Simple present vs past tense explained for learners

Starting with simple present tense for learners:

The simple present tense is used to describe actions or states that are generally true, habitual, or repeated regularly in the present time. It also expresses universal truths or facts that don’t change. The verb in simple present usually uses the base form, but an -s or -es is added for third-person singular subjects (he, she, it). For example, “I eat breakfast every morning” and “She eats breakfast every morning” illustrate this difference.

Now simple past tense for learners:

The simple past tense is used to talk about actions or events that happened and were completed at a specific time in the past. This could be a recent or distant time, but the action is no longer happening. Regular verbs form the past by adding -ed (e.g., “played”), while irregular verbs have unique past forms (e.g., “went,” “had,” “did”). For example, “I visited Paris last summer” or “She finished her work yesterday.”

The main difference:

• Simple present mainly discusses habits, general truths, or routines in the present.
• Simple past focuses on completed actions/events in the past at a definite or indefinite time.

This comparison and explanation help English learners understand when and how to use each tense effectively. ^{3, 6, 7, 10}

References

• Past simple | LearnEnglish

• Simple Past – Grammar & Verb Tenses

• Simple past tense | EF Global Site (English)

• Simple Past - rules and examples

• Past Simple Tense

• “Present Simple” vs. “Past Simple” in the English Grammar

• Simple Past Tense: How to Use It, With Examples

• Verb Tenses Explained, with Examples

• Simple Past Tense | Examples & Exercises

• Difference between the Simple Present Tense and the Past …

• Master Simple Present & Past For Beginners | Easy English …

• The Past Simple (or Simple Past) Tense

• The Simple Present vs. the Simple Past

• Present Perfect or Past Simple Tense?

• Present vs. past tense

• Simple Past and Present Perfect