COMPARATIVE PROCESS

Past Simple

Present Perfect Simple

VS

For completed past actions in a completed past time period

For unfinished and finished actions in the past

key words / phrases

Key words / phrases

TIME EXPRESSIONS: for, since ADVERBS: just, already, yet never, ever, three times, etc

TIME EXPRESSIONS: Last week, last month, last year, etc. / A few days ago, a month ago, etc. / When I was a child, etc.

Completed past actions

Unfinished time period or Experiences in our lifetime

+ She didn't get the job.

- Have you ever had a job interview?

+ The interviews finished five minutes ago.

I've never worked in an office.

+ Why did you miss the bus?

I've nver worked in an office.

News and recent events

They've just offered me a job. (result = I've got a job.)

The interviews have already finished - you are too late. (result = You can't have an interview.)

Unfinished states (when we talk about a duration)

I've only had this phone for a week.

We've lived in London since 2010.