Past tenses (1) RECYCLING ADVANCED ENGLISH UNIT 6

RECYCLING ADVANCED ENGLISH

UNIT 6

Past tenses (1)

The past simple is used a for completed past actions at a known time. The time can be stated or understood: • He bought his car last month.  • She worked there as a teacher. b with when, enquiring about past time: • When did you last see her? c for habitual past actions and states: • She always wanted to be loved. d d for a definite period of past time: • They spent five years in York. The past continuous is used for a continuous past actions sometimes interrupted by the past simple: • He was just getting into bed when the phone rang. or setting the scene for a story: • The sun was shining and the birds were singing as he walked down the lane. b simultaneous past actions: • She was ironing while he was bathing the baby. c repeated past actions: • I was always trying to save my pocket money. d past intentions, often not carried out: • She was planning to ring her friend, but she forgot. The past perfect is used for a a past action that happened before a past simple action: • She had worked in Bonn before she moved to Stuttgart. b an action that happened before a stated time: • He had completed the work by tea-time. But if two past actions are close in time or closely connected, we often avoid the use of the past perfect: • When he reached the airport, he checked in immediately. The past perfect continuous is used to stress that a past perfect action was continuous or repeated. Remember that many verbs do not have a continuous form; refer to the list in Section 1 of the Appendix for guidance. A Complete the sentences with the correct past tense of the verb in brackets. 1 Helena (receive) hospital treatment for a year before the doctors finally (tell) her their diagnosis. 2 The party chairman only (make) a statement after there (be) a lot of speculation in the press. 3 Julia (try) several computer dating agencies by the time she (meet) and (fall in love) with George. 4 Sharon eventually (find) the job she (want) last year, although she (graduate) the year before. 5 The official I (ask) to speak to (not be) there. Apparently he (go) abroad on business. 6 When the doctor (arrive) at the scene of the accident, he (realise) the victim still (breathe). 7 The workmen (spend) all morning digging the trench, and by lunchtime they (finish) it. 8 When the ship (hit) the reef, most of the crew (play) cards, and the passengers (have) dinner. 9 It (rain) and (begin) to get very cold as I (set out) on my long walk home. 10 When she (be) a child, she always (want) to do the most dangerous things. 11 l suddenly (recognise) the town square. I (be) there ten years before. 12 When my friend (open) the door, I (feel) like hitting him. I (ring) his doorbell for at least twenty minutes! 13 When Oscar (go back) into the room, his colleagues still (quarrel) about the coffee. 14 I (not answer) the phone immediately, because I (try) to finish some work. 15 When you (get) your first job? 16 Between 1989 and 2000 they (work) in three different countries, and (move) house five times.

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