Verbs:
Talking about the Past
Simple past: Verb + ed
The
simple past is used to show things that happened at a point in
time in the past that is known or understood.
Time
words: ago, in the past, at 6:30, last night, on Wednesday,
etc.
I went to San Francisco last week.
Simple past action + Simple past action = sequential
actions
Tom went to the store
and bought milk. (Tom did two things in the order
listed.)
Sarah read, washed
dishes, and watched TV. (Three things happened in this
order.)
Simple past action + simple past condition = sequential or
simultaneous
Jackson worked hard
and was tired.
(It's possible that the
worked hard and THEN became tired, but it's also possible that
he was tired when he started.)
Mary was exhausted, but she
worked for four hours.
(It seems that her exhaustion
started first, but it might have been the result of the work.)
Simple past condition + simple past condition = sequential
or simultaneous
Tessa was a teacher,
and she was a mother.
(She was probably both things
at the same time.)
Terry was a hard
worker throughout his life. He was a laborer, a
student, an engineer, a husband, and a father. ("Hard worker"
is simultaneous with the other roles, but the
positions--laborer, student, engineer, etc.--are probably
sequential.
Past
progressive: Be
Verb + ing
This
tense is used to suggest that something or someone is in the
middle of a continuing action in the past.
Time words: right then,
while, for 2 hours, (words similar to those past)
I was studying
last night for two hours.
Past progressive + past =
long action in
progress in the past when another
shorter action occurs
I
was studying
when the phone rang.
(The studying was already
taking place when the phone rang.)
He was taking a shower
when the fire started.
(Taking a shower is long
action that is interrupted by fire.)
Past progressive + past
progressive = simultaneous actions in
the past.
While you were working,
he was talking on the phone. (Both happened at the same
time in the past.)
Estella was doing her
homework, and I was finishing dinner. (Both happened at
the same time in the past.)
Present perfect:
HAVE + past participle
This is used to show that
something occurred in a time period before now at an
unspecified time. If exact times are given, the past tense is
used. The present perfect is also used to show a repetition
of an activity in the past.
Time words: already, just,
recently, many times, for six weeks, since June, etc.
Example: They have
just finished their exercise class.
Present perfect + present
perfect = sequential actions in a
time period in the past.
Henry has moved back
home and has gotten a new job.
(The two actions occurred in
order at a time period in the past.
Present perfect + past =
things occurring in a time period
and at a point in time.
Jake has worked for 12
hours, but I started 10 minutes ago. (Jake's action
took place over a period of time, but mine started at a
specific point in time.)
He has broken the limb
on the tree that we planted last year. (The breaking
occurred in a time period before now, but the planting took
place at a specific point in time.)
Present perfect progressive:
HAVE been verb + ing This is used to show a duration of
an activity that began in the past and continues until right
now, or to show a general activity in progress recently.
Time words: similar to
present perfect
I have been
watching TV for 6 hours straight. (It occurred over a
period of
time up until
now.)
She has been
making a nuisance of herself. (This is a general activity
over a period of time until
now)
Present perfect progressive +
past = things that began in
the past and are in progress and something else
occurs in the past at a point in time.
They have been talking
for four hours, but their husbands fell asleep two
hours ago. (The first action took place over a time period
that extends until now, but the second action occurred at a
point in time.)
I have seen that movie
many times. I last saw it in March. (First actions
occurred over a time period; last action occurred at a point
in time.)
Present perfect progressive +
present perfect = two
actions occurring over a period of time in the past, but
one is in progress.
The telephone has been
ringing for over 10 minutes, but I haven't been
able to stop to answer it. (The ringing started in the past
and continues until now, but the inability to answer it has
occurred over the time period at inexact times.)
The babies have been
crying, but I have finished the paper. (The crying
continued and is still in progress, but at some time period
before now, the paper was completed.)
Present perfect progressive +
present perfect progressive
= things started in the past and continue until now
simultaneously
Susie has been
sleeping while I have been working. (Both events
started in the past and continue to now.)
Monroe and Stella have
been talking, and the others have been painting
the room.
(Two actions started in the
past and continue to now.)
Past perfect:
HAD + past participle
This is used to show that one
action takes place and is completed before another action in
the past. This tense is the past of the past, so the past
perfect is used along with the past tense.
Time words: before, after
(sometimes time word not stated) Note: before and after can
also be used with simple past tense if two event happen close
together in time.
After I ate
breakfast, I left for work.
Past perfect + past = 2
events in the
past; one is before the other.
The man had looked for
his daughter for two years before he found her.
(The looking took place
before the finding.)
I saw a lion at the
animal park, but I had forgotten to bring my camera.
(The forgetting took place
before the seeing of the lion.)
Past
perfect progressive:
HAD been Verb + lng
This is
used to show the duration of an activity was completed before
another activity or time in the past, or it is used to show
an action that was in progress shortly before another
activity in the past.
Time
words: for two years, since June, for a long time, all day,
etc.
She had been
working for two years before she got a raise. (The
first action—working--continued up to the time of the
second—getting the raise.)
When Donald got home,
his hair was still wet because he
had been swimming. (A past action—got
home--and condition—was
wet—were preceded, a short time before, by his
swimming.
Past
perfect progressive + past =
continuing action to a point of time in the
past
He had been sleeping
when she arrived. (The sleeping occurred over a period
of time that continued until the point when she arrived.)
Before I left the
party, I had been wondering about my ability to drive.
(The wondering took place
over a period of time before leaving.)
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