Present perfect or past simple?

Level B1 · I've been · I went

Why two past tenses?

Both talk about the past. The difference is the time: past simple needs a finished time; present perfect connects the past to now or leaves the time open.

How to choose

A finished time (yesterday, in 2010) → past simple.
No time, or “up to now” → present perfect.

Pattern

present perfect = have / has + past participle

Examples

I **have been** to Rome. — some time in my life — when is not important
I **went** to Rome in 2019. — a finished time → past simple

Watch out: Not “I have seen him yesterday” — with yesterday use the past simple.

The rule

Present perfect (have + past participle) when the time isn't finished or doesn't matter. Past simple with a finished time: yesterday, in 2010, last week.

No time → finished time: I've been to Japan. → I went to Japan in 2019.

Tip

Words that often go with the present perfect: ever, never, already, yet, just, since, for.

Common mistakes

Not: ~~I have seen him yesterday.~~ — But: I saw him yesterday.
Not: ~~I live here since 2015.~~ — But: I've lived here since 2015.

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