PAST SIMPLE or PRESENT PERFECT? (The Easy Way To Know!)

Learn the 25 words and expressions that tell you whether you need to use the PAST SIMPLE or PRESENT PERFECT tense in English... without mistakes! 👓 Watch with subtitles 👓
📘 This Lesson's Free Worksheet: free.englishwithgreg.com
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⭐️ [VIDEOS TO WATCH NEXT...]
🔥 EXPLAINED! Past Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous Tenses
• 🔥 EXPLAINED! Past Cont...
🔥 EXPLAINED! Why we use the PAST to talk about the FUTURE in English
• 🔥EXPLAINED! Why we use...
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► CHAPTERS:
00:00 When to use the past simple or present perfect tense in English
00:36 What is a simple tense and perfect tense?
00:53 How to pronounce CAN in English
1:43 When to use the past simple
2:20 When to use the present perfect
4:37 Expressions that use the Present Perfect tense
11:25 Expressions that use the Past Simple tense
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► TRANSCRIPTION
A lot of students ask me the difference between the past simple like I was and the present perfect like I have been. In fact, I've already done a video on this topic, but today I have something a little bit extra special for you. You see, sometimes in the sentence there are little clues, little words and expressions that we use that tell us whether we have to use the past simple or present perfect. Let's go.
Now, I hate jargon and all these complex grammar terms for things. So let me just make this simple before we start. When I talk about a simple tense, I'm talking about things like I went, that's the past simple. I go, present simple. I will go, that's the future simple.
When I'm talking about a perfect tense, I'm talking about things like I had gone, that's the past perfect. I have gone, that's the present perfect. I will have gone, that's the future perfect. So many tenses. But let's just focus today on when to use the past simple and the present perfect. So before I give you these special tricks and expressions that we use to help you know when to use each tense, let's just have a very quick reminder of the rule of when we use the present perfect and when we use the past simple.
So we use the past simple to talk about things that happened in a time period that has finished. So things like last week, that's finished, we can't change that. It's in the past. Last week. The same as yesterday, we can't change yesterday. Yesterday is in the past, it's finished. Talking about actions, about things that happened in those time periods, we used the past simple. I went, I had, I took.
Now, when we're talking about things that happened in a time period that started in the past and is still true now, we use the present perfect. I have eaten, I have taken. So I'm talking about things like today. Today started in the past, but it's still true now. This week, it started already. It started in the past, and it's still true now. In my life. My life started in the past, and it's still true now. So we use the present perfect. I have gone, I have taken, I have chosen.
Now, we don't always mention a time period when we're talking. If we don't, and if the action that we're talking about has a real clear effect on the present, we use the present perfect. Very common example of this is I've lost my keys. Okay? The action of losing my keys happened in the past, but the effect is very real and clear now because I don't have my keys, so I can't enter my house. I've lost my keys.
Now, the first two rules there, I think, are very clear and very simple. But the third rule, I think that can be quite complicated to think of when you speak in English and that's why the tricks that I'm going to teach you today are really going to help you choose the right tense to use.
So first we're going to have a look at a few words and expressions that we use in sentences that let us know that we have to use the present perfect tense. Now, there are a lot of words and a lot of examples that I'm going to teach you in this lesson. So I recommend you get the worksheet for this lesson. There's a link in the description, and that comes with a summary of the lesson, all the examples, and a test to check your understanding. Right, let's go.
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Your British English Teacher,
~ Greg 😀
#EnglishWithGreg #LearnEnglish #englishtenses #EnglishGrammar #B2 #C1 #ESL

[@EnglishWithGreg]

📘 Download the free PDF worksheet (including a test) from this lesson here: free.englishwithgreg.com

[@AnatoliiKravchenko]

Hi Greg! Awesome videos! I have a question regarding the test, could you elaborate please on sentence 5, why the correct answer is `since I moved` but not `since I have moved`? Thank you in advance :)

[@tanyadoctorova5469]

Hi, Greg. I've tried numerous times to get the PDF but it is not sent to my email. Do you have any idea what the reason might be? It is neither in the spam folder, nor in the promotions.

[@lmaolol8892]

congratulations with 300k subscribers

[@EnglishWithGreg]

@@lmaolol8892 Thanks!! 😀

[@khalidmajeed9134]

Thanks for the fantastic lesson

[@lynxrufus2007]

Theoretically English has 12 tenses, but... you can group them into 3 'narrations' (since tense is taken), and those narrations are just like tenses in every other civilised language ;) So, there's a past narration, a present narration and a future narration. Let's take the present narration: we talk about the present, so we use all four (if necessary) tenses with present in name: simple, continuous, perfect and perfect cont. Let's say we talk about moving to London: well, we're thinking about it, we want to see it again, we've already been there once. It's all related to present, it's all part of the 'present narration'. But then someone asks us about this previous visit to London. And then we change the narration - we talk about what happened when we visited the city. A normal person would use past tense, the English use 'past narration'. ;)

[@sebastianb9460]

Each language has its own specifics, I don't want to complain - but I don't know why the English like to make things difficult. After all, we have 3 possibilities of tenses - past, future, present and of course finished and not-finished. There are about 6 possibilities of tenses to describe most things. There are other languages that simplify it more. English would then be a very easy language for foreigners to learn. For example - I was going to London (this could be for not finished, i didn't arrive to London) I went to London - (finished, simple for finished cases... ) It could be more simple.

[@irmahohenlohe3919]

Dear Greg, you are the best teacher! Thank you for this very helpful lesson.

[@minisivankutty4796]

Thanks for being the best English tr..

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

That's just what I need.

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Thank you so much.

[@toshibajoey]

FOR, also goes with present perfect. I haven’t been there for ages, I haven’t seen John for months etc.

[@biblestory85]

thanks, for your explanation...................

[@Vetgong]

Hi Greg! Thanks a lot for the very clear explaining the difference between 'Simple' and 'Perfect' tenses in English! That would be of great help for learners and, of course, your lessons are pretty much understandable too! Have a good time and take care!

[@noorallah6149]

I always confuse people to speak British English with .due to your lessons .you are my favourite teacher in my life❤❤❤❤.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤my dear sir

[@user-fn6oc2bi6u]

Very clear❤

[@senseieueev960]

Thanks!

[@avnernahum6926]

thank you so much you are wonderful

[@miodragpopovic3301]

Hi Greg, many tks for your informative and precise explanation of the grammar issues. I look fwd to hearing from you soon, hopefully.

[@roza_maussari777]

Thank you teacher, you know how to explain everything clearly, briefly and not boring! Bravo!🙌🏻🎓☘️

[@paschalisantoniou974]

Thnx for the lesson!

[@roman_mathew]

What an insightful lesson Greg! Thanks!

[@hermanmgonja]

Thanks Greg🙏

[@enricriera8163]

Absolutely brilliant class

[@dmlcl]

Very helpful tips. Thanks

[@pradeepranga5283]

Very helpful

[@flymehome31]

I really like the way you explain !!!! Besides some exemples are funny! Thank you Greg!

[@yassmine712]

You are the best 😊😊

[@kochetkovski5530]

To tell the truth the most clear example I have seen was in Greg's video about preposition to and for. Here's " I called to make for afternoon tea. I've reserved for 3 pm. Or something like this it doesn't matter. The both things were made in the past, but the reserving is still the truth.

[@alejandroromani3185]

A chunk we can use with this lesson is the title of a song by Van Morrison: Have I told you lately that I love you? Wonderful song, indeed!

[@mosheivry7090]

Thanks, Grerg. Your Video lessons are awsome and very helpful.

[@sozinhoemcasa-receitas9362]

Thanks for this video!

[@carlasanchez596]

I just haved discoreved your Channel, Greg. I LOVE your pronuntation, so British. I would like improve in order to reach level C1 (in Spain). Could you recommend me the appropiate videos? Thank you so. much.

[@georgestuardo]

Gracias! Que buena clase!

[@hhh9802]

Thank you!

[@tadeuszbloki2971]

Hello Greg, I've been watching your channel for some time and I must say you're the best English teacher I've ever had. Just wanted to say thank you. Hope I didn't make any mistake writing this comment ;)

[@Vine698]

Thank you so much for making our english learning more easier.. 💫💥

[@user-bm5oy8po2l]

Simply the best!

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

That's great.

[@mokaboudj1657]

thanks mr greg

[@asaadchourak6060]

Thanks a lot for the very interesting content 🙏 I've learned a lot from you and still learning every time...

[@AV-TV]

Thanks so much! Grammar is what I need)

[@jesusdiaz4089]

Thank you so much. Could you make a video about what the difference is between these two sounds /ɒ/ and /ʌ/, they get me confused

[@andratannenbaum4484]

Could you tell why the tenses are used in the way they are used in this example? The actress speaking: - I’ve always wanted to be an actress. (Present perfect because she wanted it for a long time in the past before becoming an actress?) The speaker: - She is talking about wanting to be an actress and how she had wanted to do that for ages. She had wanted to get into acting for a very long time before working in the movie. (Why does the speaker use past perfect and not present perfect)?

[@zehraahmed8018]

excellent teacher

[@bennysebastian5316]

Everything you express is sufficient to reach the mind of the listener. Thank you❤️ a lot❤️

[@sarathr1338]

Hello Greg! The way of training is really good. It would be great if you can do a catalogue video for grammar in an order just like a course so that people could learn tense, preposition etc .. its a simple suggestion. Thanks!

[@robsonoliveira5556]

Good class (or lessons) Greg, I've learned a lot. Congratulations by canal! I'm from Brazil, and recently I returned my English's studies.

[@midnight_cat_Eliana]

Enjoyed your videos! Could you make a video about the word Beautiful in the same way as you did about Cold.( Discerning order of intense) thank you!

[@rikzapriyudha3822]

Great for your lesson, I still following you till now 🎉

[@manjulaallu7943]

Hi sir ,excellent explanation.very useful. Thank you so much

[@andydemmig1828]

Thank you for your introduction of the use of these expressions. On thing that puzzles me, is the use of ".. of late". Is it correct, that is a more formal form of "recently" ?

[@jessanglais3347]

about the quiz: I've had tons of amazing experiences since I moved to NY you said in your lesson that 'since' implies to use present perfect so I wrote : since I have moved but it is wrong (I guess that it is because I moved in the past but it doesn't work with what you said) so I am lost !!

[@edcine5521]

I would like you to make a video about learning in context .

[@bahamansour3178]

Through all these years of speaking and reading English language it became a kind of spontaneous way of either writing or speaking using the different tenses . However here , Greg has simplified it on how to use them ,though there will be some mistakes specially while speaking . Languages are out of control . Thank you so much ,Greg for this outstanding lesson . You are a great teacher ( N.b / you,ve gotten 3 letters Of your name from the adjective ( GREAT ) 🎋👍😇

[@lydiager4053]

Dear Greg, thanks a bunch for all your lessons! They are great 👍 So easy, so natural and yet so brief and helpful. And enormous thanks for the series of lessons about conditionals! Those are awesome. I came across one of them last year. And since then I have been your big fan.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thanks, Lydia 😀

[@souravhalder6022]

Dear Greg , Did I hear Present Simple? At 7:18 Is it an unintended mistake or right one ...? Please tell me. From 🇮🇳 🙏

[@mira987]

Dear Greg! Can you please explain me why the question " Who did move to London " is wrong and the question "Did you move to London?" is correct? 🤯 Maybe you have already a video on this topic? Please help me to find it...😭

[@MENNA-sb7iq]

so amazing

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Good evening.

[@strangeengine16]

The past simple represents a time period that has finished, does that also include a finished football match from today, for example? A football match that happened in the morning, but it's night now. Do we use past simple or present perfect?

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Hi Joao. Put it in a sentence and I'll tell you what it should be :-)

[@Gavkitten]

I would say "The football match finished this morning" or "The football match has just finished" But I'm not 100% sure 😌

[@strangeengine16]

@@EnglishWithGreg "Cristiano Ronaldo scored 3 goals vs Barcelona"

[@martpon6814]

Thank you so much, teacher. Pourriez vous faire une vidéo sur les différentes façons de prononcer la lettre "i". Par exemple, le "i" de video ne se prononce pas comme le "i" de life. Thanks, i see you from Belgium.

[@VisionDaysOfficial]

Hello Greg, let me ask you a question. I would like to know if it´s possible to use in some causes "interested about" or never. Thank you

[@user-uj2hv4xc4f]

Thanks 👍🏻👍🏻👌🏻

[@EnglishWithGreg]

You’re welcome 😊

[@edouardguigne-gj8cz]

Hi Greg I reallly appreciate your courses. For me, Who sent 1 year in Kingston upon thames university, 20 years ago... it helps me to improve. I can understand native english speaker, but speak fluently is another story. I should have spend more time in england for that. One thing i have never understood... is how to use "this that these those"... in which context. Maybe you may make a video about it... and differences between "here, other there, etc" Best regards

[@EnglishWithGreg]

My brother studied at Kingston! I visited a lot, as a teenager! Love that place 😀

[@edouardguigne-gj8cz]

What a coincidence ! For me, it is beginning to be a long time ago... in 1997 1998... I was 20, and i was a student in applied physics and chemistry (Bachelor). I have never regretted this experience. I came from France, with a very poor english level... But now i feel rusty. I am 45.. Your videos are really great. I would like to have watch your courses younger...

[@lovelysongs199]

Hai sir how to express words in software office manners and client's please one video easy simple manner

[@pixelbg519]

Hello greg, i've downloaded the pdf file at least 10 times, but the site doesnt send me the book. Could you help? I have sended a message

[@sebastianyanes4508]

Hi, Greg. I personally struggle pronouncing words ending with "tevily", like "relatively" or "cally" like "theorically" and such. Can you please give us some tips on how to pronounce it well? Btw you have the best channel when it comes to english and I'd ike to thank you for all the effort you put on your videos!

[@bahamansour3178]

Some of my colleagues some years ago and perhaps now pronounce these words wrong . I think when you want to say " relatively " you should say it like this : relat. Tvly Don,t say rela. Tvly Another word is theoretically To pronounce it correctly Say : Theo.rtkly🎋 Don,t say : theo.retikely🎗

[@britishelocution]

you have quite a strong northern accent there. Your pronunciation is colloquial.

[@jayatibatabyal9148]

Thank you, Sir, for this Video. It's a great help for me.🙏

[@britishelocution]

Hello, nice video. I am an English pronunciation tutor from the south-east of England, I know you generally teach grammar, so it shouldn’t be a problem, I just wondered whether you had a problem with English learners understanding your strong northern accent. I’m just curious as a pronunciation tutor

[@alexgrishin8294]

Hello, yes Greg’s accent is quite noticeable but no problem in [u]nderstanding him at all. Just needed to adapt my “ears” a bit

[@lydiager4053]

No problems at all 😊 Actually, as a foreigner I haven't even noticed the "strong northern accent". And if it's really so, I adore it!!! At least it's easier for me to understand Greg than arrogant Sherlock.

[@mariegreen8763]

It’s easier to understand northern than southern pronunciation..

[@q19w]

I'm curious about third rule when to use present perfect. It was mentioned but it wasn't exposed.

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

I am studying English right now.

[@cavesalamander6308]

13:00 "Not true. but a good example." The same here. 🙂 "When I went to university...". it's a past that can't be fixed: the university has hurt me a lot!

[@LucDan]

@English with Greg - !!! ❤🍾🍾🍾❤!!!

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Congratulations.

[@tinog100]

Amazing ! Thank you so much. Nobody does it more easy than you. Thank you, thank you

[@ibrahimnaji9424]

I have been watching your videos for 2 hours

[@barboneretico]

Hi Greg! Toward the end of the video you say: "That's a nice tidy worksheet I'VE DONE for you." The reason why you are using the Present Perfect here is because the time frame of the action (somewhere in the past) is not specified? Or is it because the action of doing the worksheet (in the past) still affects the present (e.g. now we can download the worksheet)? If I assume that the action of doing the worksheet started & ended in the past, I would have expected a PAST SIMPLE to be used: "a nice tidy worksheet that I DID for you". Hope my question makes sense! Beside this little doubt of mine, thanks for your precise, clear and helpful lesson!

[@yaminaaitben1995]

Thanks for your help I have loosed you when you've bigin with so far 😂😂😂😂

[@monarou3084]

At last, an excellent lesson about this topic ! Thank you so much! 230217

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Glad it helped!

[@danielle12126]

Hello Greg I'm sorry but the PDF is not sent to my email!

[@romanstark4377]

Hey, Greg, thx a lot for your vids! You got a really nice way of explaining tricky things so I could understand them. However I still can't wrap my head around some grammatical stuff. Can you break something down for me please? The general rule states Present Simple is used when we talk about natural phenomenon and common sense facts like "The sun rises in the East and sets in the West", "Our planet spins around its axis" Just when I thought I finally got some common ground here the reality gave me a dry slap called nuances 😂🤣 So I've recently come across these examples: "The Earth is always rotating.", "The sun is always setting and always rising" I guess to say I'm confused would be an understatement here.🤣 So what's the difference bw Present Simple and Present Progressive in situations like that then??? How can I tell the difference bw one and another? Thx in advance anyway.

[@roserpuig3394]

Thank you to explain us the grammar really well and some tricks to remind it better.

[@NS-neversaynever]

I have another problem. I can't choose where should I use Present Perfect Simple and where - Present Perfect Continuous. I hate Perfect Continuous to be honest. Can you please make a video about those tenses?

[@josianefidencionamura9681]

So Far - até aqui in Portuguese😊😅🎉

[@SuperTank121212]

Why is it “I don’t want a cup of tea, I HAD one ten minutes ago” but “I don’t want a cup of tea, I’VE just HAD one” seems to me they convey the same thing. In both cases it was in the past but the satie-tea persists. Surely the tense doesn’t bow to the signal word just cause it’s there?

[@ButterFly-gc4vw]

So many thanks Greg, you're a really great teacher!!! 👍❤

[@user-ke9bp1ob9h]

Cool hat)), and intresting video

[@vicentedelatorre9717]

What a wonderful class Greg. Thank you very much.

[@msn2847]

Many thanks for the video, Greg! It's brilliant! :)

[@TheDekazer]

I was yesterday at cinema. I have been this week at cinema( and yes, it was yesterday). And, just to make it a bit more complicated: I was at cinema today morning.

[@langer2773]

From Brazil Just I get to say for now 😅. "That is it" 😂

[@shannenvun5756]

👏👏👏

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

You are welcome.

[@MsKudrya]

The PDF doesn't come to the email😢

[@costachedominte]

👍

[@guilhermebrito8326]

Why did Nicky French use the past simple in her song "Did you ever really love me"? I didn't get it.

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Let's go.

[@user-kb5in7co1l]

Well I got all u said but sometimes when I saw the lyric of songs like I wish u were here I think its past is used in present., How could ???

[@RodrigoCorrea-mk1lt]

When we use WISH we tend to use past simple.

[@chimak8332]

I don't know how to download it?

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Hello.

[@ingrid-6367]

1. I have done it recently. Not right? I use such version. I have been doing recently? 😮

[@xxxyyy8016]

👍👍🤞🤞

[@nordlead]

Hello Greg, I'm actually learning English and your lessons help me a lot. I know many English youtube channels, but you are the best one. Thank you so much.

[@EnglishWithGreg]

Thanks! 😃