past participle and simple past

[muumuu]

Hey all...
I'm new here, HI!
I'm also new to teaching ESL and I'm having trouble explaining what a past participle exactly is and how it differs from simple past.
PLEASE HELP!
I would really appreciate ANY suggestions.
THANKS

[Kevin Vosper]

Dear muumuu

If you look at the back of a teachers or students book you should find a list of irregular verbs probably named "base form" (or present simple) "past simple" and "past participle." The past participle is the verb form used with perfect tenses (or aspects). For example,

"He drives to work everyday" (present simple)

"He drove to work yesterday" (past simple)

"He has driven to work everyday so far this week" (present perfect)

"He had driven for four hours and felt very tired" (past perfect)

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Kevin Vosper

[jolope]

simple past is already done
past participle is already done but the result is now..
simple past
i saw the accident yesterday
the action is to see the accident

past participle
there has been an accident yesterday
the action happened yesterday, i.e, the accident and as of the moment, the result is that you already know that something happened yesterday..

i hope you understand..^_^