Copy of Past Tense Fce

7/21/2019 Copy of Past Tense Fce

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Past Tense

Explanations

Describing events Main events

in the past The past simple is used to describe fnished actions and events in the past.

Susan went into the station and bought a ticket.

- Background description

The past continuous is used to describe actions in progress in the past. It

gives inormation about the background situation.

There were a lot of people waiting in the station. Some weresleeping on the benches, and others were walking up and down.Susan was looking for Graham, so she didn't sit down.

Past beore past

The past perect is used to make it clear that one past event happensbeore another past event. We use the past perect or the earlier event.

By the time the train arrived, Susan had managed to push her way to

the front

of the crowd. It is not alwas necessar to use the past perect i a timee!pression makes the order o events clear.

Before the train arrived, Susan managed to push her way to the frontof the

crowd.

- Past continuous used with past simple

We oten use the past continuous frst to set the scene" and then thepast simple or the separate" completed actions that happen.

Susan was looking for Graham, so she didn't sit down. nstead, shetried

calling him on her mobile phone. We oten contrast an action inprogress with a sudden event which interrupts it.

!hile Susan was trying to get onto the platform, a man grabbed her


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handbag.

Participle clauses

Participle clauses are introduced b the time e!pressions before, afterand while.The have the same sub#ect as the ollowing clause.

After struggling with him, Susan pulled the bag from his hands.

Habits in the past Past simple

The past simple is used to describe past habits or states. $ timee!pression is usuall necessar.

% always got up at si" in those days, &habit'

% lived in #ustria for several years. &state'

$sed to

$sed to is used to describe past habits or states. $ time e!pression isnot necessar.

( used to get up at si", but now I get up at eight.

used to own a horse. &I owned a horse once.'

With negatives and )uestions used to becomesuse to. didn't use to like beer. Didyou use toswim every day%

When we use used to we suggest that the action is no longer true andso make a strong contrast with the present.

!ould

!ould is used to describe a person*s tpical activities in the past.

It can onl be used to describe repeated actions" not states. It is mainlused

in writing" and in personal reminiscences.

&very evening was the same. ack would turn on the radio, light hispipe and

fall asleep.

Past continuous


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The past continuous can be used to describe a repeated action in thepast" oten an annoing habit. $ re)uenc adverb is necessar. !hen(eter was younger, he was always getting into trouble.

Politeness and We can use the past continuous with think, hope and wonder to give a polite or

uncertainty uncertain meaning.

I was thinking of having a party ne"t week.

was hopingyou would )oin us at the cafe tonight.

I was wondering if you could help me.

+I,-T /,TI+I$T/ 0$123$2/ P,$TI/

4 3nderline the most suitable verb orm in each sentence. The frst one is done or ou.

a' I suddenl remembered that I forgot*had forgotten m kes.

b' While 5iana watched*was watching her avourite television programme" there was apower6cut.

c' Tom used to live*would live in the house at the end o the street.

d' Who was driving*drove the car at the time o the accident7

e' B the time -heila got back" hris went*had gone.

' 5avid ate*had eaten(apanese ood beore" so he knew what to order.

g' I did*was doing some shopping esterda" when I saw that 5utch riend o ours.

h' I used to like*was liking sweets much more than I do now.

i' What e!actl were you doing*did you do when I came into our o8ce

esterda7 #' 0aura missed the part because no6one was telling*had told her about it.k' Tana would*used to be a doctor.

9 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb orm. :nl use the past perect wherethis is absolutel necessar.

a' While I &tr) was trying to get m car started" a passing car &stop'

and the driver &o;er' to help me.

b' The police &pa' no attention to lare*s complaint


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because she &phone' them so man times beore.

c' Mar &not wear' her glasses at the time" so she &not notice'

what kind o car the man &drive'

d' 1ick &lie' down on the grass or a while" ne!t to some

tourists who &eed' the ducks.

e' Ton &admit' that he &hit' the

other car" but said that he &not damage' it.

' -orr" I &not listen' to ou. I &think'

about something else.

g'


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h' $s Pegg walked home" she tried to remember what happened

i' *What a terrible da>* thought 0uc. /verthing had gone wrong>

#' $lthough it rained a lot" I was en)oying m holida last ear

? Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb orm.

When Proessor Mallor" the amous archaeologist" &@) ...invited.

&invite' me to take part in his e!pedition to fnd the 0ost it o the


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A ,ewrite each sentence beginning as shown. 3se a participle clause.

a' 1orman collected the parcel" but then he realised it was the wrong one.$ter collecting the parcel, orman reali!ed it was the wrong one.

b' -ue let the house but frst she checked that she had her kes.

Beore

c' Mark was parking his car when he noticed the wing6mirror was broken.While

d' (ulia cleaned the house" but then she ell asleep on the soa.

$ter

e' Brian bought a new television" but frst he checked all the prices.

Beore

' $lan was skiing in -witFerland and met his old riend" Gen.

While

g' Gate took two aspirins" and then she elt a lot better.

$ter

h' -heila went out or the evening" but frst she washed her hair.

Beore

Key points @ The past simple describes completed events in the past" suchas the main events in a narrative. It can also describe habits and routines inthe past.

4 The past continuous is used orH

a' background description.

b' actions in progress" oten contrasted with a sudden event.

The past continuous cannot be used to describe past routines and habits.

9 Participle clauses can introduce a clause giving the mainevent. The sub#ects o both clauses must be the same.


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= The past perect describes a past event which took place beore anotherpast event. I before or after is used" the past perect is optional.

The past perect is not used or an event that happened a long time ago inthe past.

? $sed to onl reers to past time" and has no present orm.

A !ould can be used to describe habitual actions in the past" usuall inwriting. It does not make such a strong contrast with the present as used to.ompareH

im would always make his mother a cup of tea after lunch.im used to drink tea, but now he prefers co+ee. !ouldcannot be used to describe states. Sally used to be a dancer.

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Copy of Past Tense Fce