Expressing The Past

EXPRESSING THE PAST
PRESENT PERFECT
Past Actions not yet completed and whose time is either

explicity indefinite or not yet over : PRESENT PERFECT,
- explicity indefinite time
e.g.: Jill has never travelled by plane.
Have you ever been here before?
I have often read about her in the newspapers.
- a time not yet over
e.g.: They have visited us twice this week.

Hasnt she taken a holiday this year ?
Weve done a lot of work today havent we?
note
- the PRESENT PERFECT often suggests DURATION (how long?/ since

when?-questions; for/since-answers),
e.g.: How long have they lived in London?

e.g.: How long
have they lived in London?
We havent met them for a long time.
Frank must be hungry he hasnt eaten anything since
morning.
- in order to emphasize that the action has been a) uninterrupted or to

imply b) continuity up to now we use the CONTINUOUS ASPECT,
e.g.: a) Sheila is tired as shes been cleanig up all day.

Im rather bored; Ive been giving the same course since
morning.
b) Ive been typing 9 oclock . (uninterruptedly)

uninterruptedly)
How long has she been sleeping? (which means that she
is still sleeping)
Mark has been working for their company for two years.
( he is still working there)
Past Actions that have taken place very recently :
r Prague.
Havent you finished yet?
I have already explained why.
Jessie looks pale; she has worked/ha been working hard lately.
Due to its relationship with the PRESENT, the PRESENT PERFECT,
is much used in CONVERSATION (where actions that took place

some time ago may be a novelty for the speaker), as in:
I see youve bought a new hat . or I hear theyve got married .
PAST TENSE
Past Actions completed at a definite time or a time which is now

terminated : PAST TENSE
- a definite time in the Past
e.g.: He was born in1976.

Where did she graduate?
School started on September 15.
- a time which is now terminated
e.g.: Werent you at the concert last week, or didnt I see you ?
Last year we spent 3 months in the Holland.
Doris gave a course on this subject yesterday.
note
- the time may be given/asked about/missing ; an adverb of place or

the context suggests a definite result,
e.g.: I found it at the book-shop acros the street.
Have you seen the play they put on at the National?

Yes, and I liked it very much.
- no matter how long time ago something happened, this adverb

requires the PAST TENSE(as it suggests completion of the action),
e.g.: The Sumerian civilization flourished some 6 millenia ago.

Claras not here; she went out two minutes ago.
- PAST TENSE is the tense of the narative.
the PAST CONTINUOUS can be used as an alternative to the

SIMPLE PAST to indicate a more casual, less deliberate action,
e.g.: Jane was cleaning up in the morning .(i.e. probably as usual)

We were watching TV, father was listening to the news
COMPARE
Joy was driving and we were Joy drove quickly around the town,
listening to music and chatting. and went out into the highway
(routine action) only four miles away.
We were just talking about you I talked to Mr. Hopkins about your
Mr.Hopkins and I. (casual problem. (I took the initiative-
action) with a certain purpose, personally)
PAST PERFECT
Past Actions completed before a certain past moment : PAST PERFECT

SIMPLE ,
e.g.: They had sold the merchandise before the prices went up.
We thanked them for what they had done for us.
After she had told me her name I remembered who she was and
where we had first met.
When we arrived the play had already begun.
I was just wondering why you hadnt told her the truth.
Past Actions that were still in progress at a given moment in the past: PAST
PERFECT CONTINUOUS ,
e.g.: Stan had been climbing for three hours before he decided to stop
and have a rest.
After she had been saving money for two years, she spent it all in
several months.
The children had been watching TV for half an hour when their
mother switched it off.
I had been practising for only a quarter of an hour by the time you
interrupted me.
The grass was wet because it had been raining all night.
For the relationship between the PAST TENSES and their ASPECTS see
the SEQUENCE OF TENSES.

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EXPRESSING THE PAST

Past Actions not yet completed and whose time is either

- explicity indefinite time

e.g.: Jill has never travelled by plane.

Have you ever been here before?

I have often read about her in the newspapers.

- a time not yet over

e.g.: They have visited us twice this week.

- the PRESENT PERFECT often suggests DURATION (how long?/ since

e.g.: How long have they lived in London?

- in order to emphasize that the action has been a) uninterrupted or to

e.g.: a) Sheila is tired as shes been cleanig up all day.

b) Ive been typing 9 oclock . (uninterruptedly)

Past Actions that have taken place very recently :

Due to its relationship with the PRESENT, the PRESENT PERFECT,

is much used in CONVERSATION (where actions that took place

I see youve bought a new hat . or I hear theyve got married .

Past Actions completed at a definite time or a time which is now

- a definite time in the Past

e.g.: He was born in1976.

- a time which is now terminated

- the time may be given/asked about/missing ; an adverb of place or

e.g.: I found it at the book-shop acros the street.

Have you seen the play they put on at the National?

- no matter how long time ago something happened, this adverb

e.g.: The Sumerian civilization flourished some 6 millenia ago.

- PAST TENSE is the tense of the narative.

the PAST CONTINUOUS can be used as an alternative to the

e.g.: Jane was cleaning up in the morning .(i.e. probably as usual)

Past Actions completed before a certain past moment : PAST PERFECT

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