Taken and adapted from Essential Grammar in Use and https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/Sample/Advanced/gs/gs_05.htm

1. Present Perfect
and
Simple Past

2. With a finished time ( yesterday/ last week etc.) we use the past simple (
arrived/ saw/ was/ drank etc.)
Subjet +past +finished time
Barack
Obama
became
president
in 2008

3. Use the past to ask When …? or What time
…?
When did Obama become president?
What time did the ceremony take place?

4. Past time expressions
Common Past Time
Expressions
Example Sentences Similar Expressions
yesterday I walked to work yesterday.
Yesterday, I walked to work.
yesterday morning / yesterday
evening / yesterday afternoon
the day before yesterday Redd bought a house the day before
yesterday.
the week before last (week)
the night before last (night)
last night Avril travelled to Halifax last month. last time / last week / last month
last year
this morning Kathleen called me this morning. this afternoon / this evening
one week ago Kenneth and his wife had a baby one
week ago.
one hour ago / one day ago
one month ago / one year ago
in 1990 Darren finished university in 1990. in 1970 / in March / on Sunday
when + subject + past tense
verb
Paul played basketball when he was a
student.
when I was born / when I turned 18

5. We use the present perfect ( have been/ have had/ have played etc.) when
we talk about a time from the past until now – for example a person’s life:
Have you ever been to Japan?
I have (never) been to Japan.

6. Compare:
Present Perfect Simple Past
I have lost my key.
(= I can’t find it now)
I lost my key last week.
Ben has gone home.
(=He isn’t here now)
Ben home ten minutes ago.
Have you seen Kate?
(=Where is Kate now?)
Did you see Kate on Saturday?
Have you ever been to Spain?
(=in your life? Until now?)
Did you go to Spain last year?
My friend has written many
books.
Shakespeare wrote many plays and poems.
The letter hasn’t arrived yet. The letter didn’t arrive yesterday.