Differences betweenThe Present Simple and The Past Simple Tenses

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Present Simple

Present Simple Tense

Do you know that the Present Simple tense is the most common and basic tense used in English?

It can be defined as:

A basic tense which tells you about what is happening at the moment as well as future happenings which are bound to occur.

As it is a basic tense, people start learning English

language from the Present Simple tense.

Present Simple Tense

Uses: Present simple tense is commonly used to describe the following

conditions:

Habits/Routines Example: I play soccer regularly.

Facts Example: Fire burns wood.

Permanent Situations Example: I live in a village

Present Simple Tense

Certainty of Situations

Example:

Summer starts from December.

State Verbs

Example: I have a mug of coffee.

Past simple

Past Simple Tense

Do you know what is meant by past simple tense? It can be defined as: a tense which is used to describe things that have

been happening some time ago.

Uses to:

state the things already happened.

Example: I slept eight hours last night. describe past situations.

Example: He played football. explain a series of past actions.

Example: As he reached the bus stop, the bus passed him by.

Past Simple Tense

Examples:I went to Paris last year. (Past Situations). I ate my meal at 2 pm. (Things happened

some time ago).I picked up baseball, invited my friends

and started playing. (Series of past actions).

Difference between present simple and past simple tense

Now you have understood the basics of present simple and past simple tense. I am going to teach you about the basic difference between the two.

Differences between present simple and past simple tenses

Present simple Past simple

is used to describe the things occurring at the moment.

use it for telling facts and habits.

Example: I am in class today.

explains the things which are a part of past.

We cannot use past simple tense for telling facts and habits.

Example: I was in class yesterday.

Questions

We think you have learned enough about present simple and past simple tense and can differentiate between the two easily.

Here is a small exercise for you. You have to answer three questions according to what you have learned in this lesson. Good Luck!

Questions

Fill in the blanks:

Questions#1I _____ lunch at noon yesterday. (ate, eat, eats)

Question # 2I _____ basketball everyday. (Played, plays, play)

Question # 3He his homework everyday. (write, writes, wrote)

Answers

Answer # 1 Ate (Past simple)

Answer # 2 Play (Present simple)

Answer # 3 writes (Present simple)

References

English tenses with cartoons (n. d.), Present simple, viewed 28 December2011,

http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/tenses/present_simple

English tenses with cartoons (n. d). , Past simple, viewed 28 December 2011, http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/tenses/past_simple

English club 2011, Simple past tense quiz,

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present_quiz.htm