Visiting the past - Past Tense- 22
In English language there are six different tenses to indicate past action (Please remember we are not talking about the past state in this topic.)
1-Simple present perfect tense ( I have read.) – Already discussed in session -17
2-Simple past tense ( I read.)
3-Past progressive tense ( I was reading)
4-Present perfect progressive tense ( I have been reading.)
5-Simple past perfect tense. ( I had read.)
6-Past perfect progressive tense (I had been reading)
Simple past tense - Function
Simple past tense is used in narration, account of a visit, story telling, report writing etc.
Simple past and Present perfect - Difference
Both these tenses are used for the actions that took place in the past period. They don’t serve the same purpose. The simple past tense doesn’t have any link with the present, while the present perfect verb has link with the present time.
It rained last yesterday. (Past Tense)
It has rained – see the wet ground. (Past activity is linked to the present observation) - (Past Perfect Tense)
Just is used with present perfect for an activity that took place a short while ago.
My boss has just arrived.
They have just gone out.
Simple past tense contains (mostly) Time adverbial (last month, last August, in 2003 etc .)
Present perfect is used with adverbials like so far, before, already, ever never, yet,
I visited Texas last week/in 2003
I haven’t visited Texas so far.
I have already seen this machine.
The team hasn’t arrived yet.
I think I have seen him before.
I met Clara in Perth./She didn’t see me – (Some times in Past tense sentence time adverbial is omitted.)
Past perfect tense is used for an activity that began in the past and still continuing (at the time of speaking)
She has worked here for five years. (She is still working.) - Past perfect tense
She worked here for years. (She no longer works.) - Past tense
For indicating past habits. (We usually use used to for this purpose )
She always travelled in train.
They always blocked the passage of budget/bill.
He always invited friends to his parties.
Past action and past state – difference
She visited the University last week –action
She was in the university last week - state
Difference between present tense and past tense.
She reads the news paper in the morning. - Present
She read the news paper in the evening yesterday.- past
Simple Past Tense- Structure
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Subject
What we speak about, in a sentence is called subject. Subject = I, we, you, they, he, she, it, noun phrase etc. He/she/it include all singular nouns, pronouns, collective nouns, etc. They includes all Plural nouns.
Action Verb
Verb that indicates some action is called action verb (e.g. Go, come, write etc. )
Verb forms
Go – Present form of the verb, Went – past form of the verb go
STRUCTURE (The structure is same for all subjects ,I we , you, they, he she, it etc.)
Subject + Action Verb (past form) + message/news/information etc. – Simple sentence
e.g. He went to London yesterday.
Subject + didn’t +action verb (Present form) + information – Negative sentence.
e.g. He didn't go to London yesterday. He did no went to London
(Didn't = did not)
Did + subject + action verb (Present form) + information – ‘yes/no’ question
e.g. Did he go to London yesterday. Did he went to London yesterday.
Didn’t + subject + action verb (Present form) + information – ‘yes/no’ negative question
e.g. Didn’t he go to London yesterday.= Did he not go London yesterday.
“wh’ word + did + subject + action verb (Present form) + matter - ‘wh’ question
e.g. When did he go to London./Where did he go yesterday. (Where did he go to yesterday.)
Present – past - contrast
She Teaches English – She taught English.
The thief runs away – The thief ran away.
They have a car (now) – They had a car some time back.
She wakes up at six (always)– She woke up at six (yesterday)
He does the trick – He did the trick.
Jim worked in a bank from 2003 to 2010
I rained all the morning yesterday.
We enjoyed the movie.
The event cam to an end at midnight.
‘Didn’t you see the dentist last night?’ No, I was busy.
‘Where did you see Susan?’ At Marines.
He didn’t answer my call, I didn’t expect that.
‘When did you meet Mary?'. Last night.
'Did he go away in the morning?' Yes he went away in the morning.
‘Did you go for shopping yesterday?’ No, I didn’t have time.
‘Did it rain last week?’ not much.
‘Did your friends have a nice party?’ Yes, they enjoyed a lot.
Short conversation
A- The table is broken.
B- Who broke it?/How did it happen?/How did that happen?
A- I don’t know.
A- I went to Paris last week
B- Where did you stay?
A- At Bays.
A- I returned home by a cab.
B- How much did it cost?
A- 15 dollars.
Past Tense in the news head lines (Virtual)
The new tax regime spared the rich.
Obama – Putin summit, (on new arms treaty), failed once again
Greek Government unveiled new health insurance policy.
Cameron agreed to revive ailing auto industry.
Canberra refused to grant amnesty to extremists.
Dollar nosedived on speculation
Past Tense in Ads (Not real)
Our jets never rested since their first voyage – At your service round the clock- Blue jet
Did you experience paradise on earth? Visit Bon voyage cottage, Sydney.
Churchill, Regan Tatcher Saadat Mandela, stayed with us, Make your visit a historical one – Royal inn Ottawa.
Disappointed with your insurer? Feel relaxed, Visit Max Flexi Insurance – Dubai.
We outpaced others in car production – Your reliable partner on the move – Delta Motors , Washington.
No comments:
Post a Comment