PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

PAST SIMPLE
-traducere romana= perfect compus
I. FORM
Affirmative: S+vb-forma a II-a/-ed
Interrogative: did+S+vb -la infinitive
Negativ: S+did not/didnt+vb -infinitive
II. USES
-exprima actiuni repetate, obisnuite, obiceiuri in trecut (habits in the past):
eg.: I drank a lot of milk when I was baby.
-exprima adevaruri generale in trecut (general truths in the past):
eg.: Dinossaurs dissappeard millions of years ago.
-actiuni incepute si incheiate intr-un moment bine definit din trecut (finished actions in the
past)
eg. I met John two minutes ago
- cand vrem sa vorbim despre faptele unei persoane care a murit (talking about dead
people):
eg. Princess Diana helped a lot of people.
- Actiuni trecute care sau petrecut succesiv (past actions that happened one after the
other):
eg. First they cleaned their room and then they played on the computer.
III.Adverbs: yesterday, last week, month etc, year ago, in 1998.
PAST CONTINUOUS
-traducere romana=imperfect
I. FORM
Affirmative: S+was/were+vb-ing
Interrogative: Was/were+S+vb-ing
Negative: S+was/were+not+vb-ing
II. USES
1.Actiuni aflate in desfasurare intr-un moment din trecut (actions in progress at special
time in the past):
eg. At four oclock yesterday I was washing the car
Peter was reading a book yesterday evening.
2. doua/ mai multe actiuni simultane (two actions were happening at the same time -the
actions do not influence each other)
eg.Anne was writing a letter while Steve was reading the New York Times.
3.pentru a descrie o actiune aflata in desfasurare intrerupta de o alta actiune trecuta :
-actiunea aflata in desfasurare(actiune lunga)-past continuous
-actiunea scurta(care intrerupe actiunea lunga)-past simple
eg. While we were sitting at the breakfast table, the telephone rang.Note:

PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

Past Progressive were sitting at the table

Simple Past the telephone rang.

The action in Simple Past interrupted the action in Past Progressive.
4.actiuni repetate suparatoare(repeated actions irritating the speaker (with always,
constantly, forever)
eg.Andrew was always coming late. (I don't like that.)
Simple Past Andrew always came late. (Here I don't give a comment.)
5. pentru a descrie atmosfera unei povesti(to describe atmosphere in a story):
eg. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing in the trees.
III.Adverbs: while,when, as, at 4 oclock yesterday etc
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
I. FORM
Afirmativ: S+had+vb-forma a III-a
Interogativ: Had+S+vb-forma a III-a.
Negative: S+had+not+vb-forma a III-a
II. USES
Past Perfect Simple(m.m.c.p din limba romana) :
-exprima o actiune incheiata in trecut, inaintea altei actiuni terminate.
Example:
Casa arsese deja, cand au ajuns pompierii.
The house had already burnt, when the firemen arrived.
III. Adverbs : already, yet, since, for, just, before
Complete the sentences. Type the correct answer in the box. Use contractions where
possible.
1. My brother

2. We

(get) married last year.

(have) dinner when Sally called.

3. John got to the cinema late and the film

4. I was driving home when the accident

(start) when he arrived.

(happen).

PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS / PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

5.

(you / watch) TV when I phoned?

6.I'd studied really hard but I

(not pass) the exam