-Grammar English VI- Mariana Parra González A01422822

Past simple

Form

Spelling

Use

Affirmative

Negative

Question

Short answers

Did you work yesterday?

They worked yesterday

They didn't work yesterday

Yes, they did

We use the past simple to:

  1. describe finished actions or situations in the past "I flew to London last year"
  1. say that one thing happened after another "When the train arrived, we got on it and sat down"

Many common verbs are irregular

Past continuos

Form

Use

Affirmative

Negative

Question

Short answers

Was she going?

She was going

She wasn't going

Yes, she was

We use the past continuos to:

  1. talk about activities in progress at a momento in the past "At six o'clock this morning I was sleeping"
  1. describe scenes in a story or description "The old woman was wearing a long coat and she was carrying a big, heavy bag"
  1. talk about an activity in progress when another, shorter activity happened or interrupted it. It tells us that an action was in progress, but not that the activity was finished "I was talking to Rox when suddenly I Heard a loud noise"
  1. We often use while and as with the past continuous "While/As I was walking to school, I Heard somebody call my name"
  1. Remember that some verbs aren't usually used in the continuous "I had Green bike" NOT "I was having a Green bike"

Past perfect

Form

Use

Affirmative

Negative

Question

Short answers

had+subject+past participle

Had you seen the film before?

subject+had ('d)+past participle

He had seen the film before

subject+had not (hadn't) +past participle

They hadn't seen the film before

Yes, subject+had. No, subject+hadn't

Yes, I had. No, I hadn't

  1. We use the past perfect to talk about actions that happened before another action or actions in the past "When I had brushed my teeth I got into bed"
  1. We often use time expressions such as when, after, by the time as, as son as... with the past perfect "I had finished my lunch by the time she arrived"