PERFECTLAND

Elsie and Walter have each lived in several places over their lives. Interview one of them about it — the trick is picking the right tense for what you're asking.

• Use the present perfect for lifetime experience or for something still true now, with no specific finished time — Where have you lived?, Have you ever lived in Sydney?, How long have you lived here?
• Use the simple past for one specific, finished period — usually with a date or a time word — When did you live in Cairo?, What was it like?
• Never mix them: I have lived there in 1980 is wrong. With a specific finished year, it has to be simple past — I lived there in 1980. “Since” is the one time word that does belong with the present perfect, because it marks something still going on — I've lived here since 1996.
• You can also just tell them something — You lived in Dublin from 1950 to 1968., You have lived in Toronto. — and they'll confirm it or correct you.
• Leave the box empty and press Enter to watch an interview happen by itself.