Present perfect = past tense in Italian?
I just started learning Italian with audio, and I am surprised to hear things like " ha piovuto ieri" rather than a simple past tense.
That is from my frame of reference, English, you would not say "it has rained yesterday' rather than 'it rained".
There are many example in the Pimsleur program, like "ho comprato' for "I bought" - are they just doing this in the program because it is easier?
If not, the distinction between 'present perfect' and 'past' in English does not work the same in Italian. I am sorry I don't know the names of these tenses, I have not looked at any grammar (yet) - I'm just learning by audio.
Grazie mille!