Major Semantic Contrasts Between

Past And Present Perfect

The first major difference between Past Tense and Present Perfect is that the Past Tense refers to a specific time while the Present Perfect does not require a specific time reference.

Examples:

I was to Turkey in 2006.

I have never been to Paris.

So the Present Perfect refers to something indefinite, whereas the Past requires a definiteness.

Examples:

Have you ever been to Australia?

I was there for the Olympic Games in 2004.

Moreover, the Past Tense describes something that is in the past and that has been finished in the Past, whereas the Present Perfect has still relevance in the present.

Examples:

I was in Sweden. (already finished)

I have seen the movie as well. (current relevance)