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B1Song 02Intermediate3:36

Present Perfect vs Past Simple Song

Have You Ever...?

Present perfect or past simple? Learn the difference in one song. Level B1 (intermediate), for teenagers and adults learning English.

Past simple

Say WHEN it happened

“I went there last December.”

Present perfect

Up to NOW, no finished time

“I've been there twice.”

Chapters

  1. 0:00Intro
  2. 0:10Chorus: say WHEN (past) vs up to NOW (perfect)
  3. 0:28Experiences: ever / never
  4. 0:47Chorus
  5. 1:06News: just / already / yet
  6. 1:24Chorus
  7. 1:43for / since vs ago
  8. 2:05Signal words: past or perfect?
  9. 2:24Final chorus
  10. 3:00Outro

Also on YouTube. The singing voice is AI-generated; Remi is an animated character.

Lyrics · click a line to play it

Intro

0:01: play Intro

Have you ever...? Yes, I have! When? Last night!

Chorus

0:09: play Chorus

Yesterday, last week, two years ago, (Past simple)

say when it happened, it's the past, you know! (Past simple)

Ever, never, already, just, (Present perfect)

have plus participle, up to now, it's a must! (Present perfect)

Verse 1 · Experiences: ever / never

0:27: play Verse 1 · Experiences: ever / never

Ask with "ever" → tell the story with WHEN

Have you ever been to London? Yes, I have, I've been there twice, (Present perfect)

I went there last December and the lights were really nice. (Past simple)

Have you ever lost your phone? No, I've never lost my phone, (Present perfect)

but I lost my keys on Friday and I couldn't get back home! (Past simple)

Chorus

0:47: play Chorus

Yesterday, last week, two years ago, (Past simple)

say when it happened, it's the past, you know! (Past simple)

Ever, never, already, just, (Present perfect)

have plus participle, up to now, it's a must! (Present perfect)

Verse 2 · News: just / already / yet

1:05: play Verse 2 · News: just / already / yet

Up to now → then what happened, and when

I've just finished my report, and I've already sent it too, (Present perfect)

I haven't had my coffee yet, there's still so much to do! (Present perfect)

At six o'clock I left my flat and ran to catch the train, (Past simple)

I sat down, I closed my eyes, and then it started to rain! (Past simple)

Chorus

1:24: play Chorus

Yesterday, last week, two years ago, (Past simple)

say when it happened, it's the past, you know! (Past simple)

Ever, never, already, just, (Present perfect)

have plus participle, up to now, it's a must! (Present perfect)

Verse 3 · for / since vs ago

1:43: play Verse 3 · for / since vs ago

for & since run up to now · ago is finished

I've had this job for a year, I've lived in town since May, (Present perfect)

I started here a year ago, I moved here on a rainy day. (Past simple)

For and since mean up to now, so use have or has, (Present perfect)

but ago is finished time, so ago goes with the past! (Past simple)

Bridge · Signal words

2:05: play Bridge · Signal words

Past or perfect? Sing the answer!

Yesterday? Past! Last night? Past! Twenty nineteen? Past, past, past! (Past simple)

Ever? Perfect! Never? Perfect! Already, just and yet? Perfect, yes! (Present perfect)

Final chorus

2:23: play Final chorus

Yesterday, last week, two years ago, (Past simple)

say when it happened, it's the past, you know! (Past simple)

Ever, never, already, just, (Present perfect)

have plus participle, up to now, it's a must! (Present perfect)

Final chorus

2:41: play Final chorus

Yesterday, last week, two years ago, (Past simple)

say when it happened, it's the past, you know! (Past simple)

Ever, never, already, just, (Present perfect)

have plus participle, up to now, it's a must! (Present perfect)

Outro · One more time

3:00: play Outro · One more time

You've sung it twice!

Have you ever sung this song? Now you have, you've sung it twice! (Present perfect)

You sang it just a minute ago, and wasn't it nice? (Past simple)

The grammar

Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Past simple

finished time · you say WHEN

Use it when: say WHEN it happened.

From the song

  • I went there last December and the lights were really nice.
  • but I lost my keys on Friday and I couldn't get back home!
  • At six o'clock I left my flat and ran to catch the train,
  • I sat down, I closed my eyes, and then it started to rain!

Present perfect

have / has + participle · up to NOW

Use it when: up to NOW, no finished time.

From the song

  • Have you ever been to London? Yes, I have, I've been there twice,
  • Have you ever lost your phone? No, I've never lost my phone,
  • I've just finished my report, and I've already sent it too,
  • I haven't had my coffee yet, there's still so much to do!

Step by step through the song

  1. Experiences: ever / never

    ▶ 0:27

    Ask with "ever" → tell the story with WHEN

  2. News: just / already / yet

    ▶ 1:05

    Up to now → then what happened, and when

  3. for / since vs ago

    ▶ 1:43

    for & since run up to now · ago is finished

  4. Signal words

    ▶ 2:05

    Past or perfect? Sing the answer!

  5. One more time

    ▶ 3:00

    You've sung it twice!

Practice

Test yourself

Say WHEN, or up to NOW? Choose the form that fits.

  1. 1.I to London last December.

  2. 2.Up to now, I to London twice.

  3. 3.I my keys on Friday and couldn't get back home.

  4. 4.I my coffee yet. There's still so much to do!

  5. 5.At six o'clock I my flat and ran to catch the train.

  6. 6.I this job for a year, and I still love it.

  7. 7.I started here a year .

  8. 8.I in town since May.

0 of 8 answered

More practice with this songHear Remi sing a line, type the missing words, then check the answers and explanations.Present Perfect vs Past Simple exercises

Your turn

Have you ever sung a grammar song before?

Answer with the present perfect, then say WHEN with the past simple:"Yes, I have! I sang one yesterday."

Answer in the YouTube comments

Keep singing

Out Tue 6 Oct
B1Song 04

Present Continuous vs Going To

Future Plans

See the lyrics
Out Wed 30 Sep
B1Song 05

Will vs Going To

Decisions, Plans & Predictions

See the lyrics