This document provides information about and comparisons between the present simple and past simple tenses in English. It defines each tense, gives examples of their common uses, and outlines the key differences between them. The present simple is used to describe present habits, facts, and situations, while the past simple is used to talk about completed actions and situations in the past. The document concludes with a short quiz to test the reader's understanding of when to use each tense.

1. Differences between
The Present Simple and
The Past Simple Tenses
An E-Learning Product

2. Present Simple

3.  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

4.  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

5.  Certainty of Situations
Example:
Summer starts from December.
 State Verbs
Example:
I have a mug of coffee.
Present Simple Tense

6. Past simple

7.  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

8.  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).
Past Simple Tense

9.  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.
Difference between present simple
and past simple tense

10. Present simple Past simple
 is used to describe  explains the things
the things occurring which are a part of
at the moment. past.
 use it for telling facts  We cannot use past
simple tense for
and habits. telling facts and
 Example: I am in habits.
class today.  Example: I was in
class yesterday.
Differences between present
simple and past simple tenses

11.  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

12.  Fill in the blanks:
 Questions#1
 I _____ lunch at noon yesterday.
(ate, eat, eats)
 Question # 2
 I _____ basketball everyday.
(Played, plays, play)
 Question # 3
 He his homework everyday.
 (write, writes, wrote)
Questions

13.  Answer # 1
Ate (Past simple)
 Answer # 2
Play (Present simple)
 Answer # 3
writes (Present simple)
Answers

14.  English tenses with cartoons (n. d.), Present simple,
viewed 28 December2011,
http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/tenses/pr
esent_simple
 English tenses with cartoons (n. d). , Past simple,
viewed 28 December 2011,
http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/tenses/pa
st_simple
 English club 2011, Simple past tense quiz,
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-
tenses_present_quiz.htm
References