THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PRESENT PERFECT
When we talk about past actions, we can sometimes choose between the past simple and the present perfect.
We use the past simple:
• when we ask when the event happened (with when).
When did she arrive at Rabat?
When did you last see Ikrame?
• when we say when the event happened (with time expressions like yesterday, last week, one night, that indicate a finished time).
She got there two weeks ago.
He gave up his job last year.
We use the present perfect:
• when the time is not stated. The event happened in the past, but the time is not important. We often use the present perfect to talk about general experience.
Have you ever been to Dakhla?
They've visited many interesting places.
• with time expressions that do not specify the exact time (e.g. ever, never, already, yet, since, just, recently).
He has just begun his journey.
My brother has already visited six different countries.
• when we talk about actions in the past that happened in a period of time which is unfinished.
He has made a lot of friends in the last few weeks. [in the last few weeks includes present time).
Common expressions that refer to unfinished time are:
during
in the last few days / weeks / months / years
over
Some time expressions can refer to both finished time and unfinished time.
Have you done anything interesting this morning?
(= It is still the morning.)
Did you do anything interesting this morning?
(= The morning is now finished.)
Other expressions that we can use with both tenses include today, this week, this month, etc.
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