اللغة الإنجليزيةResolved
When do I use the present perfect instead of the past simple?
Accepted answer
The core rule is about whether the time is finished or not. Past simple ⟶ a finished time you can point at: yesterday, last week, in 2019, an hour ago. "I finished my homework an hour ago." Present perfect ⟶ the time is unfinished, or the time is irrelevant and only the result matters now: "I have finished my homework." (so I am free now) "I have finished my homework today." (today is not over yet) Quick test: if you can add a finished time expression without the sentence sounding wrong, use the past simple.