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REVIEW OF PAST TENSES
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REVIEW OF PAST TENSES
SIMPLE PAST
The simple past (also called past simple, past indefinite or preterite) is a verb tense which is used to show that a completed action took place at a specific time in the past.
SIMPLE
PAST
AFFIRMATIVE
AFFIRMATIVE
FOR EXAMPLE:
- John Cabot sailed to America in 1498.
- My father died last year.
- He lived in Brazil in 1976.
- There is no auxiliary verb.
- The main verb is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: -ed (or irregular)
NEGATIVE
Subject + Didn't + Verb in base form + Complement
NEGATIVE
FOR EXAMPLE:
- The teacher tested our English. →
- Fiona visited her grandma. →
- He washed the car.
- You were thirsty
- The auxiliary is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: did
- The main verb is invariable in base form.
- For negative sentences, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb.
QUESTION
Auxiliary Did + Subject + Verb in base form + Complement
FOR EXAMPLE:
QUESTION
PAST PROGRESSIVE
PAST
PROGRESSIVE
The past progressive is used to describe an action that began in the
past, continued for a period of time, and then ended in the past.
The past progressive is formed
with the verb to BE conjugated in the simple past (was/were) followed
by a present participle. This is the formula:
subject + BE + (verb+ing).
FOR EXAMPLE
- The sun was setting as we walked along the beach.
- Susan and Tom were sleeping while I was working.
- Last week we were painting the house.
- This morning at five o'clock Shannon was taking care of her baby.
EXAMPLES
NEGATIVE FORM
Subject + was/were + not + Verb-ing
NEGATIVE
- They weren't waiting for you.
- It wasn't raining.
- He wasn't sleeping.
QUESTION FORM
Was/Were + Subject + Verb-ing + Complement
QUESTION
- Were you sleeping all night long?
- Why was John washing the dishes?
- Where was Shannon taking care of her baby?
PAST PERFECT
PAST
PERFECT
The past perfect simple expresses an action taking place before a certain time in the past.
The formula for the past perfect tense is
Subject + had + Verb [past participle] + Complement.
It doesn’t matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula doesn’t change.
FOR EXAMPLE:
- He had been there before.
- I had worked for my uncle.
- She had finished her homework.
- We had talked for more than two hours.
EXAMPLES
NEGATIVE FORM
Subject + Had + Not + Verb [Past Participle] + Complement
Step 1
- He had not returned my car.
- It had not rained for the last month.
- They had not completed the project.
- I had not cooked something special for you.
QUESTION FORM
Had + Subject + Verb [Pat Participle] + Complement
Step 2
- Had he read the book that you gave me yesterday?
- Had she spoken with him several times?
- Had they lost my book?
- Had he forgotten what I said?