Past Simple Tense

A short introduction to the Past Simple Tense.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• past
• simple
• tense
• english
• language
• maxim
• achkasov

[elvismydarling]

Hello.. I´m from Czech Rep. and I´m studying on elem. school.

This video is really good.!! Thanks for this :)

[english4real]

Hi elvismydarling! Thank you! 

[MrChimkin]

Thank you, Max. But could you also specify which tense would be more appropriate in the following cases: 1)" Who broke the window? " or "Who's broken the window?" 2) The man who gave me some advice or The man who's given me some advice, etc. We've always been told in Russia that if a specific time is not specified, than we should use the present perfect. However, I see the tendency among the native speakers to use the simple past in cases like I described (I've described)). Thank you !

[english4real]

Hi MrChimkin! Thank you for your question. I will reply to you shortly! Be well! Maxim

[english4real]

Hi again!

Everything depends on the immediate context of all the cases you mentioned. I really want to highlight that it is crucial to see what's meant in the direct context. If the topic with the window has been discussed already and we are coming back to the topic again, then we need to use past simple. If we've just noticed \ realised that the window has been broken («specific time is not specified»), we need to use present perfect.

[english4real]

... And in your last example I described / I've described, the latter should be preferred. Regarding your observation with native speakers I believe in the coming future we will witness a lot more cases of oversimplifying. Be well!!

Maxim

[TiaOlipia]

PROFESSER NERD NUB!!!

[MrChimkin]

@english4real Thanks a lot for your explanation! Take care!

[Isabella121121]

The teacher speaks too fast

[Zendavesta62]

not good