PAST TENSE PAST TENSE

VERBSVERBS

Past Time: General or Specific Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)(Definite)

SIMPLE PASTSIMPLE PASTSTRUCTURE

◦ For regular verbs use “ed”◦ For irregular verbs use the past form

Past Time: General or Specific Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)(Definite)

SIMPLE PASTSIMPLE PASTUSE action in the past taking place once, never or several times

Example: He visited his parents every weekend. actions in the past taking place one after the other

Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down. action in the past taking place in the middle of another

action

Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

if sentences type II (If I talked, …)

Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

SIGNAL WORDS yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last

Friday

Past Time: General or Specific Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)(Definite)

PAST PROGRESSIVEPAST PROGRESSIVEThe past

progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past.

STRUCTURE◦ Was / Were +

Base Form + ing

Past Time: General or Specific Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)(Definite)

PAST PROGRESSIVEPAST PROGRESSIVEUSE puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past

Example: He was playing football. two actions happening at the same time (in the past)

Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

action going on at a certain time in the past

Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

SIGNAL WORDSwhen, while, as long as

Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)

Simple Past or Past Simple Past or Past ProgressiveProgressive

Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)Past Time: General or Specific (Definite)

Simple Past or Past Simple Past or Past ProgressiveProgressive

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive)

1. When I (do) the washing-up, I (break) a plate.

2. While Tom (play) the piano, his mother (do) the washing-up.

3. He (drink) some juice and then he (eat) a few chips.

4. I (have) dinner when I suddenly (hear) a loud bang.

5. When my father (work) in the garden, an old friend (pass) by to see him.

6. She (go) to school, (take) out her textbook and (begin) to learn.

7. When it (start) to rain, our dog (want) to come inside.

8. When Jane (do) a language course in Ireland, she (visit) Blarney Castle.

9. When I (be) on my way home, I (see) an accident.

10.I (not / understand) what they (talk) about

Past Time: Not Specific Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)(Indefinite)

PRESENT PERFECTPRESENT PERFECTExpresses an action that is still going on or that stopped

recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

STRUCTURE◦ Has / Have + Past Participle

Past Time: Not Specific Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)(Indefinite)

PRESENT PERFECTPRESENT PERFECT USE puts emphasis on the result Example: She has written five letters. action that is still going on Example: School has not started yet. action that stopped recently Example: She has cooked dinner. finished action that has an influence on the

presentExample: I have lost my key. action that has taken place once, never or several

times before the moment of speaking Example: I have never been to Australia.

SIGNAL WORDSalready, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up

to now

SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECTSIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT EXERCISES PRESENT PERFECT EXERCISES

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

A: (you / taste / ever) sushi? B: Yes, I (eat) sushi at least five times so far. A: When (you / eat) sushi for the first time? B: I (eat) sushi for the first time on my dad's

50th birthday. He (invite) the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.

A: (you / like) it? B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be) so good that we

(be) to that restaurant three times yet. And on my mum's birthday, we (order) some sushi and (have) it at home.

Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEThe present perfect progressive expresses an action

that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action.

STRUCTUREHas / Have + been + verb + ing

Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)Past Time: Not Specific (Indefinite)PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEUSEputs emphasis on the duration or course

of an action (not the result) Example: She has been writing for two

hours.action that recently stopped or is still

going onExample: I have been living here since

2001.finished action that influenced the presentExample: I have been working all afternoon.SIGNAL WORDSall day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?,

the whole week

PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Past Time: Before a time in the Past Time: Before a time in the past past

PAST PERFECTPAST PERFECTThe past perfect simple expresses an action

taking place before a certain time in the past.

STRUCTUREHad + Past Participle

Past Time: Before a time in the Past Time: Before a time in the past past

PAST PERFECTPAST PERFECTUSEaction taking place before a certain

time in the past(putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration) Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.

Conditional Sentences Type III (condition that was not given in the past) Example: If I had seen him, I would have talked to him.

SIGNAL WORDSalready, just, never, not yet, once,

until that day (with reference to the past, not the present)

PAST PERFECT EXERCISESPAST PERFECT EXERCISESWrite sentences in present perfect simple.we / reach / our goal - 

our team / lose / the match - 

she / underline / the word - 

they / not / discover / the treasure - 

Ron / not / talk / about the problem - 

Past Time: Before a time in the Past Time: Before a time in the past past

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVEThe past perfect progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action taking place before a certain time in the past.

STRUCTUREHad been + Base form + ing

Positive Negative Question

no differences He had been talking. He had not been talking. Had he been talking?

Past Time: Before a time in the Past Time: Before a time in the past past

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVEPAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVEUSEaction taking place before a

certain time in the pastsometimes interchangeable with

past perfect simpleputs emphasis on the course or

duration of an actionSIGNAL WORDSfor, since, the whole day, all day