BIZ 1054: PROGRESSIVE ENGLISH

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

We use the simple past tense for an action or an event that occurred in the past and is finished at the time of speaking.

Example : Sometime last year, Anne decided to begin riding classes for children at her ranch to help pay the cost of running the stables.
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THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

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 for six years before he joined a commercial airline. b. Hundreds of school children, cheering and waving flags, greeted the visiting head of state at Parliament House

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

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.

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (FORM)

The form of the simple past does not change with the number of subjects(singular and plural subjects have the same verbs.)

Ahmad arrived Maria left I worked You We He/She It We They

yesterday two days ago last week

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (NEGATIVE FORM)

Ahmad Maria I You He/She/It We They didnt (did not) arrive leave work yesterday two days ago last week

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (THE REGULAR FORM)

The simple past is normally formed by verb+ ed Base Form Simple Past Tense walk walked talk talked cook cooked

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (THE REGULAR FORM)

Spelling rules of Verb + ed A For verbs ending in e, add-d Example : like liked, use- used, care-cared B For one-syllable verbs ending in one vowel+ one consonant, add ed Example : stop stopped, plan planned C The consonant is not doubled if the verb ends in y or w Example : play played, show- showed, bow-bowed

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (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 to ied Example : bury- buried, carry-carried, hurry-hurried Note : Some verbs have irregular past forms. Example : Base Form Irregular past forms swim swam come came blow blew dig dug
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PRACTICE- Change the present into the past

My uncle is a very strange person indeed, both in the way he looks and in the way he behaves. He has eyes which protrude from his small bald head and stare at you blankly like those of a dead fish. He always dresses in khaki shorts and a green singlet, and with his long skinny brown limbs he looks like an old withered tree. When he comes to eat at our house he always brings his own bowl and chopsticks. My mother just accepts this and tries to get my brother and me to ignore what appears to be incredible rudeness. She says that 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 giving a solo recital at the music academy. (definite time in the past)

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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

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 checking the accounts while Cynthia was reading her report. (past continuous) Alex checked the accounts while Cynthia read her report. (past tense)
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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

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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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

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 forever nagging me about registering for driving lessons. (repeated action) Zack was going to accept the job offer in London but changed his mind later (future action planned in the past but which did not happen)
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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

We use the past continuous with when to express about an action that was interrupted by another action.

Example : I was having a bath when the telephone rang. or When the telephone rang, I was having a bath.
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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE

We use the past continuous with while to express two actions in progress at the same time.

Example : While Rokiah was cooking dinner, Mariam was setting the table.

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THE PAST CONTINUOS TENSE (FORM)

The

past continuous is formed

by : be (was/ were) + Verb + -ing

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PRACTICE
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2.

3.

4.

5.

Chee Keong and Soo Ming ________ (pitch) their tent when it __________ (begin) to rain. Chee Keong _______ (cook) the chops when a dog ________ (run) off with the sausages. The boys _______ (sleep) when the wind _______ (blow) their tent down. Chee Keong and Soo Meng ______ (swim) when they ______ (have) a fright. The boys ______ (sing) when the coach ______ (call) them.
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