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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