I did it.
I have done it.
Can you tell me the difference between these two verb tenses? When should I use the first tense and when should I use the second tense?
For the last two weeks, we have looked at Future Verb Tenses, but this week I want to take a look at the past. Let’s compare two verb tenses that can be quite confusing: Past Simple Verb Tense (I did) versus Present Perfect Simple Verb Tense (I have done).
Today, we are going to compare two ways that they are used in similar yet different ways.
The first thing to remember is that the Present Perfect Simple Tense is a PRESENT tense, which means that it is telling you something about the present time. There is always a connection to “now”. However, the Simple Past Tense is a PAST tense. It does not tell us anything about “now”.
Known Time vs Unknown Time
V2 [did]
The SIMPLE PAST TENSE is used to talk about something that happened and was completed at a specific time in the past. There should be a known past time either in the sentence or in the context such as: yesterday, last week, last year, in May, in 2020, when I was a child, when I first came to Canada, etc.
I met Tom yesterday.
I saw that movie last week.
I visited Las Vegas last year.
I ran a 10K race in May.
I played piano when I was a child.
have V3 [have done]
The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE is also used to talk about something that happened and was completed in the past, but the time is UNKNOWN. That means I don’t remember exactly when it happened. I just know that it happened sometime in the past – before “now”. It might have been yesterday. It might have been 20 years ago. The time is not mentioned in the sentence or in the context. Because the time is not known, but we know it was sometime before now, we usually just use the word “before” instead of a time expression.
I have met Tom before.
I have seen that movie before.
I have visited Las Vegas before.
I have run a 10K race before.
I have played piano before.
Let’s look at this example situation:
You are at a party and your friend introduces you to her neighbor, Tom, but you think Tom looks very familiar. The conversation might go something like this:
You: “Hi Tom. You look very familiar. Have we met before?”
Tom: “Yes, you look familiar, too. I think we have met before.”
You: “Do you know Patrick? I think we met at his Christmas party last year.”
Tom: “Patrick! Yes, that’s it! You wore a long red dress to the party, didn’t you?”
You: “Yes! That was me. Good to see you again! How have you been?”
For the first part of the conversation, when you and Tom do not remember when you met, you use Present Perfect Simple (have met):
You: “Hi Tom. You look very familiar. Have we met before?”
Tom: “Yes, you look familiar, too. I think we have met before.”
But once you remember where/when you met (at Patrick’s Christmas party last year), you switch to Simple Past (met / wore / didn’t / was):
You: “Do you know Patrick? I think we met at his Christmas party last year.”
Tom: “Patrick! Yes, that’s it! You wore a long red dress to the party, didn’t you?”
You: “Yes! That was me. Good to see you again! How have you been?”
Old vs New Information
V2 [did]
The SIMPLE PAST TENSE is used to talk about something that happened and was completed in the past and it is old information. Whether or not something is considered “old” or “new” information is a bit of a relative term* and can depend on the context.
Apple released the first iPhone in 2007.
He left the party an hour ago.
have V3 [have done]
The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE is also used to talk about something that happened and was completed recently. This means it is likely new information. Because this is a new or recent action, we often use the adverbs “just” “yet” or “already” in the sentence but not specific time is given. If specific time were given, it would change back to Past Simple Tense due to the first rule mentioned above.
Apple has just released a new iPhone.
He has already left the party.
NOTE: If specific time is given, it will change back to Past Simple Tense due to the first rule mentioned above.
Apple just released a new iPhone a few days ago.
He already left the party a few minutes ago.
Let’s take one more interesting example. When we are talking to someone and telling them some new information, we use the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE (have done) when we first give the information, but as we continue to talk about the event, we switch to the SIMPLE PAST TENSE (did). Let’s take a look at an example.
A: Have you heard about Susan?
B: No, I haven’t. What’s happened?
A: Oh, she has won the lottery!
B: Wow! Really? When did that happen?
A: Just last week.
B: How much money did she win?
A: She won 1 million dollars!
For the first part of the conversation, we use PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE to give the new information.
A: Have you heard about Susan?
B: No, I haven’t. What’s happened?
A: Oh, she has won the lottery!
But then as the conversation continues, we switch to PAST SIMPLE for the rest of the information.
B: Wow! Really? When did that happen?
A: Just last week.
B: How much money did she win?
A: She won 1 million dollars!
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For more help with verb tenses, be sure to check out our comprehensive online course on verb tenses coming soon. Check back for more details as they become available.
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Vocabulary in context:
* relative term: a word that can change meaning depending on the context
“The word ‘tall’ is a relative term. I am 175 cm tall. For a woman, that is pretty tall, but for a man, it is pretty short.”
“The word ‘old’ is a relative term. If I am talking about milk that is 2 weeks old, then the milk is old and should be thrown out because it is sour and not good to drink anymore. However, if you are talking about a newborn baby that is 2 weeks old, then the baby is very young!”
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For further help with your English …
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