Past Experiences

➧ Understand the difference between the present perfect and past simple tenses.
➧ Learn and practice time expressions used with the present perfect tense
ever | never | recently

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Present Perfect
➧ I have visited Paris.

Past Simple
➧ I visited Paris last year


Present Perfect
Used for experiences at an unspecified time or recently completed actions.
➧ I have seen that movie.

Past Simple
Used for actions completed at a specific time in the past.
➧ I saw that movie last weekend.

Now let’s look at some common time expressions we use with the present perfect tense.

Ever
Have you ever traveled abroad?

Never
I have never eaten sushi.

Recently
She has recently started a new job.

Yet
I haven’t finished the book yet.

➧ Ever and Never are used to ask and answer questions about experiences.

➧ Recently for actions that happened not long ago

➧ Yet to talk about something that hasn’t happened but is expected.

Traveled
➧ I have traveled to Japan.

Tried
➧ Have you ever tried Italian food?

Visited
➧ She has visited the Eiffel Tower.

Seen
➧ We have seen a Broadway show.

These verbs will help you describe your own experiences.