2. To indicate an action/situation which began in the past and which has continued up to thepresent moment, i.e. the moment when we are speaking, the present perfect tense isused. e.g. I have lived in Hyderabad for 10 years. (Meaning: I started living in Hyderabad 10 years ago and I am still living in Hyderabad.)If you wish to state that you still continue to live in Hyderabad you should say, ' I have beenliving in Hyderabad for 10 years'. This use of the present perfect is also known as its linking use as it links the past withthe present. 3. The present perfect is also used to refer to past actions/events whose results are seen inthe present, i.e. when there is evidence in the present for some action/event that happenedin the past. Hence, it is also called the evidential use of the present perfect. This iscalled resultative past. e.g. It has rained! (evidence-Look! The ground is wet.) The following examples make the difference clear: 1.I saw the film, Gandhi last March. (Here the speaker is calling attention to theaction of seeing and to the time when it happened.) 2. I have seen the film, Gandhi. (Here the speaker is not saying when he saw the film.He is calling attention to the fact that he is now a person with personal experienceof the film or someone who can tell us about it.) 3. I cut my finger when I was sharpening the pencil. (Nothing is said about any resultnow.) 4. I have cut my finger (and it is bleeding now.) The simple past is often used with adverbs of past time (e.g. yesterday, two monthsago, in June, in 1965, during the war). Sometimes it is also used to refer to present time or future time actions .e.g., 1. Sir, may I come in? I wanted to talk to you. 2. If you left for Delhi tomorrow,when would you return?