Simple Present vs. Simple Past

The simple present is used to talk about habitual actions.

2. Every child …………………………….. love.

We use a singular verb after each and every.

3. I once ……………………………. to a concert.

The simple past is used to talk about finished events.

4. I ………………………………. a strange experience yesterday.

Had is the past tense form of has/have.

5. I …………………………….. a chance to meet them when I was in America.

Here the clause when I was in America clearly indicates that we are talking about past time.

6. The teacher ……………………………………. the child on the back.

7. The lakes …………………………… up in summer.

The simple present is used to talk about facts and general truths.

8. Kind words …………………………… others joy.

9. If she ………………………………. now, we would be in trouble.

In the second conditional, we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.

10. He took out his pen and ………………………………… writing.

11. He who ……………………………… hard will certainly succeed.

12. I …………………………… the parcel in the morning.

The simple past is more common with the time expression in the morning.

Answers

1. Sam works out every morning.

2. Every child needs love.

3. I once went to a concert.

4. I had a strange experience yesterday.

5. I got a chance to meet them when I was in America.

6. The teacher patted the child on the back.

7. The lakes dry up in summer.

8. Humble words give others joy.

9. If she arrived now, we would be in trouble.

10. He took out his pen and started writing.

11. He who works hard will certainly succeed.

12. I received the parcel in the morning.