B1 GRAMMAR · TENSE · B1
Present perfect vs past simple
Two tenses learners mix up the most. The rule of thumb: present perfect links the past to now; past simple pins an action to a finished time.
See the difference
A
Present perfect
a past action linked to now (no exact time)
I have finished the report.
我已经完成了报告。（强调结果）
B
Past simple
a finished action at a known past time
I finished the report yesterday.
我昨天完成了报告。（强调时间）
Practise it
Q1 I ____ my keys. (lose) — I can’t find them now.
Q2 She ____ to Japan in 2019. (go)
Q3 We ____ each other since 2020. (know)