The Past

Continuous Tense

Formation: past of the verb to be was/were + + present participle of the verb (base form + ing) doing

Like the Present Continuous Tense, this tense refers to an action currently taking place or unfinished, the difference being that the reference point is a moment in the past. It can be used to resume an interrupted conversation: What was I saying? We were talking about your work. Another use of the Past

Continuous Tense

You have already learned the following uses: a) to talk about an action taking place at a certain moment in the past: We were talking about your work. b) to make an indirect request or question: I was looking for some capital. I was wondering if you'd seen my friends. Now you have learned how to use the Past Continuous Tense with the Past Simple Tense. When talking about the past, we often describe the situation or background before describing a particular event. In this case, the Past Continuous describes the situation and the Past Simple describes the event. We commonly use two words to link the two clauses: when and while. When: Situation (Past Continuous) + when + event (Past Simple) or When + event (Past Simple) + situation (Past Continuous) For example: He was carrying a suitcase when they arrested him. When I met Susan she was waiting for the bus. While: While + situation (Past Continuous) + event (Past Simple) or Event (Past Simple) + while + situation (Past Continuous)

For example: While we were staying with your sister we went to see that film. Harry walked in while I was watching TV. The Present

Perfect Tense

Form: subject + have/has + past participle of the verb. The past participles introduced in this lesson are those of the verbs: be do make was did made been done made

Some important uses of the Present Perfect: A. To talk about the duration of a situation or a state, which started in the past and is still continuing: We've been here for three days. How long have we been here? B. To talk about a past action, without stating precisely when it took place: I've done Exercise C. (We use the Past Simple Tense when we want to be precise about when an action took place: I did Exercise C yesterday) C. To talk about an action which has not yet finished: To help understand this concept, consider a secretary who is typing a letter at eleven o'clock in the morning. If she is talking about this letter at eleven-thirty in the morning, she would say: I've typed a letter this morning. (this morning has not ended) If she is talking about that same letter at three o'clock in the afternoon, she would say: I typed a letter this morning. (Simple Past, since this morning has ended) The Present

Perfect Tense (2)

Compare these two phrases: I have a reservation. I have brought a present. In the first phrase, the principal verb is have, whereas in the second the principal verb is bring, and have is the auxiliary of the Present Perfect Tense. When have has this second role, it often takes the shortened forms 've, 's.

I've brought a present. He's brought a present. The negative forms have/has + not can also be shortened: I haven't brought a present. He hasn't brought a present.