“I saw” or “I have seen”? Past simple vs present perfect

The rule

Use the past simple with a finished time: I saw him yesterday / last week / in 2020. Use the present perfect when you give no time, or with ever, never, already, just and yet: I've already seen this film.

Arabic رأيته and French je l'ai vu cover both meanings, and the French form looks like I have seen, so learners say I have seen him yesterday. In English, a finished time like yesterday always takes the past simple.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Have you seen the new film at the cinema?

B: Yes, I saw it last weekend. It was great!

A: I haven't seen it yet. Is it long?

B: A bit, but you'll love it.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. I ___ Karim at the station last night.
   • a) have seen
   • b) saw
   • c) have saw
2. Have you ___ been to a big concert?
   • a) ever
   • b) yesterday
   • c) last year
3. When ___ your new job?
   • a) have you started
   • b) you started
   • c) did you start

Tip

If the sentence says or asks when, use the past simple: When did you see him?, not When have you seen him?

Answers

1. b) saw. Last night is a finished time: saw.
2. a) ever. The present perfect takes ever, not a finished time.
3. c) did you start. Questions with when take the past simple.

• ← Day 37: I went, not “I goed”: common irregular past verbs
• All 60 lessons
• Day 39: Will or going to? Decisions, plans and predictions →