We can use the Past Simple, but not the Present Perfect, to ask questions with What …?, When …?, etc, and to make statements about when things happened (e.g. at 5 o’clock, in 2020):

• A: What time did she arrive? (NOT What time has she arrived?)
• B: She arrived at 5 o’clock. (NOT She has arrived at 5 o’clock.)

• A: When did Michael Jackson die? (NOT When has he died?)
• B: He died in 2009. (NOT He has died in 2009.)

We also use the Past Simple if other expressions set the event in past time:

• When I was at university, I had a great time. (NOT …, I’ve had a great time.)
• I was almost back home when my wife called

We describe a past action or event with the Present Perfect to show that it is relevant now. The time of the action is not important.

• Derek has broken his leg. (= it is now broken)
• Stephen has made pancakes. (= the pancakes are now made)

The Past Simple does not imply anything about the situation now:

• Charlie broke his leg last year.
• Miranda broke her leg yesterday.

From the above information we expect, of course, that Charlie’s leg is all right now, but that Miranda’s leg is still broken.

We introduce an event with the Present Perfect, but we continue to talk about it with the Past Simple:

• A: Charlie’s broken his leg.
• B: How did he break it?
• A: He slipped on the ice.

For a very recent event we can use the Present Perfect with just or the Past Simple with ago:

• Sarah has just gone
• Tom went out a few minutes ago.

Note that we use just before the past participle (e.g. gone).