SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT
* for new or recent actions:
I‘ve lost my phone. Have you seen it? = I lost my phone. Have you seen it?
I‘ve just arrived home. = I just arrived home.
* for something that is now
I‘ve forgotten your name. What is it again? = I forgot your name.
* for new information
Have you heard the news? Sarah has won the lottery! = Sarah won the lottery!
There has been an accident. = There was an accident.
PRESENT PERFECT NOT SIMPLE PAST
* for a period of time that continues up to present
It hasn’t rained all summer. (if it is still summer time)
SIMPLE PAST NOT PRESENT PERFECT
* for finished time
It didn’t rain all summer. (if summer is finished already)
Did you dream about being famous when you were a child?
* for information that’s not new or recent
Picasso was a genius. He painted many classic works of art.
* for when the situation is different now
He stopped traveling for a while, but now he’s traveling again.