The Simple Past and Past Continuous Tense

8/13/2019 The Simple Past and Past Continuous Tense

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BIZ 1054:

PROGRESSIVEENGLISH

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSEAND THE PAST CONTINUOUS

TENSE


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THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

We use the simple past tense for an action or an event

that occurred in the pastand is finished at the time of

speaking.

Example :

Sometime last year, Anne decidedto begin ridingclasses for children at her ranch to help pay the cost of

running the stables.


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We use the simple past tense to refer to an action

which took place over a period of time in the past and

is finished, or to report certain past events or

situations.In newspapers, magazines and journals.

Example :

a. Andrew served as a test pilot with the air force forsix years before he joined a commercial airline.

b. Hundreds of school children, cheering and waving

flags, greetedthe visiting head of state at

Parliament House


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We use used to +base form of the verb to refer to an

action or an event which took place regularly in the

past but which does not happen anymore.

Example :

We used to swim and play tennis every Sunday at the

club when we were college students.


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(FORM)

The form of the simple

past does not change

with the number of

subjects(singular andplural subjects have the

same verbs.)

Ahmad

Maria

I

You

We

He/She

ItWe

They

arrived

left

worked

yesterday

two days

ago

last week


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(NEGATIVE FORM)

Ahmad

Maria

I

You

He/She/It

We

They

didnt

(did not)

arrive

leave

work

yesterday

two days

ago

last week


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(THE REGULAR FORM)

The simple past is normally formed by verb+

ed

Base Form Simple Past Tensewalk walked

talk talked

cook cooked


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(THE REGULAR FORM)

Spelling rules of Verb + ed

AFor verbs ending ine, add-d

Example : likeliked, use- used, care-cared

B For one-syllable verbs ending in one vowel+ oneconsonant, added

Example : stopstopped, planplanned

CThe consonant is not doubled if the verb ends in y or w

Example : playplayed, show- showed, bow-bowed


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(THE REGULAR FORM)

If the stress is on the second-syllable.

Example : re fer re ferred, ad mit ad mitted

E. For verbs ending in a consonant +y, change-y toied

Example : bury- buried, carry-carried, hurry-hurried

Note :Some verbs have irregular past forms.

Examp le : Base Form Irregular past form s

swim swam

come came

blow blew

dig dug


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PRACTICE- Change the

present into the past

My uncle isa very strange person indeed, both in the way

he looksand in the way he behaves. He haseyes which

protrudefrom his small bald head and stareat you blankly

like those of a dead fish. He always dressesin khaki

shorts and a green singlet, and with his long skinny brown

limbs he lookslike an old withered tree. When he comes

to eat at our house he always bringshis own bowl and

chopsticks. My mother just acceptsthis and triesto get my

brother and me to ignore what appearsto be incrediblerudeness. She saysthat although Uncles habits are

strange we should still respect him.


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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

We use the past continuous tense to show that an

action is going on at a definite time in the past or that

an action or situation continued for a period of time in

the past.

Example : At 4.30 yesterday afternoon, I was givinga

solo recital at the music academy.

(def ini te t ime in the past)


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We use the past continuous tense or the simple past

tense for two actions that were going on at the same

time in the past.

Example : Alex was checkingthe accounts while

Cynthia was readingher report. (past c on t inuous)

Alex checkedthe accounts while Cynthia readher

report. (past tense)


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To show that something happened while a longer

action was going on in the past, we use the past

continuous for the longer action and the simple past

for the shorter action

Example : Ted and I were arguing (past continuous

tense)about whose turn it was to do the dishes when

our mother came (past tense)and scolded (past

tense)us.


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We use the past continuous tense to refer to repeated

actions in the past with adverbs of frequency such as

always and forever, or for future action that was

planned in the past but did not take place.

Example : Aunt Flora was forevernaggingme about

registering for driving lessons. (repeated action)

Zack was going to acceptthe job offer in London but

changed his mind later (future action planned in the

past but which did not happen)


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We use the past continuous with whento express

about an action that was interruptedby another

action.

Example : I was havinga bath whenthe telephone

rang.

or

Whenthe telephone rang, I was havinga bath.


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We use the past continuous with whileto express two

actions in progress at the same time.

Example : WhileRokiah was cookingdinner, Mariam

was settingthe table.


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(FORM)

The past continuous is formed

by :

be (was/ were) + Verb + -ing


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PRACTICE

1. Chee Keong and Soo Ming ________ (pitch) their tent

when it __________ (begin) to rain.

2. Chee Keong _______ (cook) the chops when a dog

________ (run) off with the sausages.3. The boys _______ (sleep) when the wind _______

(blow) their tent down.

4. Chee Keong and Soo Meng ______ (swim) when they

______ (have) a fright.5. The boys ______ (sing) when the coach ______ (call)

them.

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The Simple Past and Past Continuous Tense