Qestion about English! Please teach me!?

Question

What is the difference of expressions between : I understand and : I understood.

After A says something, B answers I understand. and
Ater A says something, B answers I understood.

Of course I know the present tense and past tense.
What is the difference of those expressions?

Thank you in advance.

My first language is Japanese.

Yes, when Im watiching moveie, sometime i see those phrasese. really confusing.

Answer 1

"I understand" is kind of like nodding your head... it's a way of letting the person speaking know that you are listening and paying attention.

"I understood" would seem to indicate that more than just paying attention, the person listening has really absorbed what was being said and will probably take action on it.

The first one is more likely to be used in conversation.

Answer 2

Well, you're right. Understand is in the present tense. Understood is the past tense.

"Do you understand what I am saying?"
"I understand."

(Two weeks later)
"Did you really understand what I said?"
"Yes, I understood you. Jeeze!""

We also use understood in the following way:
"It was understood that we would leave at 9am."
Meaning that everyone involved knew we would leave at 9am.

Does any of that make sense? Maybe not, but I hope you "undertstood" what I meant.

Answer 3

Well, heck. It's all about "past" and "present" tense, really. For example: I understood what you said about addition and subtraction; but I don't understand what you're saying about multiplication and division.
Or
I understand that you will be responsible for the closing costs; (before the fact); and
I understood that you were to be responsible for the closing costs (after the fact and not "understood" in the first place?) lol

Answer 4

Saying, "I understand" after someone is saying or describing something to you shows that you comprehend what the person is currently talking about. Even if the person is talking about a past event, such as, "I went to the store," you can still say, "I understand" because you are indicating that you comprehend what the person is currently talking about. The act of them talking to you takes place in the present, so you reply in the present with "I understand."

However, "I understood" is not used when responding to something that someone is talking to you about. If someone says, "I went to school," it does not make sense to say "I understood." This expression is useful only when it is describing things that happened in the past. For instance, you could say, "I understood what he was talking about," because you understood his talk, which occurred in the past.

Answer 5

See, it basically depends upon the way you say that!

Understand n understood- you know or realize the intended meaning or cause of the said things.

Understand:
you believe to be the case from the information received ; or interpret or view in a particular way.

Answer 6

"I understand" = present tense... NOW, I comprehend.

"I understood" = past tense... meaning, I ALREADY had that knowledge.

If someone were explaining something to me, that I did not know... I might answer.. "OH! Now I understand, Thank You!"

If, however, they were telling me something I already knew...I might reply "Yes, I already understood that" , or " Yes, I already knew that".

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Understood is the second form of the word understand

Answer 8

You know the answers if you know past and present tense. That's it. If he understood something, maybe it means something different to him now.

Answer 9

1- he was saying he understands what is being said, probably a command.

2- Probably means I understood what you meant, if there is any questioning

Get help from like, an english teacher

Answer 10

i understood THEN. I understand, NOW.
I reccommend a book called 501 English Verbs. (I think it exists, I have 501 Spanish Verbs and its really helpful). It might make your life easier, and give you the right forms of verbs even native speakers don't understand.