Simple Past - Past Progressive

TENSES
• THE SIMPLE PAST

• THE PAST PROGRESSIVE
EBalliro
Cátedra Gramática Inglesa I – Facultad de Filosofía y Letras UNCuyo
THE SIMPLE PAST
** With reference to Past time.

Definite past time: what took place at a
given time or in a given period before the
present moment.
Time reference must be given or understood
from context.
I didn't see John at school.
( when I was there.)
EBalliro
USES:
1- For actions that occurred at a definite time

in the past.
The Normans invaded England in 1066.

I met him last week.
The building was put up ten years ago.
Columbus went to America in 1492.
EBalliro
2- For actions whose time is not given but
which occurred in a period of time now
finished.
She lived in America for a long time.
( She's no longer in America)
He worked so hard that he had a nervous
breakdown.
I studied French for two years.
( I don't study any more)
EBalliro
3- For habitual actions in the past.
He was very religious. He went to church
every Sunday of his life.
I went to school by bus when I was young.
We spent our holidays in Spain when we were
children. (used to)
EBalliro
4- Past events happening in sequence.
He slipped and fell down.

The man walked for a moment and then fell
down.
The audience applauded when the orchestra
stopped playing.
EBalliro
EBalliro
** With reference to present and future time.
1-Indirect Speech . Reporting verb past - verb of
the clause past. Backshift.
" I don't understand this sentence". Tom said
Tom said that he didn't understand that
sentence.
2- The attitudinal past - verbs expressing volition

or mental states - tentative attitude. (polite
requests)
Sorry, I needed to talk to you.
I wondered whether you are / were free
tomorrow.
3- The Hypothetical past - subordinate clauses -

if- clauses; expresses what is contrary to
belief or expectation of the speaker.
If you knew him, you wouldn't say that.
I would travel more if I were younger.
EBalliro
Recounts
On Saturday, Romina (wake) ….. up at 10 in the
morning. Then, she (clean) …. the house and (take)
…
care of her brother. She also (do)…some
homework.
Later on, in the afternoon, she (go)… to her
friend’s house because it (be) …. her birthday and
they (eat)… pizza. That night they (go)… dancing
and (have).. a really good time. Romina also (meet)
… up with some friends she hadn’t expected to
find at the disco so she was really glad.
Romina woke up at 10 in the morning. She
cleaned the house
and (she) took care of her brother. She also did
some homework. She went to her friend’s house
because it was her birthday and they ate pizza.
They went dancing and (they) had a
really good time. Romina also met up with some
friends. She was really glad.
Recounts
Event sequencing
 A recount involves a series of events without
significant disruption. (action verbs)
 The events in a recount are chronologically

and logically organised.
"If the weather (be) … fine tomorrow we (go)
….. on a trip to the Poconos." " I think this is a
fantastic idea," I (agree) …..
When we (drive) …….along Interstate 95 the
next day we (notice) ……a red light in Jane´s
mother´s car. "I think, if we (want) ….. to reach
the Poconos we (need) ……some help first",
Jane´s mother said.ic idea," I (agree). "I to climb
the highest mountains.“
• . "If the weather (be) fine tomorrow we (go)
on a trip to the Poconos." " I think this is a
fantastic idea," I (agree). "I to climb the highest
mountains.“
• "I (read - never) .....the handbook, so I (not
have) ……any idea what´s wrong."
• We (leave)….. the expressway and soon saw
the sign of a car repair garage. The mechanic
quickly (check) ….. the car and smiled.
"Lady," he said, "I (see) …..this problem
many times before. I´m sorry, but a mechanic
is not what you need. If you (not fill) ……up
the tank, you (get - never) ……to the
Poconos."
THE PAST PROGRESSIVE
Past tense of be + present participle
USES
1- In Reported Speech. Past form of the Present
Progressive.
" Why are you looking so surprised?"

He asked me why I was looking so
surprised.
EBalliro
2- To show that an action was continuous at a given
moment of past time, or at a time another action
happened.
It was raining when I came home. (obligatory)

They were having breakfast at 8 o'clock this
morning.
Mike was going into a shop when we saw him.
EBalliro
3- For two simultaneous progressive activities in the
past.
Peter was living in London, when I was living in
France. (optional)
While they were waiting at the airport, the
children were sleeping.
4- To show that an action was in progress
between two extremities of past time.
I was working all day yesterday. (optional)
The boys were playing the guitar all last night.
They were quarrelling the whole time they were
together.
5- with "always" - expresses a frequently repeated
past action
Whenever I called on him, he was working.

(annoyance)
I didn't like him. He was always borrowing
money.
EBalliro
Bibliography
Greenbaum, S. and Quirk, R. A Student's

Grammar of the English Language. London:
Longman Group, U.K. Ltd., 1997.
Leech, G.N. and Startvick,
A Communicative Grammar of English. London:
Longman Group, U.K. Ltd., 1983.
EBalliro

Simple Past - Past Progressive

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Simple Past - Past Progressive

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Simple Past - Past Progressive

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TENSES

• THE SIMPLE PAST

** With reference to Past time.

1- For actions that occurred at a definite time

The Normans invaded England in 1066.

He slipped and fell down.

2- The attitudinal past - verbs expressing volition

3- The Hypothetical past - subordinate clauses -

 The events in a recount are chronologically

" Why are you looking so surprised?"

It was raining when I came home. (obligatory)

Whenever I called on him, he was working.

Greenbaum, S. and Quirk, R. A Student's

You might also like