Present or Past?
Present Simple vs Past Simple (-ed)

When do people use the past form? Let’s look at some sentences with verbs in the past form (past simple) and present form (present simple) to better understand the meaning the past form adds and why speakers choose to use it.

Why do we use it?

We add the past form to our sentences to show we aren’t referring to the present-future.

Compare:

Descriptions

We use the present form for descriptions in the present-future.

We use the past form for descriptions in the past.

present simple tense timeline - describing the present" width="300" height="112" />

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. (true in the present)
I‘m not hungry.
Are they delicious?

Nara was the capital of Japan. (true in the past)
I wasn’t hungry after work. So I didn’t eat.
Were they delicious? There are none left.

Fixed events

We use the present form for fixed events in the future (these things can’t be changed). The speaker often says when they happen.

We use the past form for events in the past (the past can’t be changed). We say or know when they happened.

present simple tense timeline - schedule - fixed future" width="300" height="112" />

The meeting starts at 10:30.
The game isn’t on Sunday.
When does the bus leave?

The meeting started at 10:30.
The game wasn’t on Sunday.
When did the bus leave?

Actions

We use the present form for actions that happen in the present, as the speaker speaks. For example, for narration or sports commentary (These things finish in the present; they finish before we finish speaking.)

We use the past form for actions that happened in the past. (These things finished in the past.)

present simple tense timeline - commentary - narration - events as they happen" width="300" height="112" />

She doesn’t pass the ball.
She shoots.
Does it have the distance?

I went shopping.
He didn’t lock the door.
Did you play golf?

Repeated actions and events

When we use the present form and don’t know exactly when an action happens, we understand that the speaker is speaking generally and it happens many times. (This is very common.)

present simple tense timeline - in general - many times" width="300" height="112" />

I go shopping.
He doesn’t lock the door.
Do you play golf?

Practice Exercises

1. Complete the conversation

*TIP* This is a conversation, so saying “I do not like..” may sound too strong. Use “I don’t like…”

Answers and notes

A: Where do you work?
B: I work in a restaurant, but I didn’t work yesterday.
A: What did you do yesterday?
B: I played golf.
A: Where did you play/did you play at? (Some speakers may end with “at” but this is less common.)
B: At the golf club. How about you? What sport do you like/do you like playing? (“What sports do you like?” is clear and simple, but it is also possible to say “What sports do you like playing?”)
A: I don’t like/don’t like playing/don’t like any/don’t like playing any sport. (“any” can be added for emphasis. “Not any”: none of the sports. Simply saying “I don’t like sport” is good.)
I played tennis last week, but I didn’t like/don’t like it. (If the speaker is thinking about last week, they use “didn’t like” – at the time. If the speaker is thinking in general, they use “don’t like”.)

2. Make a conversation

Answers and notes

1. 1. In general:
      A: Do you have lunch at work?
   2. B: Yeah, I have lunch at work most days.
   3. I make a sandwich or something at home and bring it to work.
   4. A: That sounds good.
   5. Yesterday-past:
      B: Yes, but yesterday I went to a restaurant with some coworkers.
   6. A: What did you have?
   7. B: We went to a Korean restaurant. I had bibimbap.
   8. A: How was it?
   9. B: Really good.
      In general:
      I love spicy food.