clasa a VIII-a B - Verb Tenses

Past Verb Tenses in English – contrasted

1. Use
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
action finished in the action was in the past equivalent of how long something result of an action action beginning in
past progress at special Present Perfect had been happening in the past is the past and still
time in the past before something important in the continuing (focus is
else happened present on the action)
recently
completed action
state beginning in
the past and still
continuing
2. Signal words
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
 last ... while no unambiguous  just  all day
 ... ago ones  yet  the whole
 in 2010  never day
 yesterday  ever  how long
 already  since
 so far  for
 up to now
 since
 for
 recently

3. Form
1 Teacher, Liliana Gheorghe
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
Regular: V1 + ed Was/were + V1 + ing had + past had + been + V1 + ing have/has + past have/has + been + V1
irregular: V2 participle* participle* + -ing
2nd column of the
irregular verbs
* past participle:
 regular verbs → V1 + -ed
 irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
4. Examples
4.1. Affirmative sentences
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
We were in the USA Joe was writing an She had read a She had been He has lived in They have been
and visited Alaska e-mail at 5 o'clock comic before she waiting for Jack for Melbourne since waiting for him for
last year. yesterday evening. went to bed. 30 minutes when he 2010. two hours.
arrived.
4.2. Negative sentences
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
We were not in the Joe was not She had not read a She had not been He has not lived in They have not
USA and did not writing an e-mail at comic before she waiting for Jack for Melbourne since been waiting for
visit Alaska last 5 o'clock yesterday went to bed. 30 minutes when he 2010. him for two hours.
year. evening. arrived.
4.3. Questions
Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Present Perfect** Present Perfect
Continuous Continuous**
Were you in the Was Joe writing an Had she read a Had she been Has he lived in Have they been
USA and did you e-mail at 5 o'clock comic before she waiting for Jack for Melbourne since waiting for him for
visit Alaska last yesterday evening? went to bed? 30 minutes when he 2010? two hours?
year? arrived?

2 Teacher, Liliana Gheorghe

** Both the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous are Present Tenses. But they also refer to the Past. That is the reason
why they are listed here.

Practice
Past Simple and Past Continuous

A: Put one of these verbs in each sentence. Use the Past Simple:

eat bring write buy see meet

1. The party was fantastic. Every guest _______________ something to eat and a bottle of wine.

2. I had an extravagant weekend. I _______________ some clothes and a plant.

3. Three weeks ago Tracy _______________ her ex-husband in Mallorca. What a coincidence!

4. When I lived in Italy, we always _______________ lamb at Easter.

5. Shakespeare _______________ a lot of plays.

B: A friend has just returned from his holiday. Ask him questions about it using the Past Simple.

Example: where/go? Where did you go?

sun/shine Did the sun shine?

1. how /get there? 6. what/do during the day?

2. who/go with? 7. go out in the evenings?
3. where/stay? 8. buy any souvenirs?
4. the weather /good? 9. make any new friends?
5. what/you think of the food? 10. how long/the journey home/take?

3 Teacher, Liliana Gheorghe

C: Put the verb in the Past Simple.
1. Tom _______________ (not/come) to the office yesterday because he _________ (be) ill.
2. She _______________ (not/read) the book because she ____________ (not/be) very
interested in that author.
3. The students ____________________ (not/finish) their group project because they______
(run out) of time.
4. We _______________ (not/eat) anything for breakfast because we _______________ (be)
in a hurry.
5. Mary _______________ (not/catch) the train to Mexico City because she ____________
(arrive) at the station too late.

D: Put the verb in the correct form: Past Simple or Past Continuous.
1. I _______________ (dream) when the alarm clock _______________ (go off).
2. They _______________ (wait) for me when I _______________ (arrive).
3. The phone _______________ (ring) while I _______________ (have) a shower.
4. We _______________ (not/go out) last Sunday because it _______________ (rain).
5. I _______________ (see) Kim at the party. She _______________ (wear) a new dress.
6. I _______________ (break) a bowl this morning. When I _______________ (wash) the
dishes it just _______________ (slip) out of my hand onto the floor!
7. When he _______________ (carry) the table, he _______________ (feel) a sharp pain in
his back.
8. Sarah _______________ (go) down the stairs when the lights _______________ (go
out).
9. We _______________ (watch) TV when someone _______________ (come) to the door
and _______________ (knock) very loudly.
10. What _______________ (you/do) at this time yesterday? Oh, I _______________
(prepare) the dinner.
11. I _______________ (fall) asleep while I _______________ (watch) television.
12. At 12:45 yesterday, Mr Alright _______________ (see) a client in his office.

Present Perfect
A: Here is the latest news about your friends and family. Complete the sentences using
the present Perfect Simple.
Example: I/buy/a new car. I have bought a new car
1. Mary/move house .................................................................................................................
2. Fred and Frank/start/a company ..........................................................................................
3. My parents/go to Greece .....................................................................................................
4. Sue/get married.......................................................................................................................
5. Granny/celebrate her 80th birthday........................................................................................

B: Read the situations and write sentences in the Present Perfect Simple. Choose one of
the following:
learn buy find break clean grow
1. James can't go to school because his arm is in plaster. He has broken his arm.
2. Fred was nervous about travelling to France. He isn't any more because he knows he can
communicate. He has ……………………………………………………………………..
3. Jane didn't have a dress to wear to the wedding. Now she does ………………………….
4. Our flat was very dusty. It isn't any more. ………………………………………………..
5. Mr Flint was unhappy because he had lost his cat. Now he is happy. ………………….
6. Harry didn't have a beard last month. Now he has a beard.……………………………….

C: You are interviewing a famous person. Ask questions about things he/she has done
in his/her life. Make the questions from the words given.
1. ever/win/an award Have you ever won an award?
2. ever/travel/to Hollywood …………………
3. ever/meet/Bill Clinton …………………
4. ever/write/a novel …………………
5. ever/run/a marathon …………………
6. ever/give/money to charity …………………

D: Complete the sentences using the present perfect simple and today/this week/this
year etc.
1. I watched TV yesterday but I haven 't watched TV today.
2. It rained last week but …………………………………………
3. Last week I spent a lot of money but ………………………….
4. I saw James yesterday but ……………………………………..
5. I received a lot of post last month but …………………………
6. It was warm last spring but ……………………………………

E: Write a sentence using the Present Perfect Continuous. Use the words in brackets.
1. John is sunburnt. He has been sitting in the sun. (sit/in the sun)
2. The ground is wet. (rain)
3. Jack has no money left. (shop)
4. Fred is covered in paint. (paint/the kitchen)
5. Maisy is tired and irritable (drive/for 4 hours)
6. Harry is very hot and dirty (dig/the garden)

F: Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous and add since or for.
1. Maria _______________ (learn) English __________ two years.
2. I _______________ (write) letters ___________ 8:00.
3. Robert and Jane _______________ (travel) around Europe __________ five weeks.
4. We _______________ (go) to Ireland for our holidays __________ 1968.
5. It _______________ (rain) __________ this morning.
6. Anne _______________ (look) for a new job __________ a long time.
7. Mark _______________ (sell) computers __________ he started his job with Olivetti.
8. We _______________ (wait) for the bus __________ twenty-five minutes.
9. She _______________ (play) piano __________ she was eight.
10. They _______________ (watch) TV __________ hours.

G: Complete the sentences using present perfect simple or continuous.

1. (build) The Browns _______________ a house for some time.
They _______________ all the main walls now.
2. (write) John _______________ his novel since last year. He _______________ the first
three chapters.
3. (paint) The painters _______________ the town hall since February.
They _______________ nearly half of it now.
4. (save) The Cooks _______________ to go on holiday next summer.
They _______________ € 2000 up to now.
5. (watch) I _______________ cartoons on TV.
I _______________ 4 cartoons already.

H: Put the verb in the most suitable form, Present Perfect Simple or Continuous.
1. You look tired. _______________ (you/study) hard?
2. Mr Brown is new here, isn't he? How 1ong _______________ (he/work) for the
company?
3. I _______________ (lose) my wallet. Have you seen it anywhere?
4. I _______________ (read) the magazine you lent me, but I _______________
(not/finish) yet.
5. _______________ (you/hear) the bad news? Simon _______________ (break) his leg!
6. How many articles _______________ (you/write)?
7. What _______________ (you/do)? I _______________ (wait) for you for an hour!
8. Bob and his friends _______________ (play) golf since this morning.
9. I _______________ (know) Louise for ten years.
10. Mr Brown _______________ (mark) the exams all morning, but he _______________
(not/read) them all.

I: Put in the correct verb form: Present Perfect or Past Simple.

1. How long _______________ (she/study) German?
2. When _______________ (he/begin) to study Business Administration?
3. Who _______________ ( write ) the play Dancing at Lughnasa.
4. _______________ (you/visit) any museums when you were in Sofia.
5. Henry has a perfect school record. He _______________ (not/be) sick this year.
6. Prices _______________ (go) up. Things are much more expensive this week.
7 . What _______________ (happen) to you. I waited all afternoon for you.
8. Marilyn _______________ (have) an accident. She was running for the bus when she
_______________ (fall) down.
9. Mr Arnold _______________ (win) the Exporter of the Year prize twice. His brother
_______________ (win) it four times already.
10. Alfred Hitchcock _______________ (make) lots of films in his long career.
11. I _______________ (just/remember) something.
12. _______________ (you/reply) to Mr Aston's letter yet?
13. Mr Miller _______________ (work) in a travel agency for years. Then he gave it up.
14. Melanie lives in Bucharest. She _______________ (live) there all her life.
15. My uncle died in 1960. I _______________ (never/have) the opportunity to meet him.

Past Perfect
A: Read the situations and write sentences in the Past Perfect using the words in
brackets.
1. I arrived at the party at 9 p.m. but Jane was already there.
(she / arrive / before / me) She had arrived before me.
2. I invited Jeff to come for lunch but he wasn't hungry.
(he / already / eat / lunch)
3. Jane was late for her exam. All the other students were already there.
(they / start / the exam)
4. Mike got home after midnight. The house was quiet.
(everybody / go / to bed)
5. I rang Fred but he wasn't at home.
(he / already / leave / for work)

B: Complete the sentences using the Past Simple or the Past Perfect.
1. When the teacher came in, everybody ______________ (stand up).
2. I arrived two hours late because my car ______________ (break down).
3. I was really tired last night. I ______________ (have) a hard day.
4. Sam felt ill, so he ______________ (go) to bed.
5. When we ______________ (write) the letter, we went to the post office.

C: Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect or the Past Perfect Continuous.
1. By the time I got home they ______________ (eat) all the cake.
2. The room was very smoky. I could tell that my brother ______________ (smoke) in
there all afternoon.
3. She retired at fifty-five, but she ______________ (work) hard all her life.
4. James was very irritable. He ______________ (look) for his contact lens for an hour and
he still ______________ (not / find) it!
5. I was furious with Tom when he arrived. I ______________ (wait) for him for hours.
6. Harry was sad to sell his car. He ______________ (have) it for a long time.
7. Mary was covered in white paint. She ______________ (decorate) the kitchen a1l
afternoon.
8. Lucy went into the sitting room. The TV was on. Her brother ______________ (watch) it
and ______________ (forget) to switch it off.
9. Hattie felt terribly sick. She ______________ (eat) too many cream cakes.
10. The journey was incredibly long. We ______________ (travel) for ten hours and we
weren't even half way yet.