Simple past or present perfect?
What's wrong?
Please correct the following sentences:
What's the rule?
We use the past simple to talk about actions or situations
that occurred or existed in a named or understood time
period in the past. An explicit past time expression is not always
necessary. The past time is often understood by both speaker
and listener because of the context (a meeting which took place
ago two days ago, for example).
Example
NAMED
The company lost £7 million last year.
UNDERSTOOD
A. "How did the meeting go?"
B. "They didn't agree to the conditions."
We use the present perfect:
(a) to describe a state leading up to the present.
Example
The office has been empty for a long time
(b) to describe experience at any time in the past up to
the time of speaking (where the time of the experience is unspecified).
Example
Have you ever been to Japan?
(c) to describe a habit leading up to the present time.
Example
We have attended all the meetings.
(d) to describe a past event with present effect.
Example
He has lost his glasses (and now he can't see).
(e) after "when" to indicate the future
completion of an event.
Example
When you have finished the report, please send it to Mr Smith.
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