they put the books on the table in the above sentence, how do we understand whether it is simple - English - Tenses

Question

they put the books on the table
in the above sentence, how do we understand whether it is simple
present or simple past?

Nitika Sahdev · Accepted Answer

Usually, a repetitive, routine action is expressed in simple
present tense For xample: The Sun rises in the East
Otherwise, you can find out whether this particular action was
done in the past or present only by studying other sentences around
it ('Put' does not change form in simple present and simple past
with 'they' )

they put the books on the table. in the above sentence, how do we understand whether it is simple present or simple past?

they put the books on the table.

in the above sentence, how do we understand whether it is simple present or simple past?