The key idea
Choose the present perfect for news and experience, and the past simple for finished times.
What is it for?
Learn to share recent news and life experiences. Choose the present perfect or past simple to show when something happened.
What you need to know
- Use have or has with a past participle to share news and experience.
- Use ever and never to talk about life experiences.
- Use just to report recent news.
- Use for and since to describe things that continue until now.
- Use the past simple when you name a finished time.
- Use common past participles correctly, including been, seen, done, eaten, and written.
1. Share news with the present perfect
Use have or has plus a past participle. This form shares news about something that has happened.
You can use just for something that happened recently. The exact time is not the main point.
- Use have with I, you, we, and they.
- Use has with he, she, and it.
- Put just between have or has and the participle.
I've just found a new job.
This shares recent news.
My sister has just had a baby.
The news is new and important.
2. Talk about life experience
Use the present perfect to talk about experiences in your life. You do not need to say when they happened.
Use ever in many questions about experience. Use never to say that something has not happened in your life.
- Use have or has before the past participle.
- Put ever before the main verb in questions.
- Put never before the main verb.
Have you ever visited Italy?
The question asks about life experience.
I've never eaten sushi.
The speaker has no such experience.
3. Use for and since
Use for to say how long something has continued. Use since to name its starting point.
The situation started in the past and continues now. Use the present perfect to connect both times.
- Use for with a length of time.
- Use since with a starting time or date.
- Use the present perfect for situations that continue until now.
I've worked here for two years.
For two years tells us the length of time.
She's lived here since 2022.
Since 2022 tells us when it started.
4. Choose the correct past form
Use the present perfect when the exact finished time is not important or is not given.
Use the past simple when you name a finished time. Words such as yesterday, last week, and in 2020 show finished times.
- Present perfect: have or has plus a past participle.
- Past simple: a past verb form, such as visited or went.
- Common participles include been, seen, done, eaten, and written.
I've visited Italy twice.
This tells us about life experience.
I visited Italy in 2020.
In 2020 names a finished time.
How to do it, step by step
- Start with a greeting and a friendly opening.
- Share your main news using the present perfect.
- Add details about your experience or how long something has continued.
- Use the past simple to explain when a finished event happened.
- Ask about your friend's life and finish with a friendly closing.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| I've just + past participle | I've just moved into a new flat. | I've just started a new course. |
| Have you ever + past participle ...? | Have you ever travelled alone? | Have you ever tried Korean food? |
| I've never + past participle | I've never flown in a helicopter. | I've never seen snow. |
| have/has + past participle + a number of times | I've visited that museum three times. | She's watched that film twice. |
| have/has + past participle + for + length of time | I've worked here for two years. | He's studied English for six months. |
| have/has + past participle + since + starting point | I've lived here since 2022. | She's worked there since March. |
| past simple + finished time | I started my job last Monday. | We moved house in 2024. |
| Have/Has + subject + past participle ...? | Have you finished your course? | Has your brother found a job? |
UK / US: Both British and American English use the present perfect for life experience. American English sometimes uses the past simple for recent events, too.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B1 upgrades page.
Model text
An email with news
Greeting
Hi Maya,
How have you been? It's been ages since we last met, so I've got lots to tell you.
How have you been? It's been ages since we last met, so I've got lots to tell you.
Start warmly and invite a friendly reply.
Main news
I've just started a new job at a small travel office. I've worked there for three weeks, and I'm already learning a lot. My manager has given me more tasks this week because she trusts me.
Use the present perfect for news and recent changes.
Past experience
Last month, I visited a coastal town with my cousin. We stayed in a family hotel and tried some local dishes. I've never eaten such fresh fish before, and I took dozens of photos.
Use the past simple for a finished trip. Add present perfect experience.
More personal news
I've also moved into a smaller flat near my office. I've lived there since September, so my daily journey is much shorter. What I like most is the quiet street, which has several little cafés.
Use since for a starting point. Add details with a relative clause.
Closing
Have you changed jobs or travelled anywhere recently? Write back when you can. I'd love to hear your news!
Take care,
Lina
Take care,
Lina
Ask questions to keep the conversation going.
Common mistakes
✗ I have went to Spain twice.
✓ I have gone to Spain twice.
Use the past participle gone after have.
✗ She have found a new job.
✓ She has found a new job.
Use has with she, he, and it.
✗ I've lived here since three years.
✓ I've lived here for three years.
Use for with a length of time.
✗ I have seen him yesterday.
✓ I saw him yesterday.
Use the past simple with a finished time such as yesterday.
✗ Have you ever ate sushi?
✓ Have you ever eaten sushi?
Use the past participle eaten after have.
✗ I have wrote two emails today.
✓ I have written two emails today.
Use written, not wrote, after have.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Choose two or three pieces of news to share.
- Add one life experience and explain why it matters to you.
- Include a time period with for or since if it fits.
- Add a finished event with a clear past time.
- Ask your friend a question and write a friendly closing.
Check
- Have I used have or has with the correct participles?
- Have I used ever or never correctly when needed?
- Have I used for with a length of time and since with a starting point?
- Have I used the past simple with finished times?
- Have I checked irregular participles such as been, eaten, and written?
Practice
Present perfect or past simple?
Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.
1.I ___ just received your email.
Use have with just to share recent news.
2.We ___ our new neighbours yesterday.
Yesterday is a finished time, so use the past simple.
3.___ you ever tried Indian food?
Use have to ask about life experience.
4.My brother ___ his first car in 2023.
In 2023 names a finished time, so use the past simple.
5.She ___ in this town since 2021.
Use has lived with since for a situation that continues now.
6.I ___ never seen the ocean.
Use have with never and the past participle seen.
Complete the verb forms
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1.I have (write) three messages today.
Written is the past participle of write.
2.She has (find) a new flat.
Found is the past participle of find.
3.We (visit) our aunt last Sunday.
Use the past simple with last Sunday.
4.Have you ever (eat) Korean food?
Eaten is the past participle of eat.
5.He has (work) here for six months.
Use has plus the past participle for a situation that continues now.
6.They (move) house in 2024.
Use the past simple with the finished time in 2024.
7.My parents have (be) to Canada twice.
Been is the past participle used for completed visits.
8.I have (see) that film before.
Seen is the past participle of see.
Build present perfect sentences
Put the words in the correct order. Add the correct punctuation.
1.Put the words in order:
foundjustnewjobI'vea
Put just between have and the past participle.
2.Put the words in order:
youhaveflownaloneever
Start a present perfect question with have.
3.Put the words in order:
we'vetwoforlivedyearshere
Use for before a length of time.
4.Put the words in order:
sushieatenI'venever
Put never before the past participle.
5.Put the words in order:
sheworkedsincehasmarch
Use has worked with since and a starting point.
Correct one small mistake
Change only the incorrect verb or verb form.
1.I have went to Italy twice.
Use gone, the past participle of go, after have.
2.She have just finished work.
Use has with she.
3.We have saw that film before.
Use seen, the past participle of see, after have.
4.I have called him yesterday.
Use the past simple with yesterday.
5.Have you ever ate Thai food?
Use eaten after have in a present perfect question.
6.He has wrote three letters today.
Use written, the past participle of write, after has.
Now write
Your task
Write an email to a friend you have not seen for a year. Use these made-up details: you started a job at a travel office three weeks ago, moved into a flat in September, and visited a coastal town last month. Explain what has changed, share one new experience, and ask about your friend's life. Write 8-10 sentences. Start with a greeting and finish with a friendly closing.
Word bank
I've just startedI've movedI've lived here forsince Septemberlast monthI've never triedI've already learnedrecentlyfor three weeksin 2025Have you everI've alsoexciting experiencewrite backtake care
Sentence starters
- How have you been?
- I've just started...
- I've also moved...
- Last month, I...
- I've never...
- Have you ever...?