Present Simple

Subject + verb + object

Jack (3rd singular) plays basketball.
Everything else is standard verb form.

They play ball.
They are great!

Jack and Ricky (they) play soccer.

The turtle has a small round head.
Ted moves very slow.

Present Perfect

Past —√ —— Now √

Starts in the past
It exists, or holds true right now.

Jack has played basketball since he was four years old.

Subject + [has/have] + past participle

3rd person singular –> has
Everything else –> have

I have played soccer since I was in middle school.

Ted and Randi have been friends since birth.

to be [am, is, are] + action verb [present participle]

I am teaching Jack English.
I am having lunch.

[have/has] + [been] + (present participle)

Randi has been practicing on his take off.
[Ted and Randi] have been discussing a competitive race for the last day!