Past vs present perfect

Hi, I know that you use the simple past for an action happened in a definite time in the past and the present perfect for a time period that didn’t end yet.  Once, I heard Peter Griffin say this on an episode of “the family guy”: I’ve never asked for anything, but I don’t know where else to turn”.

-Can I assume that all the times I want to use the adverb “never”, I should use the present perfect?

-If so, what are the others adverbs, or other words that indicate that I have to use the present perfect?

Instead of trying to always reason if the time period is definite or didn’t end yet, I’m trying to find some kind of “trick” that can help me to make things easier. Like, I already know that if I use the word today, I should use the present perfect.  I’d like to make a list of all the words that usually indicate the need to use either the past or the present perfect.

This is about the 18^th time a post a question on this forum.  I don’t know how to thank you guys enough.  This forum is so useful, you guys are so helpful.  The more I post, the more I feel that saying “thanks” just once is not enough.  I’m gonna keep saying just “thanks” but that “thanks” means: you are the best, you are all good men (and women), thank you so much, I cant thank you enough.

Thanks

Hi,

I know that you use the simple past for an action happened in a definite time in the past and the present perfect for a time period that didn’t end yet.  There's more to it than that. You need to review the uses of the Present perfect in a good grammar book.

Once, I heard Peter Griffin say this on an episode of “the family guy”: I’ve never asked for anything, but I don’t know where else to turn”. <<< This example is fine.

-Can I assume that all the times I want to use the adverb “never”, I should use the present perfect? No, that's not correct. eg I never loved her. eg I will never love her.

-If so, what are the others adverbs, or other words that indicate that I have to use the present perfect? In his book on 'Practical English Usage', Michael Swan says that the Present perfect is often used with indefinite time expressions  . . . eg . . .  ever, never, yet, already, before.

Instead of trying to always reason if the time period is definite or didn’t end yet, I’m trying to find some kind of “trick” that can help me to make things easier. Like, I already know that if I use the word today, I should use the present perfect.  <<< This sounds odd. You think 'I phoned Mary today' is wrong?

I’d like to make a list of all the words that usually indicate the need to use either the past or the present perfect. See Swan's comment above.

You're welcome.

Clive