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One of the most common difficulties for intermediate level learners of English is the difference between the simple past (I went) and the present perfect (I have gone). This is especially difficult for ESL/EFL students in the US, because Americans sometimes don’t distinguish between the two tenses. But for speakers who want to be correct in their tenses, there is a difference, and it’s really not difficult at all.

Time Frame: Open or Closed?

When you talk about an action that happened in the past, the time frame can be either open (unfinished) or closed (finished). For example:

• Open: today, this morning (if it’s still morning), this week, so far, during my life (assuming I’m alive)
• Closed: yesterday, last week, last year, in 2015

The difference between the simple past and the present perfect really just comes down to whether the time frame is open or closed.

Closed Time Frame: Simple Past

If your time frame is closed/finished, use the simple past.

• I went to the gym yesterday.
• Last week I saw three great films.
• I was in Spain in 2016.

Open Time Frame: Present Perfect

If your time frame is open/unfinished, use the present perfect.

• I’ve already gone to the gym today.
• I’ve seen two films this week.
• I’ve been to Spain this year.

And…?

The present perfect carries a sort of “and…?” with it. It’s used not only when the time frame is open, but also when there’s an implied effect on the present or future.

• I’ve already gone to the gym today. (So I don’t have to go again.)
• I’ve eaten. (So I’m not hungry.)
• I’ve seen two films this week. (And I’m planning on seeing one more.)
• I’ve been to Spain this year. (And I plan on going to France as well, or I don’t plan on going back to Spain.)

Over and Done

This contrasts with the simple past, which describes an action that took place in the past and doesn’t have any effect on the present or future.

• I went to the gym yesterday. (And… that’s it. I may go today, I may not.)
• I ate. (I’m just telling you what I did. I may or may not be hungry, I’m not conveying anything about it.)
• I saw two films last week. (Nothing about this week. I may go to the movies, I may not.)
• I went to Spain last year. (It was a great trip. I may or may not travel this year.)

Have you ever…?

Ever is the perfect adverb to use with the present perfect. It means “at any point during your life,” and assuming you’re still alive, it’s an open time frame. When you ask ever, you’re asking about something that may or may not have happened during someone’s life.

• Have you ever been to Italy?
• Have your parents ever met your boyfriend?
• Has anyone ever said something so ridiculous?

Did you ever…?

But aha… you may have heard ever with the simple past tense, and that’s perfectly fine as well. It just means something different. If I’m thinking about a time frame that’s closed, but I expected something to happen at some point during that closed time frame, I may ask…

• Did you ever see your friend? (During your trip to New Orleans last month)
• Did they ever answer your email? (The one that you sent last week)
• Did you ever see that guy again? (At some point in the past, I expect it to be a closed time frame.)

If you ask ever? about someone who’s alive, you may use the present perfect or the simple past. If you ask ever? about someone who’s dead, you definitely need to use the past.

• Has Franz ever finished his symphony? (Franz is a friend of mine who’s still alive and composing music. I’m wondering whether his symphony is finished or not.)
• Did Franz ever finish his symphony? (This could be my living friend Franz, but it could also be a dead Franz, probably Franz Schubert of Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) fame.)

Practice

Which tense is better?

1. [Did you go][Have you gone] to work yesterday?
2. [Did you go][Have you gone] to work at all this week?
3. [Did Gloria call][Has Gloria called] yet this morning?
4. I [didn’t get a chance][haven’t gotten a chance] to see my friends this month.
5. How many times [did you go][have you gone] to the gym last week?
6. [What did you do][What have you done] since you got into town?
7. I love that movie! [I saw it][I’ve seen it] so many times.
8. Who [called you][has called you] so late last night?
9. How many items [did you buy][have you bought] so far?
10. What cities [did you visit][have you visited] during your trip last year?
11. What cities [did you visit][have you visited] since you arrived in Japan?
12. I [called in][have called in] sick twice this week, and I still feel awful.
13. You seem very nervous! How many cups of coffee [did you drink][have you drunk] this morning?
14. You didn’t sleep last night? How many cups of coffee [did you drink][have you drunk] yesterday?
15. [I ate][I’ve eaten] already, so I’m not hungry.
16. I [didn’t sleep][haven’t slept] well last night, so I’m really tired today.
17. [Have you gone][Did you go] skiing before?
18. I [have never been][was never] in Prague, but I hear it’s a beautiful city.
19. What language [did you speak][have you spoken] at home as a child?
20. It [didn’t rain][hasn’t rained] for weeks, so everything is very dry.

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Answers

1. Did you go to work yesterday?
2. Have you gone to work at all this week?
3. Has Gloria called yet this morning?
4. I haven’t gotten a chance to see my friends this month.
5. How many times did you go to the gym last week?
6. What have you done since you got into town?
7. I love that movie! I’ve seen it so many times.
8. Who called you so late last night?
9. How many items have you bought so far?
10. What cities did you visit during your trip last year?
11. What cities have you visited since you arrived in Japan?
12. I have called in sick twice this week, and I still feel awful.
13. You seem very nervous! How many cups of coffee [did you drink][have you drunk] this morning? (Could be either: did you drink if it’s later than the morning, or have you drunk if it’s still the morning.)
14. You didn’t sleep last night? How many cups of coffee did you drink yesterday?
15. I’ve eaten already, so I’m not hungry.
16. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m really tired today.
17. Have you gone skiing before?
18. I have never been in Prague, but I hear it’s a beautiful city.
19. What language did you speak at home as a child?
20. It hasn’t rained for weeks, so everything is very dry.