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THE PAST

PAST SIMPLE (PRETERITE)

PRETERITE: BE + -ING

MAIN USE
past action (dated and definite)

SYNTAX
Affirmative
-> Regular verbs: verb + -ED
e.g. Yesterday, I played football.

-> Irregular verbs: there is no easy rule; you must learn them by heart
e.g. In 1998, I went to Australia.

Interrogative & negative: use DID
e.g. -> Did you go to Australia?
-> Yes, I did. No, I didn't (go to Australia).

MAIN USE
action in the past, which was being done, when another short action interrupted it

SYNTAX
Affirmative
auxiliary BE in the past (WAS/WERE) + verb + -ING
e.g. I was taking a shower when the phone rang.

Interrogative & negative: inversion
e.g. Were you listening to the radio when he arrived?
-> Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't (listening to the radio).


PRESENT PERFECT

PLUPERFECT

MAIN USES
a) Actions which began in the past and are still in progress.
b
) Past actions with results/consequences in the present.

SYNTAX
Affirmative
auxiliary HAVE (HAS with he/she/it) + past participle
e.g. a) I have lived in Paris since 1992.
b) Sarah has eaten all the cakes. (There is no cake left).

Interrogative & negative: inversion
e.g. Have you broken by vase?
-> Yes, I have. / No, I haven't (broken the vase).

MAIN USE
Action which was done before another action (in the past).

SYNTAX
Affirmative
auxiliary HAD + past participle
e.g. Peter went to Sydney in 2002. I had been there two years before.

Interrogative & negative: inversion
e.g. Had you bought a car?
-> Yes, I had. / No, I hadn't (bought a car).

 

TEST : Fill in the gaps with the verbs. Choose the correct tense.

a) - Peter, what _____________________ (do) yesterday?
- I _____________________ (play) football with Mike.

b) John's father _____________________ (be) very unhappy: when he _____________________ (get) back home, he _____________________ (find) that thieves _____________________ (break) into his flat.

c) Mum, Sarah _____________________ (break) my TV! I _____________________ (watch) it when she _____________________ (come) into my room and _____________________ (break) it! I can't watch the football match! Do something!

 

ANSWERS

a) - Peter, what did you do yesterday? (preterite)
- I played football with Mike. (preterite)

b) John's father was (preterite) very unhappy: when he got (preterite) back home, he found (preterite) that thieves had broken (pluperfect) into his flat.


c) Mum, Sarah has broken (present perfect) my TV! I was watching (preterite: BE + -ING) it when she came (preterite) into my room and broke (preterite) it! I can't watch the football match! Do something!