The document compares and contrasts the present simple and past simple tenses in English. [1] The present simple is used for habitual or repeated actions, while the past simple is used for completed past actions and situations. [2] Both tenses can be used in the positive, negative, and interrogative forms using standard structures. [3] An emphatic form can also be used for both tenses to emphasize that an action did occur.

1. Present Simple
&
Past Simple
Presente simple
Vs
Pasado simple

2.  Actions that happen always, usually,
often, regularly, every
day/week/month/year, sometimes, rarely,
never, etc.
Eg. He usually goes to bed at ten o’clock
We use present simple for:

3. • Subject+verb infinitive+complement
Positive
• Subject+don’t/doesn’t+verb infinitive+complement
Negative
• Do/Does+subject+verb infinitive+complement
Interrogative
Structures:

4.  Can use emphatic present simple to
emphasise an action or state, or to
emphasise that something is true
Eg. Pete does know the answer
Emphatic present simple

5. Subject
Do/Does
Bare infinitive
Structure:

6.  Completed actions at specific time in the
past
 Completed situations and states in the
past
 Repeated actions in the past
 The main events and situations in a story
We use Past simple for:

7. Positive
• Subject+verb in past+complement
• Did not/Didn’t+bare infinitive+complement
Negative
Interrogative
• Did+subject+bare infinitive+complement
Structure:

8.  To emphasise an action or situation in the
past, particularly to emphasise that
actually happened or that it’s different to
that someone else think
Eg. I know you don’t believe me but I did
see a ghost
Emphatic past simple

9. Bare
Subject Did
infinitive