How are they different?

Question

Please tell me how they are different conceptually(?)? One is in present simple passive and the other is in present perfect passive. I see them a lot in print form but often it is very hard to draw clear picture in my mind so I can understand it fully. Thank you.

is borrowed and has been borrowed

is taken and has been taken

is told and has been told

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

The concept is the same as the general one of the difference between simple present (timelessness / habit / etc.) and present perfect (association of the past with the present / duration from past until present / etc.)

Cool Breeze · Answer

1. This extract is taken from Hemingway's A Farewell To Arms.
2. This extract has been taken from Hemingway's A Farewell To Arms.

There are lots of cases where either one will do with little or no change in meaning. Sentence 1 concentrates on the state that has been reached: the text is in front of you. Taken, although obviously a verb form, is adjectival in character.
Cf.: The door is shut. (The door is red.) (The reference is to what state the door is in.)
The door is shut at ten every day. (The reference is to the act of shutting the door although there
is no change in the verbs. This is one of the deficiencies of English conducive to ambiguity and inexactness in
some contexts.)

Sentence 2 emphasizes the act of taking the extract from the book, and taken does not resemble an adjective. For the reader, there is no actual difference in meaning.

Cheers
CB

Believer · Answer

Thank you Mr. M and CoolBreeze,

I applaud CoolBreeze in her effort in helping me clearify some confusion.

Cool Breeze · Answer

BelieverThank you Mr. M and CoolBreeze,

I applaud CoolBreeze in her effort in helping me clearify some confusion.

Thank you, Believer. I'm a Man with a capital M, though. (I wish I were as handsome as Mister Micawber!)

Cheers
CB

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