THE SIMPLE PAST VS THE PRESENT PERFECT

1. Use the simple past when the action happed at a specific time in the past.

They took a vacation last year.

2. Use the present perfect when it happened at an indefinite time in the past.

They have traveled alot.

3. Use the simple past to say something started and finished in the past.

They were married for thirty years.

4. Use the present perfect to say that is started in the past and is still happening now.

They have been married for thirty years.

5. Use the simple past for repeated past actions, that will probably not happen again.

I rewrote my journal three times.

6. Use the present perfect for past actions that may happen again.

I have rewritten my progress reports for the students three times.