Present Perfectvs Past Simple
Choosing the right tense
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Share one piece of news using Present Perfect, then give one Past Simple detail.
Quick poll: 'I've been to Paris' vs 'I went to Paris in 2018'. Which is right?
Yesterday is FINISHED → Past Simple. Today is UNFINISHED → Present Perfect. Test 5 examples with your partner.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minPresent Perfect vs Past Simple — the rule
PRESENT PERFECT (have/has + V3) for: 1) experiences with NO specific time ('I've visited Paris'); 2) UNFINISHED time periods (today, this week, this year): 'I've drunk three coffees today'; 3) NEWS / recent results: 'I've broken my phone.' PAST SIMPLE for FINISHED time periods (yesterday, last year, in 2020, when I was 10, two hours ago): 'I broke it yesterday.' The classic pattern: open with Present Perfect (announce news), continue with Past Simple (give details with when/where).
→ I've broken my phone! It happened on the bus this morning.
→ She's lived in Paris for 10 years. (still there)
→ She lived in Paris for 10 years. (not anymore)
→ I've watched 3 films this week. I watched 'Dune' last night.
More detail
'I've been to Italy! I went last spring with my brother.'
Question 1.I ____ to Spain three times.
Question 2.I ____ to Spain last summer.
Question 3.She ____ ____ here since 2018.
Question 4.We ____ ____ that show last week.
Question 5.Look — I ____ ____ my phone! What do I do?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.'Yesterday' → which tense?
Quick check 2.'This week' → which tense?
Quick check 3.'In 2010' → which tense?
Quick check 4.'Ever' → which tense?
Quick check 5.'When I was a kid' → which tense?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to break the news
share important information
"I haven't broken the news to Mum yet."
Have you ever had to break some news?
to spill the beans
tell a secret accidentally
"Don't spill the beans about the party."
When did you last spill the beans?
to be over the moon
extremely happy
"She's over the moon about the job."
When were you last over the moon?
to be gutted
very disappointed (UK)
"I'm gutted — they cancelled the trip."
Last time you were gutted?
out of the blue
completely unexpectedly
"She called out of the blue last night."
What's happened out of the blue recently?
long overdue
should have happened much earlier
"That apology was long overdue."
What's long overdue in your life?
to land a job/deal
successfully get
"He's just landed a new job."
Have you ever 'landed' something big?
to drop out
leave a course/programme
"She's dropped out of university."
Do you know anyone who's dropped out?
Discuss with a partner
- →Tell a 'happened out of the blue' story.
- →What's the best news you've broken to someone?
Finish the sentence about you
- I've just landed… …
- I'm absolutely over the moon because… …
- She's just dropped out — last year she… …
60-second write
Write 4 news headlines about your year, then give 1 Past Simple detail each.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minThe tense switch — slowing for the detail
- • I've BEEN to Japan — I went in TWENty-twenty.
- • She's MOVED house — she moved on the WEEKend.
- • I've MET someone amazing — we met at a CONference.
- • He's WRITten a book — he finished it LAST month.
How to say it
When natural speakers move from Present Perfect (news) to Past Simple (detail), they typically slow down slightly on the detail to mark the shift. 'I've JUST landed a new job (faster). I had the interview LAST WEEK and they called me on FRIDay (slower with stress on times).' Make the time-words audible.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minThree life updates
GINA. I've just landed my dream job! I had the interview three weeks ago and they called me last Tuesday with the offer. I'm absolutely over the moon — I've been waiting for this since I graduated in 2021. JAMAL. Out of the blue, I've decided to drop out of my master's. The decision came last weekend. I haven't broken the news to my parents yet, and honestly, I'm dreading it. I started the course in September and I've never felt right there. ANA. I'm gutted. My grandfather died last month and we held the funeral two weeks ago. I haven't really processed it yet. He was 92 and lived a full life — he visited 47 countries, met three of his great-grandchildren, and was over the moon at our wedding in 2023. We've been writing down family stories so we don't lose them.
Question 1.When did Gina graduate?
Question 2.What hasn't Jamal done?
Question 3.Ana's grandfather's age?
Q1.Gina is over the moon.
Q2.Jamal has told his parents already.
Q3.Ana's grandfather went to 47 countries.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minNews from a long-lost friend
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Vic:Guess what — I've just bought a flat!
Sam:No way! When did you sign?
Vic:On Monday. I've been saving for five years for this.
Sam:I'm so happy for you. Where is it?
Vic:Just outside the city centre. I viewed it back in March, made an offer in May, and it's finally done.
Sam:Wow. You haven't moved in yet though?
Vic:Not yet. We're painting next weekend. We've also adopted a cat — picked her up last Saturday.
Sam:Honestly, this is the best news I've heard all year.
Question 1.When did Vic sign?
Question 2.When did Vic view it?
Question 3.When did they get the cat?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 2 (compare + comment) & Writing Part 2
Task
Tell a partner three pieces of recent news, opening with Present Perfect and adding 2 Past Simple details for each.
Strategy
The 'news + detail' switch is the highest-value B1 grammar move. Always open with the impact ('I've just…' / 'I've finally…') and follow with Past Simple time markers. Use idioms (over the moon, gutted, out of the blue) to add register and feeling.
Example
I've just landed a new role — I had the second interview on Friday and they offered it on Monday. I'm over the moon. I've also booked a holiday — we paid for it last week. And, out of the blue, my landlord has sold the flat. He told me yesterday.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I ____ ____ Japan in 2019.
Question 2.I ____ ____ Japan three times.
Question 3.She ____ ____ since Monday.
Question 4.He ____ ____ ____ the moon.
Question 5.She called ____ ____ ____ ____.
Q1.News + detail: 'I / just / land / job — interview / Friday' →
Q2.Unfinished week: 'I / drink / 4 coffees / this week' →
Q3.Finished moment: 'I / break / phone / yesterday' →
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 140-word personal email titled 'Three updates from me'. Open each item with Present Perfect (news) and continue with Past Simple (detail). Use 3 vocab phrases.
Show model answer
Hey Sam! Three big updates. First, I've finally moved house! We signed the papers two weeks ago and spent the entire weekend painting walls. I'm absolutely over the moon — it's been long overdue. Second, I've taken up running. I started in mid-September after my doctor (gently) suggested it. So far I've run three 5Ks this month — last Saturday's was my fastest. Third, out of the blue, my old university friend Maya has moved to my city. She arrived last month and we caught up over coffee on Tuesday. We hadn't seen each other since 2019, so it was a proper reunion. So — busy weeks. How about you? Anything I've missed? I haven't spoken to you properly in ages. Let's grab a coffee soon!
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
NEWS HOUR · Pairs. Each partner gives 3 personal updates. Round 1: just announce in Present Perfect. Round 2: add Past Simple detail for each. Round 3: react with 'No way! When did you…?' questions in Past Simple. Teacher scores for clean tense switching.
Useful phrases
- • I've just / finally…
- • When did you…?
- • I had the … on Friday.
- • I'm over the moon!
- • Out of the blue, …
- • I'm absolutely gutted.
- AAny news?
- B_______________
- AAmazing! When do you start?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
The tense switch is the centrepiece — drill it relentlessly. ~24 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write 5 'news' lines (Present Perfect) and 5 matching 'detail' lines (Past Simple).
Record a 90-second voice note giving 3 personal updates with the tense switch.
Find an English celebrity news article; highlight every PP and PS form.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Present Perfect = no specific time, unfinished period, news.
- Past Simple = specific finished time.
- Pattern: open with PP → continue with PS (time markers).
- Yesterday / last week / in 2020 → Past Simple.
- Today / this week / ever / never / so far → Present Perfect.