Simple Past vs Present Perfect

Have you had this experience in your life or not? 

This means somewhere between when you were born and now, did you do it, or did it happen to you? 

Since we are only talking until now it can still change. Maybe in the future you will have the experience or you might have the experience even many more times. Since it can still change we need to use the present perfect to talk about an experience.

You can use it to talk about 1 experience or multiple experiences.

• I have been to Spain many times.
• I have eaten crocodile once.
• I have driven a car 5 times.

You talk about the experiences in general you do NOT use a precise time reference

• I have been to America in 2002: I went to America in 2002

You can use this morning, today, this year, this month, this week when it has not finished.

• The phone has run 5 times this morning. (This morning is not finished).
• I’ve visited my friend twice this week.

You can also use ever or never

• I have never driven a car (never for negative instead of not)
• Have you ever driven a car (ever: for questions)

If you want to know more details:

• When?
• Why?
• How?
• ….

You need to use the past simple in your questions and answers

• Have you ever been to Japan?
  • Yes I have.
• When did you go?
  • I went in 2011
• Why did you go?
  • I went there to visit a friend
• What did you do there?
  • We went sightseeing.