What’s the difference?

[blissful]

Hi

What’s the difference?

I understand you talked to the manager.

I understand you’ve talked to the manager.

 

[billmcd]

Hi

What’s the difference? Not much, but 1) probably one specific time in the past and 2) at some indefinite time or times in the past.
1) I understand you talked to the manager.

2) I understand you’ve talked to the manager.

b.

 

[Edwin Paul]

I understand you talked to the manager.

I understand you’ve talked to the manager.


The difference between 1st and 2nd sentences is that:

1st sentence is in past indefinite and 2nd one is in present perfect.
Past indefinite shows the shortest time and Present perfect show the longest time.

 

[5jj]

Past indefinite shows the shortest time and Present perfect show the longest time.

No.

The most commonly accepted name for this tense if past simple rather than past indefinite. The difference between the past simple and the present perfect has nothing to do with the length of time of the action.

The past simple clearly locates the action at a point, or during a period, in past time. The present perfect links some situation that occurred, or started, in the past with present time.

 

[blissful]

Hi

I understand you talked to the manager.

Someone saw Alan talking to the manager at about 3pm and reported to Simon.
At time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you (Alan) talked to the manager."

I understand you’ve talked to the manager.

Simon has spoken to the manager about the office’s cleanliness
The office is now very clean. It has been cleaned. The time of cleaning is not specified but the effect of cleaning up is being felt.
At time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you’ve talked to the manager."

Is this possible?

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi

I understand you talked to the manager.

Someone saw Alan talking to the manager at about 3pm and reported to Simon.
At time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you (Alan) talked to the manager."

I understand you’ve talked to the manager.

Simon has spoken to the manager about the office’s cleanliness
The office is now very clean. It has been cleaned. The time of cleaning is not specified but the effect of cleaning up is being felt.
At time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you’ve talked to the manager."

Is this possible?

Yes, it's possible.

 

[5jj]

As billmcd said, there is not a great deal of difference in the meaning of these two sentences.

I understand you talked to the manager.

Someone saw Alan talking to the manager at about 3pm and reported to Simon.
At the time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you (Alan) talked to the manager."
If you add 'at three o'clock' to your sentence, then only the past simple is correct. Without a past-time marker, either form is possible.

I understand you’ve talked to the manager.

Simon has spoken to the manager about the office’s cleanliness. The office is now very clean. It has been cleaned. The time of cleaning is not specified but the effect of cleaning up is being felt. At the time of speaking, Simon says “I understand you’ve talked to the manager."
See my previous comments.

I understand why you selected the verb forms you did for your sentences, and they were both appropriate. However, in each case, the other form is possible.

 

[Rover_KE]

Past indefinite shows the shortest time and Present perfect show the longest time.

Welcome to the forum, Edwin Paul.

Please read the Notices above.

5jj has corrected your misleading statement. You might feel like deleting it by clicking on Edit and then Delete. Thank you.

Rover