Simple Past:

1. Definite Time: The simple past is used when you want to talk about an action
that happened at a specific, definite time in the past. Key words and phrases
include:
○ yesterday
○ last week/month/year
○ in 2005
○ on Monday
○ two days ago
2. Complete Action: It is used when you want to emphasize that the action is
complete and not connected to the present. Key words and phrases include:
○ I visited London in 2010.
○ She finished her homework yesterday.
○ They went to the beach last summer.

Present Perfect:

1. Indefinite Time: The present perfect is used when you want to talk about actions
or events that happened at an indefinite time in the past, and there is a
connection to the present. Key words and phrases include:
○ ever
○ never
○ before
○ so far
○ up to now
2. Unfinished or Repeated Actions: It is used when you want to focus on the idea
that the action is relevant to the present, or if you're not specifying when it
happened. Key words and phrases include:
○ I have seen that movie before.
○ She has already eaten lunch.
○ We've visited many countries.
3. Duration (For/Since): You use the present perfect to indicate that an action
started in the past and continues into the present or was completed recently. Key
words include:
○ for (indicating a period of time)
○ since (indicating the starting point in the past)
○ I have lived here for five years (and still live here).
○ She has worked at that company since 2010 (and still works there).
Tricks to Choose Between Simple Past and Present Perfect:

1. Time Frame: Ask yourself whether the sentence mentions a specific time in the
past. If it does, use the simple past. If there's no specific time mentioned, or if it's
relevant to the present, consider the present perfect.
2. Connection to Now: Think about whether the action has a connection to the
present. If it does, use the present perfect; if not, use the simple past.
3. Keywords: Pay attention to keywords and phrases that indicate definite past
times (simple past) or connections to the present (present perfect).
4. Duration: If the sentence implies that the action started in the past and continues
or recently completed, consider using the present perfect with "for" or "since."