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Time marker first, verb form second
Present perfect vs. simple past trips up more test takers than almost any other grammar point in this task — here's the rule, with a real example for each step.
The core difference
Simple past = one finished event at a specific time. Present perfect = connected to now.
Chunks
I · visited Paris · last summer · have visited · then
"I visited Paris last summer."
"last summer" pins this to one finished moment → simple past. Two distractors here — don't assume there's only ever one.
Signal words for simple past
Specific past time markers: yesterday, last summer, two years ago, an actual date.
Chunks
they · moved · to this neighborhood · two years ago · have moved
"They moved to this neighborhood two years ago."
Signal words for present perfect
already, since, never, so far, yet — connect the past to right now, no fixed finished moment.
Chunks
I · have · taken three courses · in economics so far · took
"I have taken three courses in economics so far."
The distractor pattern
Almost always the same verb, in the wrong tense. Find the time marker first.
Chunks
we · finished · the project · yesterday · have finished
"We finished the project yesterday."
"yesterday" tells you immediately: simple past. "have finished" is the leftover distractor.
DEB
4 things to know about present perfect vs. simple past
Audio: DEB (ElevenLabs)