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Past simple - Coggle Diagram
Past simple
past events
We often use the past simple to
already finished times
I saw Jack yesterday morning.
talk about
past events
(
short actions, longer situations
)
I spent all my childhood in Scotland.
talk about
past repeated events
Regularly every summer, Jessica fell in love
past stories and descriptions
One day the Princess decided that she d id n 't like staying at home all day…
basically we use this if
there is nothing special situation that requires other tense
in
Conditional 2
,
in the if clause
If I had the money now I'd buy a car
unreal ideas
and
I wish sentences
Would you follow me wherever I went?
I wish (that) I had a better memory.
-
distancing for politeness
I wondered… I though…
express past even if the situation still exists
I ’m sorry we left Liverpool. It was such a nice place.
Are you deaf? I asked how old you were.
time expressions
Finished definite time expression
=
yesterday, last week, then, when, X years ago, in Y
I last saw Lucy in 2017.
Present Perf. vs. Past Simple
Time not mentioned
Past Simple
:
the time in context is finished
Did you see ‘Romeo and Juliet’? (It was on TV last night.)
Present Perfect
:
the time in context is a period up to now
Have you seen ‘Romeo and Juliet’? (Ever, in you life)
Announcing news
Past Simple
:
further information is given
Joe has passed his exam! He got 87%.
Present Perfect
:
announcing a piece of information
Have you heard? Andy has won a big prize!
Emphasis on even or result?
Past Simple
: the main
focus is on the past circumstance
Who spilt all that coffee on the carpet? (Need to know the name.)
Present Perfect
: the main
focus is on the present result
Somebody has spilt coffee on the carpet. (Need a mop to clean it up.)
Non-finite definite time expressions (today, this week, etc.)
Past Simple
:
emphasis on a finished part of the period
I saw Jack this week.
Present Perfect
:
emphasis on the whole period
I haven’t seen Jack this week.