Talking About Experiences in English: Present Perfect and Past Simple Made Easy

Why This Matters

Sharing experiences is one of the quickest ways to build connection and confidence in English.

Learners often know the forms but freeze when deciding whether to say I’ve been or I went.

This article explains the difference in plain language, gives memorable patterns, and includes practice tasks you can use in class or self-study.

So let’s begin…

The Big Idea (in one line)

Present Perfect = headline (life experience up to now, no date)

Past Simple = story details (finished events at a known time)

Headline:

I’ve visited Japan three times.

Details:

I went in 2018 and 2022. I stayed in Kyoto and visited Nara.

Present Perfect for Life Experience

2.1 Form

have/has + past participle

I/you/we/they have seen…

He/she has seen…

Contractions (sound more natural):

I’ve, you’ve, she’s, we’ve, they’ve.

2.2 Meaning

Use it to talk about experiences at any time up to now without saying when they happened.

I’ve tried Ethiopian coffee.

She’s never ridden a motorbike.

Have you ever met a famous author?

2.3 Common adverbs with Present Perfect

ever / never:

Have you ever…? I’ve never…

just (very recent), already (earlier than expected), yet (in questions/negatives)

I’ve just finished the book.

She’s already seen that film.

Have you finished yet? / I haven’t finished yet.

British English note: We often use just/already/yet with the present perfect (I’ve just eaten).

American English often prefers past simple (I just ate).

Both are correct; choose one style.

2.4 Been vs Gone

been to = visited and returned:

I’ve been to Paris twice.

gone to = has gone and is still there:

He’s gone to the shop. (He isn’t here now.)

Past Simple for Specific Details

3.1 Form

verb + -ed (regular) or second form (irregular): went, saw, met…

3.2 Meaning

Use it for finished events with a finished time reference (yesterday, last year, in 2019, two days ago).

I went to Italy last summer.

We stayed in a small B&B near the beach.

3.3 Time expressions that signal Past Simple

yesterday · last night/week/year · in 2015 · two years ago · on Tuesday · when I was a child

Put Them Together in Real Conversation

Pattern 1: Experience → Details

Present perfect headline:

I’ve tried rock climbing.

Past simple details:

I tried it in 2023 with my cousin. We went to an indoor wall.

Pattern 2: Negative → First time

I’ve never flown alone. → The first time I flew alone was in 2021.

Pattern 3: Numbers + frequency

I’ve visited Spain three times. → I went twice for work and once for a holiday.

Memory hook: PP = Past to Present (bridge); PS = Point in time (dot).

Useful Phrases & Discourse Markers

Introduce an experience:

I’ve been to… · I’ve tried… · I’ve never… · I’ve always wanted to…

Ask about experience:

Have you ever…? · How many times have you…?

Move to details:

The last time I went was… · Back in 2019… · When I was there…

Add sequence:

First… then… after that… finally…

Reactions:

No way! · That sounds amazing. · What happened next?

Common Mistakes & Quick Fixes

I’ve gone to Paris last year. → I went to Paris last year. (time is finished → past simple)

Did you ever eat sushi? → Have you ever eaten sushi? (British English for life experience)

I have been yesterday. → I went yesterday. (yesterday = finished time → past simple)

I have seen that movie last night. → I saw that movie last night.

I’ve been in Paris in 2022. → I was in Paris in 2022. / I went to Paris in 2022.

Mini-Stories: Model Paragraphs

Model A (Travel)

I’ve been to Thailand a few times. The last time I went was in 2022. I stayed in Chiang Mai for a week and took a cooking class. I tried khao soi for the first time and loved it.

Model B (Food)

I’ve never cooked Ethiopian food, but I’ve tried it. I went to a small restaurant in London two years ago. We shared injera and a spicy lentil dish—amazing flavours.

Model C (Meeting People)

Have you ever met an author? I have—once. I met her at a book signing in 2018. She signed my book and we chatted for a minute about the characters in her latest novel.