English learners frequently confuse Simple Past, Present Perfect, and Past Perfect, so I thought it would be a good idea to remind you how to use these verb tenses.
Simple Past is used when we refer to the events that happened in the past at a specific time: yesterday, three days ago, last year, etc. Simple past verbs are created by adding -ed to regular verbs (watch -watched) or using the Past Tense form of irregular verbs (write - wrote)
I took my math exam yesterday. (When did you take your math exam?)
He left the house ten minutes ago. (How long ago did he leave the house?)
She didn't sleep well last night. (Did she sleep well last night?)

Present Perfect is used when we refer to the events that happened in the past but at an unspecified time, implying that an activity happened by the present moment or by now. It can also imply that the action that started in the past may still continue now. Present Perfect consists of have / has and regular verbs +ed or Past Participle of irregular verbs (have/has done).
I have been to Italy three times. (Have you been to Italy?)
We have seen many good movies lately. (What have you seen lately?)
My friend has never eaten Indian food. (Has your friend ever eaten Indian food?)

Past Perfect is used to show that a past event happened before another event in the past. It is formed by means of had and regular verbs +ed or Past Participle of irregular verbs (had sent)
She had never been to an opera before last night. (Had she been to an opera before last night?)
They showed him their new car. He had bought a similar one a week earlier. (What had he bought?)
It rained a lot last week. Meteorologists had warned us about it. (Had meteorologists warned us?)

Now you can test how well you understand Simple Past, Present Perfect, and Past Perfect. Fill in the blanks with the correct verb tense. Check the answers below, but not until you do it yourself first.
1)____ you ever (be)____ to New York? 2) My sister and I (go)_____there on vacation five years ago. 3) I ____never (see)_____ so many cars and people in the streets before this trip. 4) Our travel agent ____ (tell)____ us about the most exciting places to visit in the city. 5) We (visit)__ the Empire State Building, (see) ___several Broadway shows, (eat)____ at fancy restaurants, and take_____ a ton of amazing pictures. 6) Recently, I _______ _______these pictures to my friends, and now they all want to go to New York.
Answers: 1)Have, been; 2)went; 3)had, seen; 4)had, told; 5)visited, saw, ate, took; 6)have showed.