The past simple tense is used to talk about completed actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past.For example, if you're telling a story about something that happened yesterday, last week, a year ago, or any other specific point in the past, you would use the past simple tense.
Here are some examples :
-"I ate pizza yesterday."
- "I visited Paris last summer."
- "She cooked dinner yesterday."
- "They played football when they were kids."
On the other hand, the present perfect tense is used to talk about experiences or changes that have happened up to the present moment, without a specific time mentioned.
Here are some examples:
- "I have lived in New York for three years." (The action of living in New York started in the past and continues in the present.)
- "She has visited Paris." (The action of visiting Paris happened at some unspecified time in the past.)
"I have eaten pizza many times."(The action of eating pizza happened without specific time)
So, the key difference is that past simple is used for specific times in the past, while present perfect is used for unspecific times up to the present.