Present Perfect with to be vs. Simple Present with to be

SIMPLE PAST: Rene started English classes 3 years ago.

→Rene completed the classes, he is not taking them now.

PRESENT PERFECT: Rene has taken classes for 3 years.

→ Rene started classes and continues to take classes.

To be (infinitive/base)

SIMPLE PRESENT: am, is, are

SIMPLE PAST: was, were

PRESENT PERFECT: been (past participle)

SIMPLE PAST (yes/no): Were you in jail?

PRESENT PERFECT: Have you been in jail?

SIMPLE PAST (w/question words): Where were they?

PRESENT PERFECT: Where have they been?

Change the sentence from Simple Past to Present Perfect.

The cat was on the TV this morning. →He has been on the TV since this morning.

Were they smoking? → Have they been smoking?