Learn English – Present-perfect-tense vs. Simple-past-tense

learningpast-tensepresent-perfect

I've been reading this question. I have also been reading this pdf. From these two sources it appears that there is no difference between Present-perfect-tense and Simple-past-tense.

I myself thought up two sentences:

  1. The children played in the sandbox.
  2. The children have played in the sandbox.

The only difference that I am able to recognize is that in the 2nd sentence we are putting some emphasis on the fact that children (have) finished the play. If I translate "have" into my language then it is giving the emphasis that children finished the job. On the other hand the 1st sentence is just telling that children played there some time ago. The 1st sentence is giving no emphasis on the fact that they have finished the play.

Please explain me what is the difference between Present-perfect-tense and Simple-past-tense.

Best Answer

Context, context, context!

Briefly: the simple past is used to narrate past events. The present perfect is used to mention past events which give rise to a present state which is of present interest.

The children played in the sandbox for a while, then moved to the swings. At four o'clock their mother called them inside because it looked like rain.

The children have played in the sandbox and left their toys there. Tell them to go bring their toys inside.

However, the second could also be expressed with a simple past, and would probably be expressed with a past progressive. Play is an activity verb, which doesn't accommodate the perfect all that well. This example, with a telic verb (one which has a distinct change of state in its meaning) may be more instructive.

The children finished their chores, then went outside to play until their mother called them in.

The children have finished their chores; I am going to let them go outside and play now.

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