Present Simple or Present Perfect?

Learn which tense to use, and why.

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Topic

Which one should I use?

Use the present simple for habits, routines, facts, and schedules. Use the present perfect for actions completed before now with a result now, or for life experience.

I eat breakfast every day.
I have eaten lunch.
She writes stories.
She has written a story.
Big idea

Ask: regular truth, or completed before now?

Habit or routine?I clean my room every Friday.Use present simple.
Finished with result?I have cleaned my room.Use present perfect.
Life experience?She has visited Dubai.Use present perfect.
Present simple

Use it for habits, routines, facts, and schedules.

HabitsAli reads every night.It happens again and again.
FactsThe sun rises in the east.Generally true.
SchedulesThe bus leaves at 7:00.Fixed timetable.
Present perfect

Use it for completed actions connected to now.

Result nowI have lost my key.I do not have it now.
Just finishedShe has finished her work.The work is complete now.
ExperienceThey have seen that film.At some time before now.
Signal words

Time words can help.

Present simple cluesalways, usually, often, every day, on Fridays, neverHabit, routine, or fact.
Present perfect cluesalready, just, yet, ever, never, so far, recentlyCompleted before now or experience.
Think meaningNever can fit both: “I never eat fish” or “I have never eaten sushi.”Meaning matters most.
Form reminder

Present simple forms.

I / you / we / theyI play.
They don't play.
Do they play?Use do / don't.
He / she / it / nameShe plays.
She doesn't play.
Does she play?Add s in positive only.
After doesDoes Ali play?
Ali doesn't play.No s on the main verb.
Form reminder

Present perfect forms.

AffirmativeI have finished.
She has eaten.has/have + past participle
NegativeI haven't finished.
She hasn't eaten.not after has/have
QuestionHave you finished?
Has Sara eaten?Move has/have first.
Compare

Same verb, different meaning.

I do my homework every day.This is my routine.Present simple.
I have done my homework.It is finished now.Present perfect.
Why?Every day = routine.
Have done = completed result.Choose from meaning.
Common mistake

Do not mix the forms.

CorrectShe writes letters every week.Present simple.
CorrectShe has written a letter.Present perfect.
Not correctShe has write.
She written every week.Use the full correct form.
Sentence completion 1

Choose the correct form.

Maha ___ her room every Saturday.

Sentence completion 2

Choose the correct form.

Ali ___ his room. It is clean now.

Sentence completion 3

Choose the correct question.

___ you ever visited Salalah?

MCQ 1

Which sentence fits a routine?

Choose the best sentence.

MCQ 2

Which sentence shows completion?

Choose the best sentence.

Paragraph completion 1

Fill five blanks.

Choose present simple or present perfect. Think about why.

Every morning, I to school.
Today, I my umbrella, so I am ready.
The bus at 7:30 every day.
Omar home, so he is not here.
Maha her homework yet.
Test 1

Mixed question types of 5

Answer all five. Then tap Finish test to see your result sheet.

1. Sentence completion

Sara usually ___ stories on Fridays.

2. MCQ

Which sentence shows experience before now?

3. Type the answer

___ they finished yet?

4. Type the answer

Ali ___ football every weekend.

5. MCQ

Which sentence explains why she cannot find it now?

Cumulative result sheet

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