée maintenant révolue.

Present Perfect — open / until now

Présent parfait — ouvert / jusqu'à maintenant

todaythis weekthis yearthis morning*since 2010recentlyjustalreadyyetever / neverfor + period

Past Simple — finished / closed

Passé simple — fermé / révolu

yesterdaylast weeklast yearthis morning*from … to …in [year]… agowhen I was…on Sundayat [time]

* "this morning" can go with either tense depending on whether the morning is still happening or is over."this morning" peut aller avec l'un ou l'autre temps selon si le matin est encore en cours ou terminé.

Perfect — period still open

Parfait — période encore ouverte

today / this week / since / recently

I've done a lot of work today.

It hasn't rained this week.

Have you seen Anna this morning? (still morning)

I've been working here since 2010. (still here)

I haven't seen her (= recently)

We've been waiting for an hour. (still waiting)

Jack has lived here for seven years. (still here)

I've never ridden a horse. (in my life)

Simple — period finished

Simple — période terminée

yesterday / last week / from … to … / ago

I did a lot of work yesterday.

It didn't rain last week.

Did you see Anna this morning? (now afternoon)

I worked here from 2010 to 2014. (no longer here)

A: Was Lisa at the party? B: I didn't see her.

We waited for an hour. (no longer waiting)

Jack lived in NY for ten years. Now he's in LA.

I never rode a bike when I was a child.

💡

Holiday test: Test des vacances : While still on holiday → "It's been a really good holiday. I've really enjoyed it." (perfect — still happening). After you return → "It was a really good holiday. I really enjoyed it." (simple — finished). Encore en vacances → "It's been a really good holiday. I've really enjoyed it." (parfait — encore en cours). Après le retour → "It was a really good holiday. I really enjoyed it." (simple — terminé).

14.1

Correct or not? Fix the wrong verb forms

Correct ou non ? Corrigez les formes incorrectes

Write OK if correct, or write the correct form.

Écrivez OK si correct, sinon écrivez la forme correcte.

I've lost my key. I can't find it anywhere. → J'ai perdu ma clé. →

Have you eaten a lot of sweets when you were a child? → Have you eaten beaucoup de bonbons quand tu étais enfant ? →

I've bought a new car. You must come and see it. → J'ai acheté une nouvelle voiture. →

I've bought a new car last week. → J'ai acheté une nouvelle voiture la semaine dernière. →

Where have you been yesterday evening? → Où avez-vous été hier soir ? →

Maria has left school in 1999. → Maria a quitté l'école en 1999. →

I'm looking for Mike. Have you seen him? → Je cherche Mike. L'avez-vous vu ? →

'Have you been to Paris?' 'Yes, many times.' → 'Êtes-vous allé à Paris ?' 'Oui, plusieurs fois.' →

I'm very hungry. I haven't eaten much today. → J'ai très faim. Je n'ai pas mangé grand-chose aujourd'hui. →

10.

When has this bridge been built? → Quand ce pont a-t-il été construit ? →

Answers:Réponses : 1. OK · 2. Did you eat · 3. OK · 4. I bought · 5. were you · 6. left · 7. OK · 8. OK · 9. OK · 10. was this bridge built

14.2

Make sentences using present perfect or past simple

Formez des phrases au présent parfait ou passé simple

Use the words in brackets to make a correct sentence.

Utilisez les mots entre parenthèses pour former une phrase correcte.

(it / not / rain / this week) → (it / not / rain / this week) →

(the weather / be / cold / recently) → (the weather / be / cold / recently) →

(it / cold / last week) → (it / cold / last week) →

(I / not / eat / any fruit yesterday) → (I / not / eat / any fruit yesterday) →

(I / not / eat / any fruit today) → (I / not / eat / any fruit today) →

(Emily / earn / a lot of money / this year) → (Emily / earn / a lot of money / this year) →

(she / not / earn / so much / last year) → (she / not / earn / so much / last year) →

(you / have / a holiday recently?) → (you / have / a holiday recently?) →

Answers:Réponses : 1. It hasn't rained this week · 2. The weather has been cold recently · 3. It was cold last week · 4. I didn't eat any fruit yesterday · 5. I haven't eaten any fruit today · 6. Emily has earned a lot of money this year · 7. She didn't earn so much last year · 8. Have you had a holiday recently

14.3

Put the verb into the correct form

Mettez le verbe à la bonne forme

Present perfect or past simple.

Présent parfait ou passé simple.

to Canada, but I'd like to go there. au Canada, mais j'aimerais y aller.

Paul and Lucy about ten minutes ago.Paul et Lucy il y a environ dix minutes.

I'm tired. well last night.Je suis fatigué. bien hier soir.

a bus drivers' strike last week, so no buses. une grève des chauffeurs la semaine dernière, donc pas de bus.

Edward in a bank for 15 years. Then it up. Now he works as a gardener.Edward dans une banque pendant 15 ans. Puis sa démission. Maintenant il est jardinier.

Mary lives in Dublin. there all her life.Mary vit à Dublin. là toute sa vie.

My grandfather before I was born. him.Mon grand-père avant ma naissance. lui.

I don't know Karen's husband. him.Je ne connais pas le mari de Karen. lui.

It's nearly lunchtime, and Martin all morning.Il est presque l'heure du déjeuner, et Martin de toute la matinée.

10.

A: to the cinema last night? B: Yes, but the movie awful.A: au cinéma hier soir ? B: Oui, mais le film affreux.

11.

A: very warm here since we arrived. B: Yes, 35 degrees yesterday.A: très chaud ici depuis notre arrivée. B: Oui, 35 degrés hier.

12a.

A: How long there? B: Five years.A: Depuis combien de temps là ? B: Cinq ans.

12b.

A: Where before that? B: In Chicago.A: Où avant ? B: À Chicago.

12c.

A: And how long in Chicago? B: Two years.A: Et combien de temps à Chicago ? B: Deux ans.

Answers:Réponses : 1. I haven't been · 2. arrived · 3. I didn't sleep · 4. There was / there were · 5. worked / he gave · 6. She has lived · 7. died / I never met · 8. I've never met · 9. I haven't seen · 10. Did you go / was · 11. It's been / it was · 12a. have you lived · 12b. did you live · 12c. did you live

Frequently Asked Questions — Unit 14

Questions fréquentes — Unité 14

Can I ever use the present perfect with "yesterday"?Peut-on utiliser le présent parfait avec "yesterday" ?

No. Never. "Yesterday" always refers to a finished, closed time period → always use the past simple. "I saw him yesterday" ✓. "I've seen him yesterday" ✗.

Non, jamais. "Yesterday" désigne toujours une période close → toujours le passé simple. "I saw him yesterday" ✓. "I've seen him yesterday" ✗.

What about "this morning" — which tense?Et "this morning" — quel temps ?

"This morning" can go with either tense depending on the time of day. If it is still morning → "Have you seen Anna this morning?" (perfect — the morning is not over). If it is now afternoon or evening → "Did you see Anna this morning?" (simple — the morning has ended).

"This morning" peut aller avec l'un ou l'autre temps selon l'heure de la journée. Si c'est encore le matin → présent parfait. Si c'est l'après-midi ou le soir → passé simple.

What's the difference between "he has lived here for 7 years" and "he lived there for 10 years"?Quelle est la différence entre "he has lived here for 7 years" et "he lived there for 10 years" ?

"He has lived here for seven years" = he still lives here now (open period → perfect). "He lived in New York for ten years" = he no longer lives there, the period is finished (closed → simple). The key is whether he is still there.

"He has lived here for seven years" = il vit toujours ici (période ouverte → parfait). "He lived in New York for ten years" = il n'y vit plus, la période est terminée (close → simple).

Why use "I've never ridden a horse" but "I never rode a bike when I was a child"?Pourquoi "I've never ridden a horse" mais "I never rode a bike when I was a child" ?

"I've never ridden a horse" = in my life up to now (the period is still open — you are still alive) → present perfect. "I never rode a bike when I was a child" = during a finished period (childhood is over) → past simple.

"I've never ridden a horse" = dans ma vie jusqu'à maintenant (période encore ouverte — tu es encore en vie) → présent parfait. "I never rode a bike when I was a child" = pendant une période terminée (l'enfance est finie) → passé simple.

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Number of questionsNombre de questions

DifficultyDifficulté

Show explanationsExplications

All topics Finished Time Open vs Closed Period Keyword Signals Choose the Form Spot the Error

Perfect vs Past Simple 2 Quiz

Quiz — Parfait vs Passé Simple 2

20 questions

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out ofsur 20 questionsquestions

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Correct

Correctes

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Wrong

Incorrectes

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Skipped

Non répondues

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Present Perfect vs Past Simple 2Finished Times, Time Periods & Keyword Signals Présent Parfait vs Passé Simple 2Temps Révolus, Périodes & Mots-Clés

Finished Times → Always Use the Past Simple

Temps révolus → Toujours le passé simple

✓ Past simple — correct

✓ Passé simple — correct

✗ Present perfect — wrong here

✗ Présent parfait — incorrect ici

Open Periods (Perfect) vs Closed Periods (Simple)

Périodes ouvertes (parfait) vs Périodes closes (simple)

Present Perfect — open / until now

Présent parfait — ouvert / jusqu'à maintenant

Past Simple — finished / closed

Passé simple — fermé / révolu

Perfect — period still open

Parfait — période encore ouverte

Simple — period finished

Simple — période terminée

Unit 14 — Exercises with AnswersUnité 14 — Exercices avec Corrigé

Correct or not? Fix the wrong verb forms

Correct ou non ? Corrigez les formes incorrectes

Make sentences using present perfect or past simple

Formez des phrases au présent parfait ou passé simple

Put the verb into the correct form

Mettez le verbe à la bonne forme

Frequently Asked Questions — Unit 14

Questions fréquentes — Unité 14

Perfect vs Simple 2 — Quiz

Parfait vs Simple 2 — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Perfect vs Past Simple 2 Quiz

Quiz — Parfait vs Passé Simple 2

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Present Perfect vs Past Simple 2
Finished Times, Time Periods & Keyword Signals Présent Parfait vs Passé Simple 2
Temps Révolus, Périodes & Mots-Clés