Present Perfect- the present perfect tense of English language. This tense is used to refer to events that have ended up to the present time or completed in the present time period. See below the rules for the formation of Present Perfect, a list auxiliary words and examples of the use of the present perfect tense of the English language.
Education Present Perfect
In affirmative sentences, the Present Perfect is formed by using the auxiliary word have (1 and 2 persons) or has (3 persons singular) and adding the ending -ed to the verb. If the verb is irregular, then the 3rd form is used - Past Participle.
Education formula:
Noun + have / has + verb c ending -ed or in 3 form
The noun and the auxiliary verb have can merge and form I've, they've, etc. Examples of affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect:
He has just finished playing football. He has just finished playing football.
They've started doing their homework already. They have already started doing their homework.
To form a negative sentence in the Present Perfect, after the auxiliary verb, you must add the particle not. rule:
Noun + have / has + not + verb ending -ed or in 3rd form
The auxiliary verb can merge with not to form have not or has not. Examples of negative sentences:
I have not seen you for years! "I haven't seen you in a long time!"
She has not made her work yet. She hasn't done her job yet.
To form an interrogative sentence in the Present Perfect, the auxiliary verb must be put in advance of the sentence. rule:
Have / Has + noun + verb with -ed or 3rd form
Examples of interrogative sentences:
Has there ever been a war in the United States? Was there ever a war in the United States?
Have you ever met him? - Have you ever met him?
Auxiliary words Present Perfect
When forming sentences in the Present Perfect, auxiliary words are often used. These present perfect tense markers are listed below:
Cases in which the Present Perfect is used
Below are various examples of using the Present Perfect tense that you may find useful.
I use case: Indefinite time before present
Unspecified Time Before Now
Present Perfect is usually used to describe what happened relatively recently and at an inopportune time. The use of the following words such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, at that moment, that day, one day and others in the Present Perfect is prohibited, because when using this time, the emphasis is on experience, and not on the time when the event occurred. In this case, the use of auxiliary words is used (see the table above). examples:
I have been to France. — I was in France.
I think I have met him once before. “I think I once met him.
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain. Nobody has ever climbed this mountain.
You have grown since the last time I saw you. You have grown since the last time I saw you.
James has not finished his homework yet. Jace hasn't finished his homework yet.
Have you been to Mexico in the last year? Have you been to Mexico in the last year? ('In the last year' (as opposed to 'last year') means 'in the last 365 days', so this indefinite time, requiring the use of the Present Perfect)
I have seen that movie six times in the last month. I saw this film six times last month. (The time is given here, but the emphasis is on how many times the person has seen the movie.)
II use case: the action takes place to the present day
Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
The Present Perfect is also used with Non-Continuous Verbs or Mixed Verbs. In this case, the present perfect tense describes an action that began in the past and continues to the present. In this case, the use of phrases like for five minutes, for two weeks, since Monday and others is typical. examples:
I had a cold for two weeks. I've had a cold for two weeks now.
She has been in England for six months. She has been in England for 6 months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl. Mary loves chocolate since childhood.
How do you like this phrase: "No one is perfect, that's why pencils have erasers." - "No one is perfect, that's why pencils have erasers"? However, "Perfect" still exists, and this is "Present" (real). What is the Present Perfect?
To begin with, it is worth noting that the equivalent of this tense or the Present Complete in Russian simply does not exist - this is the whole difficulty of understanding. But hold on! We're here to sort things out. Let's go!
Education Rules Present Perfect
Let's look at an example:
I have seen this film before.
In the first place we subject(subject or subject), then auxiliary verb(auxiliary) - have or has + Past Participle = seen.
Using Present Perfect
- When we talk about experience and achievements ( experience & achievements):
I have jumped with a parachute!- I jumped with a parachute!
I've just graduated from University and got a diploma!- I just graduated from university and got my diploma!
She has started to walk!- She started walking!
- To show some changes:
You've lost weight!- You've lost weight!
- When the action happened in the past, but we do not know when exactly, or the time does not matter. The main thing is not when the action happened, but its result in the present:
Have you read this book?- Did you read this book? (Although someday?)
Nick has traveled a lot. - Nick traveled a lot.
- In proposals from Stative/State verbs when an action started in the past, continues in the present, and may continue in the future. The following words can be used in these sentences: since(since) and for(during):
I've known him for ten years.- I have known him for 10 years (I knew him in the past, I know now, and maybe I will know him in the future).
I haven't felt well since Monday.- I don't feel well since Monday.
- When the time of the action is determined by words just(just now), already(already), yet(more). Exact connection with the present:
I've just seen an interesting movie.- I just watched an interesting film.
She has already left.- She's already gone.
The show has not started yet.- The show hasn't started yet.
- When an action took place during a period that has not yet ended. These periods include: today(today), this morning(this morning), this week(this week), this month(this month), this year(this year), etc.:
She has called her best friend this morning.- She called her best friend in the morning (the morning is not over yet).
I have never been to China.“I have never been to China. (I have never been to China in my entire life.)
- Description of recent events. Usually in such cases the words recently(recently), lately(lately, recently):
We have come back recently.- We just got back.
You've worked hard lately.- You've been working hard lately.
- When the action occurs for the first (second, third, etc.) time:
It's the first time I have done it.- I did it for the first time.
It's the second time I have driven a car.- I drove the car for the second time.
It's the third time she has called him this morning. She called him this morning for the third time.
Features of using been and gone in Present Perfect: examples
« Been" and " gone» are past participles (the third form of the verb), gone is the past participle form of the verb go, and been- past participle form of the verb be. Everything seems to be clear, but when translating into Russian or from Russian, students have a lot of problems. Let's look at examples:
Is Ann in the office? No, she has just been to Great Britain. And she is at home today relaxing. She'll be here tomorrow.
Is Ann in the office? No, she has just gone to China. She is spending there one month supervising the work of our subsidiary and is coming back on the 25th.
As you can see from the context in the first case, Anna was in the UK but has already returned. Her journey has just ended.
In the second case, on the contrary, her journey has just begun, she has left and will be in China for another month.
It follows that Present Perfect with " been" means back and forth action, and Present Perfect with " gone" means action only there.
Conclusion
After all of the above, the question arises: “Why then Past Simple if there is a Present Perfect?
There is a huge difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect. past simple happened in the past. We know when, and the time is over. So it does not include the real. Yesterday, last year, two minutes ago. All this is already finished time.
What if time unfinished? Today, this week, for these ten years (all these periods of time include the moment "now"), then we use Present Perfect. Let's compare:
I've fed a tiger today. I fed ten tigers yesterday.
She went to Europe last summer. I've never been to Europe in my life.
We've had many customers this week. We didn't have so many customers last week.
I lived here for ten years. I've lived here for ten years.
In which case I'm still here live? Of course, I've lived here for ten years, because it means that the action started in the past and still going on. I lived here for ten years means I lived a long time ago, but have already moved. Here you are walking past the house where you once lived a long time ago, and you say: I lived here for ten years a long time ago.
We hope that now you have no doubts left! Have a great English and evolve!
We offer you to get acquainted with other tenses of the English language
Big and friendly family EnglishDom
Many people call the present perfect tense a "tautology". And no wonder, because an action committed in the past is called the present. Why and why? Switching to "you" with Present Perfect is not difficult if every nuance of use, education and special cases is analyzed and understood in detail.
Let's start our acquaintance with the idea, look into the depth of this shade. Like any tense in English, present Perfect Tense reflects action. But its specificity is that the action has already taken place, and we see the result from it. In this situation, we do not focus on when an event happened, we are not interested, doesn't matter, and we are now talking about what it entailed, what it led to. For example:
Have you found the place on the map? Have you already found this place on the map? (We are not interested in: how much I searched, when I started; the result - I found it or not)
I can't walk. I think I have sprained my ankle. — I can't go. I think I sprained my ankle. (We do not note, we are not interested in: when I dislocated, how I dislocated; the result - I can’t walk).
Of course, this is the main characteristic or, as it is also called, a function. We will consider all cases of use, comparisons below.
Education
According to the rules for the Present Perfect, we need auxiliary verbs has/have, and we will put the semantic in V3 (Ved). Remember that everything English verbs divided into right and wrong. To form this time, we will add the ending -ed to the correct ones, and the wrong ones have a special form that will have to be learned (the 3rd column of the table is not regular verbs).
With subject in 3rd person singular(if the subject is a pronoun or a noun meaning: she, he, it) we use has. With everyone else - have. The negation is formed with the help of "not", which is placed after the auxiliary verb, and in the question have / has it changes with the subject places. As you can see, nothing new needs to be added or removed, only some permutations in the proposal itself.
Abbreviated forms:
I have = I've, She has = she's, we have = we've, they have = they've, you have = you've.
have + not = haven't, has + not = hasn't
Use
The present completed (perfect) tense has several uses in situations. Let's take a look at each separately. All actions can be divided into completed and incomplete.
1. Action completed in the past(signal words are: already, yet, still, recently, lately, just).
- If the situation has just ended (before the moment of the conversation), or earlier, and it is connected with the present , then this is the case when you should use the Present Perfect. In other words, if the result is important to you, interesting and necessary for further conversation, which serves as a starting point, then here we use the present perfect tense. The exact moment is not specified.
He has already published your poem in a local paper. He has already published your poem in the local newspaper.
I have recently bought this bycicle, but now it is broken. I recently bought this bike, but now it is broken.
- To highlight the repetitive actions their repetition, with the words several times, twice. Also, such a grammatical phenomenon occurs in complex attributive sentences, where ordinal numbers, the superlative degree of adjectives, the phrase "the only" are used.
It is one of the happiest days I have ever spent with my mother. - It is one of the most happy days that I ever spent with my mom.
It is the only time my father has been away for holiday. - This is the only time when dad was not at the party.
My friends went to England again. They have been there several times. — My friends went to England again. They have been there several times already.
2. Action unfinished in the past(signal words are: this week, this year, today, this morning, since, for, never, ever).
- If we want to highlight long period of time where the action of interest to us has not been completed by the time of the conversation.
He has written two books this year. He has written two books this year (the year is not over yet).
Have you seen Mary this morning? Did you see Mary this morning?
- It is worth remembering that there are verbs that are not used in Continuous (which can be read in our other article of the same name about non continuous verbs). With given state verbs use Present Perfect instead of Present Perfect Continuous. Very often in this situation the preposition is used for , which indicates the duration of the action.
I haven't had a holiday for 4 years. I haven't had a vacation for 4 years.
My parents have been married for 25 years. My parents have been married for 25 years.
- with the word since, which indicates the last time, before something (before talking)
She has been off work since the accident. She hasn't been working since she had an accident.
- with circumstances "ever, never, always, all my life, so far" - which emphasize an indefinite period of time, incompleteness.
I have never driven a car. — I have never driven a car.
My brother has always dreamed of a laptop. My brother has always dreamed of a laptop.
Have you ever gone to Italy? Have you ever traveled to Italy?
They ate a lot yesterday but they haven't eaten much so far today. They ate a lot yesterday, but not yet today.
3. Not often, but you can still meet the Present Perfect in subordinate clauses with as soon as, before, till, until, after, when, which is used instead of Future Perfect (in most cases it is replaced by Present Simple, especially in colloquial speech)
We will give back your car as soon as you've found a new job. We will give your car away as soon as you find a new job.
Time Comparison
When it is used and how Present Perfect Simple is formed, we have already learned (the word Simple is sometimes added, especially in English grammars so that students do not confuse with Present Perfect Continuous). Everything seems to be clear. But when performing exercises and tests for staging desired shape verb, difficulties, mistakes often arise, and porridge forms in the head. Time table Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Simple, past perfect will help to highlight the most important differences.
Present Perfect |
Present Perfect Continuous |
past simple |
past perfect |
| The result of the action is emphasized; it is noted how often, when the action was performed (how much?), the result is most often planned, since - the last time | Emphasizes the duration of the action, how it proceeded; the result often acts as a side effect, since - the beginning of the action | ||
| I have done my duties about the house. Now we can have a rest. I have completed all household chores. Now I'm free. She hasn't played the piano since childhood. She hasn't played the piano since childhood. |
I have been doing my duties about the house for 4 hours. Now I am too tired. I have been doing my household chores for 4 hours. now I'm too tired.She hasn't been playing the piano since I came in. She hasn't played the piano since I came in. | ||
| Always talks about the present, action in the past as the engine of a new conversation, has no clear time limits, action is the result, life experience | Always speaks only about the past accomplished fact, the time is clearly indicated, the framework indicating the past, a statement of fact, consistent actions | ||
| I have finished my work and now I am going home. I finished work, now I'm going home.The boss has signed the documents. Can you post them at once? — The chief signed the documents. Can you send them immediately?Has the bus arrived? No, it hasn't. - Has the bus arrived? - Not. | I finished my work and went home. I finished work and went home. The boss signed the documents and I posted them at once. - The chief signed all the documents, and I immediately sent them. Did the bus arrive yesterday? No, it didn't. — Did the bus arrive yesterday? - No. | ||
| Even if the action is completed, it must necessarily be connected with the present. AT complex sentences, the main thing is in Present. | The action ended up to a certain point in the past, before another event, which is expressed by the Past Simple; in complex sentences, the main action is in the past | ||
| I have washed my car! look! It is clean. — I washed my car. Look. She is clean. The house is dusty. Nobody has come there for a year. - The house is dusty. No one has entered there for a year. | I had washed my car before my mother recalled. I washed my car before my mom reminded me. The house was dusty. Nobody had visited there for a year. — The house was dusty. No one has been in there for a year. |
Adverbs, circumstances or signal words in the Present Perfect
- So, the rules for the Present Perfect do not end there. Still worth a minute of your attention "since" and "for"
, which are sometimes very close in meaning and often set traps. Since is used as a starting point for when an action was last performed. Either indicates an action that has ended, or parallel situations that lasted a certain period of time. For - with the present perfect, it is used to indicate how much the action took place, its entire duration:
since 8 o'clock, since 1987, since Christmas; for hours, for a week, for ages, for a long time
- Just and just now in Russian they convey the meaning just now. The first does not indicate exactly when the action occurred, the second notes: “a minute ago”, “literally a second”. With just now we use Past Simple.
- ever (ever) never (never - only in affirmative sentences), already (already - in affirmative, already - so soon - and questions), still (also in negative sentences) yet (still - in negative sentences, already - in interrogative ones), lately (recent times), resently (recently, in recent years, months, weeks)
Even after considering all the cases of use, their features and comparing them, the grammar of the present perfect requires consolidation and lasting assimilation. To begin with, it is worth reading and analyzing sentences with this time, which you can read in the article “Examples of sentences in Present Perfect”, then proceed to the tasks that you will also find on our website.
Present Perfect is very often used both in speech and in exams, tests, in other words, everywhere. That is why, it is necessary to firmly master the basics of one of the most important tenses of English grammar.
The concept of the present tense in English does not always coincide with ours. One of the most clear examples such a difference is just the Present Perfect.
In this article, we will figure out what the Present Perfect is, how it is formed, in what cases it is used, what rules it obeys and consolidate knowledge on real examples translation proposals.
What is Present Perfect Tense?
Present Perfect Tense (Present Perfect) is the present perfect tense in English. It denotes an action that has completed at the present time.
This is the main difficulty of Present Perfect time for students. In Russian, there is no time similar to Present Perfect. For us, if something is happening now, this is the present, and if it has happened, this is already the past.
But not for the British. They perceive time a little differently. According to the logic of native speakers, the action may well end in the present or close to the present moment. To express such a connection between the past and the present, the Present Perfect exists.
Because of these features in the understanding of actions and time - in Russian present language Perfect is usually translated as a verb in the past tense.
I have already done my homework - I have already done my homework
In this example, the Present Perfect tense (have done) is used, because we are talking about the fact that the action (work on homework) ended quite recently.
But we translate the sentence into Russian using the past tense (already done).
How is the Present Perfect formed?
The Present Perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb have / has and Past Participle (the third form of the semantic verb: V3).
The auxiliary verb changes depending on the subject:
- I / You / We / They → have (for 1st, 2nd person and plural forms)
- She / He / It → has (for 3rd person singular)
The construction of the Present Perfect tense is completed by a semantic verb in the third form (V3).
If the semantic verb is of the correct form, then its third form (V3) is formed using the ending -ed.
If the semantic verb is irregular, then we take its third form (V3) from the table of irregular verbs.
For example:
- to try → tried (try) to cook → cooked (cook) to finish → finished (finish)
- to get → got (to receive) to keep → kept (to store) to see → seen (to see)
Statement:
An affirmative sentence in the Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb have / has and the semantic verb with the ending -ed for regular verbs or the third form of an irregular verb (V3) according to the formula:
- I / You / We / They + have + Ved (V3)
- She / He / It + has + Ved (V3)
I have decided - I decided
You have played - You played
He has done - He did
It has turned on - It turned on
In sentences and everyday speech, you can often find the abbreviated form of the auxiliary verbs have / has. It is formed by adding ‘ve (for have) or ‘s (for has) to the subject:
- I have = I've
- You have = You've
- We have = We've
- They have = They've
- She has = She's
- He has = He's
- It has = It's
I've done my tasks - I completed my tasks
He's washed the dishes - He washed the dishes
Negation:
Negative sentences in the Present Perfect are formed by adding the particle not after the auxiliary verb have / has, but before the main semantic verb. The formula looks like this:
- I / You / We / They + have not + Ved (V3)
- She / He / It + has not + Ved (V3)
I have not done my homework - I didn't do my homework
They have not come - They did not come
She has not finished her tasks - She did not complete her tasks
It has not turned on - It has not turned on
In negation, the particle not can be shortened by attaching it to the auxiliary verb have / has:
- Have not = haven't
- Has not = hasn't
I haven't washed my hair - I haven't washed my hair
She hasn't been to London yet - She hasn't been to London yet
Question:
An interrogative sentence in the Present Perfect is formed by placing the auxiliary verb have / has at the beginning of the sentence. The formula will be:
- Have + I / You / We / They + Ved (V3)
- Has + She / He / It + Ved (V3)
Have I bought all the presents? - I bought all the gifts?
Have you finished the classes? - Have you finished your classes?
Has she just arrived home? - Did she just come home?
Has it turned on? - Did it turn on?
Special questions are formed using question words (question words). Such as when (when), how (how), what (what), where (where) and others. The following is the same word order as in the question.
- QW + have + I / You / We / They + Ved (V3)
- QW + has + She / He / It + Ved (V3)
What has he just said? - What did he just say?
How long have you been knocked on the door? How long have you been knocking on the door?
When is the Present Perfect used?
And now let's look at the most common cases of using and using the Present Perfect tense in speech:
- Completed action in the present
In this case, the focus is on the result of the completed action. In other words, when the result of an action is visible in the present.
I have cooked a good dinner - I cooked a good dinner (the action is completed, the result is a good dinner)
I know Nina. We have already met - I know Nina. We have already met (the meeting took place in the past, but we are interested in the result in the present)
- Incomplete action in the present
The Present Perfect tense is used when we describe an action that started in the past, has not yet ended in the present, but the result is obvious.
I’ve written five pages of the new book this morning - I wrote five pages of a new book this morning (the morning is not over yet, he can write a few more pages)
She has finished watching “Harry Potter” this week - She has finished watching “Harry Potter” this week
- Fact of action / personal experience
If it is important for the speaker to emphasize the fact of some accomplished event without an exact indication of the time, the Present Perfect also comes to the rescue. Often this tense is used when we talk about our past experience or when we ask our interlocutor about it.
I have been to Bratislava - I have been (been) to Bratislava
In a question, when we are interested in a fact from someone's life, we also use the Present Perfect:
Have you ever been to France? - Have you ever been to France?
Time Markers Present Perfect
Present Perfect is used with imprecise expressions and words that indicate a period of time that has not yet ended.
- never (never)
- ever (ever)
- already (already)
- yet (yet) / not yet (not yet)
- often (often)
- lately (lately)
- just (just now)
- once (once)
- recently (recently)
- before (before)
- today (today)
- this week (this week)
- this year (this year)
- for an hour (within an hour)
- for a long time (long time)
- since two o'clock - from two o'clock
- ince December - from December
Examples of Present Perfect sentences with translation
Affirmative:
I’ve studied English since my childhood - I have studied English since childhood
She has visited this beauty shop recently
People have walked on the Moon - People have walked on the moon.
We've just eaten, so we don't want to go to the cafe - We just ate, so we don't want to go to the cafe
I have just cut my finger - I just cut my finger
Negative:
He has not returned from school yet - He has not returned from school yet
I haven't bought the new car. This is my old one - I didn't buy a new car. It's old
Jane hasn't been to Asia yet - Jane hasn't been to Asia yet
I have not been at university this week because of the flu
I haven't replaced the batteries in the doorbell - I haven't replaced the batteries in the doorbell
Interrogative:
Have you seen this film about space? - Have you seen this film about space?
Has Jimmy bought the tickets yet? - Has Jimmy bought the tickets yet?
How many deals has she made at the moment? How many deals has she made so far?
How much coffee have you drunk today? - How much coffee did you drink today?
How long have you known Mary? How long have you known Mary?
The present perfect in translation is the present completed tense. Used in English to describe actions that began in the past, without a precise start time, and their completion is closely related to the present. They have ended by the current moment or in a period that can be called the present. There are often problems with understanding this tense, at least due to the fact that sentences in the Present perfect are translated into Russian in the past tense, and in English it is Present - present tense. Yes, and how a completed action can be in the present tense is also not immediately clear.
2. Education Present perfect
2.1. affirmative form
Verb conjugation table in affirmative sentence
More examples can be found in the article.
Statement Formation Rules
The affirmative form of the present completed tense is formed as follows: the subject is followed by the auxiliary verb have (has), plus the main verb in form 3 (past participle).
Both pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and nouns (boy, cars, snow) can be used as the subject.
The auxiliary verb have is almost always used, but in the 3rd person singular, that is, for the pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns (boy, snow), has is used (see the conjugation table above).
Shortened forms of the auxiliary verbs have and has: 've' and 's respectively. For example, I have worked = I've worked, He has worked = He's worked. Note that ‘s is also used to abbreviate the verb is. Which word is abbreviated in such a record will have to be understood from the context.
The third form of the verb is the verb with the ending -ed if the verb is regular. If the verb is irregular, then its third form must be remembered.
You can see the list of irregular verbs. You are now only interested in column 3, but we recommend learning all three forms at once. In the second part of that article, there is a life hack for more convenient memorization of irregular verbs.
The ending -ed is also not as simple as it seems at first glance, the rules for writing it are described in the article.
General scheme
S + have (has) + V3
Where S (subject) is the subject (pronoun or noun)
V3 (verb) – verb in 3rd form
2.2. Interrogative sentences
2.2.1. General issues
Example of verb conjugation in interrogative form
Rules for constructing a question
To form an interrogative sentence, it is enough to move the auxiliary verb have (has) to the beginning of the sentence, before the subject.
The main verb remains in the 3rd form.
Has is used in the same cases as in the affirmative sentence, that is, it depends on the subject.
Question formula in present completed tense
Have (Has) + S + V3?
Where Have (Has) is an auxiliary verb
S - subject
V3 - verb in 3rd form
2.2.2. Answer to a general question
2.2.3. Special questions
Construction rules
The special question is formed from general question by adding a question word (who, what, when, where) before the auxiliary verb have (has).
Formulation formula for a special question
Wh + have (has) + S + V3?
Where Wh is a question word
have (has) – auxiliary verb
S - subject
V3 - verb in 3rd form
Table with examples of special questions
Rules for writing negatives
To form a negation from an affirmative sentence, write the negation particle not after the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb remains the same, the main verb remains in the 3rd form.
Abbreviated have not and has not - haven't and hasn't, respectively.
Fix the mastered rules for the formation of questions and negatives by doing.
General scheme of negation in Present perfect
S + have (has) + not + V3
Where S is the subject
have (has) – auxiliary verb
not - particle of negation
V3 - verb in 3rd form
3. The use of Present perfect and examples with translation
The present completed tense is used in the following cases:
3.1. When the fact that the action completed with a certain result is important, but the exact time when it happened is not important
I have bought a new skirt - I bought a new skirt. Now I have it, no matter when I bought it.
If you want to emphasize that you bought it at a weekend sale, that is, to indicate the time, then you should use: I bought a new skirt last weekend .
3.2. If an action has recently completed and now its result affects the current
I'm not hungry. I have just eaten. I'm not hungry, I just ate.
Note that just is used in these cases.
3.3. When talking about personal experience
I have been to London, but I haven't been to Moscow - I have been to London, but have not been to Moscow. Sometime in the past, no matter when exactly, I was in London, this is a complete fact, but I have not been to Moscow, although I can go there.
Again, as soon as you want to specify the exact time of your visit, you will need to use the Past simple: I was in London 2 years ago.
When you talk about your experience, you can also point out that it happened repeatedly.
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