Step 41: Experiences and Results
News about your life — Present perfect vs past simple
📖 Read — Emma's Big News
Emma has big news this week. She has just passed her driving test! “I can drive now,” she says happily. “I've wanted a license for two years.” She hasn't bought a car yet, but she has already found a good one online.
Her week is full of results. She lost her phone on Monday — she left it on the bus, and she hasn't found it yet. But yesterday, her boss called her into a meeting. “Emma, your project was excellent. The company has chosen you for the Boston team!” Emma smiled all day. Good news like that can really make your day!
🧩 Grammar — Present Perfect vs Past Simple
Use the present perfect when a past action connects to NOW — a result, or news with no time given: She has passed her test. (result: she can drive now) · I've lost my phone. (result: I don't have it now). Use the past simple when you name a FINISHED time: She lost it on Monday. She passed yesterday. Signal words: just, already, yet, ever, never, since → perfect · yesterday, last week, in 2019, ago → past simple.
- I've just passed my driving test!
- I lost my phone on Monday.
- She hasn't found it yet.
- He bought his car last year.
🏗️ Key structures
- I've just ___ (news!) — I've just passed my exam!
- She ___ yesterday / last week (finished) — She lost her keys yesterday.
- Have you ___ yet? — Yes, I ___ it yesterday — Have you seen the email yet? — Yes, I read it yesterday.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
Your good news really made my day!
🔤 New words
what happens at the end of something; the score of a test or game
The test results come out on Friday.
a formal meeting where someone asks you questions for a job
She has an interview at the company tomorrow.
a business that makes or sells things
He works for a software company in Seattle.
a planned piece of work with a goal and a finish
Our team finished the project early.
an official paper that lets you do something (drive, for example)
You need a license to drive in the United States.
an official paper that shows you passed a course or test
She got her English certificate last week.
the person who tells you what to do at work
My boss is happy with my work.
a time when people come together to talk about work
We have a meeting at ten.
🎧 Say it with me
I’ve just passed my exam! I lost my phone on Monday, but I’ve already found it. This week has been full of good news!
🎤 Your turn to speak
Share your news: one thing with the present perfect (I've just… / I haven't… yet) and one finished action with the past simple + a time word.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 5 sentences of news about your month: mix present perfect (results) and past simple (finished times).
See a model answer
I've just joined a gym near my house. I have already lost two kilos! Last week, I visited my cousins in Houston. We cooked together on Saturday. I haven't tried their famous burgers yet — maybe next time!
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
Present Perfect vs Past Simple — full lesson + 50-question quiz
🎉 Saved in your progress!