Learn English Grammar Step by Step Easily Online : English Grammar : Step 3

1) Quick forms (reminder)
• Past Simple: subject + verb (past form)
• I went, she watched, they played.
• Present Perfect: subject + has / have + past participle
• I have gone, she has watched, they have played.
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2) When to use each (plain English)
• Past Simple — use when the action is finished and happened at a specific time in the past (time may be stated or implied).
• Examples: I visited Delhi last year. / She called me yesterday.
• Keywords: yesterday, last week/month/year, in 2010, ago, when (specific past time)
• Present Perfect — use when the action connects the past to the present in some way:
1. Experience (life up to now): I have visited Japan. (sometime before now)
2. Unspecified time — we don’t say exactly when: She has seen that movie.
3. Result now — past action whose result matters now: He has lost his keys (so he can’t open the door now).
4. Actions repeated up to now: We have visited them many times.
• Keywords: ever, never, already, yet, just, so far, recently, for, since
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3) Common contrast examples
• Past Simple: I ate breakfast at 7am. (finished, time = 7am)
• Present Perfect: I have eaten already. (result now — not hungry)
• Past Simple: She lived in Mumbai in 2015. (specific past period)
• Present Perfect: She has lived in Mumbai. (experience / unspecified time — maybe still lives there)
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4) Signal words and tips
• If you see a clear past time (e.g., yesterday / last year / in 2009 / two days ago), use Past Simple.
• If you see ever / never / yet / already / just / since / for / so far / recently, prefer Present Perfect.
• Use Present Perfect to connect past → present (result, experience, or unfinished time period like “this week”).
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5) Quick practice (do these now)
Choose Past Simple (PS) or Present Perfect (PP). Answers below.
1. I ___ (finish) my homework an hour ago.
2. She ___ (visit) London three times so far.
3. They ___ (arrive) last night.
4. Have you ever ___ (eat) sushi?
5. We ___ (not/see) that film yet.
6. He ___ (lose) his wallet yesterday.
7. I ___ (know) her for ten years.
8. She ___ (just/phone) me — the call is still relevant.
9. When ___ you ___ (meet) him? (what tense?)
10. The bus ___ (leave) five minutes ago.
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6) Answers & brief notes
1. finished — PS. (specific time: an hour ago)
2. have visited — PP. (repeated experiences up to now; “so far”)
3. arrived — PS. (specific time: last night)
4. eaten — PP. (experience; “ever”) → Have you ever eaten sushi?
5. haven’t seen — PP. (still relevant; “yet”)
6. lost — PS. (yesterday = specific past)
7. have known — PP. (continuing situation: “for ten years”)
8. has just phoned — PP. (“just” + relevance now)
9. did you meet — PS. (asks about a specific past event / time)
10. left — PS. (five minutes ago = specific past)
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7) Short extra practice (2-minute drill)
Make two sentences about your day:
• One using Past Simple (say the time): e.g., I ate lunch at 1 pm.
• One using Present Perfect (no specific time; show result): e.g., I have finished my report.