INGLÉS
UNIT 2:
PAST TENSES
Índice
2. PAST TENSES ....................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 The past Simple ............................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Past Continuous .............................................................................................................. 3
2.3 Past Perfect ...................................................................................................................... 3
2.4 Past Perfect Continuous ................................................................................................ 4
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2. PAST TENSES
▪ Regaular verbes, are constructed by an infinitv verb and the ending -ed.
(played, helped, happened) or if it finishes by “e”, adding just “d” (baked, smiled,..)
▪ Irregular verbs: They completely change is forms. See chart in Unit 1.
2.1 The past Simple
See below different situations for Past Simple:
▪ Actions or events that are o longer happening.
I was born in 1989.
▪ For actions or events took place over a specific period in the past.
I lived in Cambridge from 2015 till 2018.
▪ Habitual situation during a specific period in the past.
When I lived in Spain, I had dinner at 10pm.
More Examples:
▪ Affimative: “I bought my car last year” ; “I learned English at school”.
▪ Negative: “I didn´t go home last night”/ “I didn’t belive what she said”.
▪ Interrogative: “Did you visit your family last weekend?” / “Did you go to th
Doctor?”
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2.2 Past Continuous
See below different situations for Past Simple:
▪ Actions or events in progress in a particular time in the past (which may or may not
be finished).
I was working in the Hotel when I knew him.
▪ Action which was in progress in the past before another action or event took
place.
I was doing the laundry when they called me from the Hospital.
▪ Different actions happening at the same time at some point in the past.
When I arrived to the party, everybody was dancing.
More Examples:
▪ Negative: “I wasn´t working“ / “She wasn’t reading”
▪ Interrogative: “Were you working?” / “ Was she studying” ?
2.3 Past Perfect
Past Perfect is used to describe actions that occurred before other actions in the past.
▪ You had gone when I arrived.
▪ I had cooked something special for you but you went directly to the bed.
More Examples:
▪ Negative: “I hadn`t worked“ / “She hadn’t studied”
▪ Interrogative: “Had you worked?” / “ Had she studied?”
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2.4 Past Perfect Continuous
We use Past Perfect Continous when we want to emphasize the continuity and
duration of an action or event:
▪ I had been nearly 6 months looking for a car before I was offered this one.
▪ They had been working together for almost 15 years.
More Examples:
Negative: “I hadn`t been working“ / “She hadn’t been studying”
Interrogative: “Had you been working all this time? ?” / “ Had she been studying since
we lef?”
PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
(finished actions) (over aperiod of time)
For sentences saying how much/many For sentences saying how long
I finally found you! I´d looked for you I´d been looking for you all day!
everywhere.
He´s so happy because he had done so He felt very tired because he had been
great match. playing for hours.
A past time it is also recognize from the context and it can be acoompanied
by frecuency expressions:
Used To + Infinitive
For actions that were an habit:
▪ I used to cycle home everyday until I got my driving licence.
It can also be used to describe actions or events that did not happen before, but are
happening now.
▪ I dind´t use to have holidays in summer but now I go to the beach every July.
▪ My family never used to watch TV at lunch time.
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More Examples:
▪ Interrogative: When did you used to spend your holidays then?
When using “used to”, frequency adverbs are not needed, although, to emphazasie the
sentences, they are sometimes included.
▪ I always used to wake up very late.
Would + Infinitive
Describes habitual past actions.
▪ When I lived in Spain, I would take Spanish lessons twice per week.
We do not use “would” in interrogative or negative sentences, as it´s meaning can be
completely different.
Further information: We use “Used to” for habitual actions or permanent situations.
▪ I used to go to the gym evry day.
However, “Would” can only refer to actions but not situations.
Used To
Three forms, three meanings:
▪ “Used to + infinitive” → Habitual past actions.
I used to run 10 kilimeters a day.
▪ "to be used to + ing" → To be accustomed to.
I´m used to having a rest after scholl. hours sleep a night.
▪ "To get used to + ing” → To get accustomed to.
If you come to Ireland, you´ll get used to having dinner at 7pm.
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