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Lesson

Grammar: Present perfect or past simple?

Two tenses that Bangla speakers often mix up. Learn which one to use with "since", "ago", "ever" and "in 2019", in Task 1 and in speaking.

Grammar Band 5.5–6.5 · B2 14 questions Sign in to save

The key question: is the time finished?

Past simplePresent perfect
Timefinished: yesterday, in 2019, two years ago, when I was a childnot finished or not stated: since, for, ever, never, yet, already, recently
ExampleI visited Cox's Bazar last year.I have visited Cox's Bazar three times.

In Task 1

If the chart ends in the past, use the past simple:

The number of visitors rose from 2010 to 2020.

If it describes change up to now, the present perfect is possible:

Since 2015, sales have increased steadily.

Common mistakes

I have finished school in 2020. → I finished school in 2020.
I live here since 2018. → I have lived here since 2018.
Did you ever try sushi? → Have you ever tried sushi?
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Questions 1–6

Choose the correct form.

  1. I ___ English for six years.

  2. She ___ her degree in 2021.

  3. ___ you ever ___ abroad?

  4. We ___ to the new flat two months ago.

  5. The city ___ a lot since I was a child.

  6. Between 2000 and 2010, car sales ___ sharply.

Questions 7–11

Write the verb in the correct form: past simple or present perfect.

  1. I (live) in Habiganj since 2015.

  2. He (not / finish) his essay yet.

  3. When I was a child, I (want) to be a pilot.

  4. The number of students (double) since the new campus opened.

  5. I (see) that film last weekend.

Questions 12–14

Is each sentence correct or incorrect?

  1. I have graduated from university in 2022.

  2. I've known my best friend for ten years.

  3. Did you finish your homework already?

More grammar practice

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