Transcript The Past - Iaawiki

Tense vs. Aspect II
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The Past vs. The Perfect
The Past
• Used for an action which
took place in a completed
period of time in the past.
This action generally has no
link to the present.
• Used for narratives in the
past and historical events.
• Used with intellectual states
in the past and for
expressing a tentative
attitude.
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The Perfect
• Used for an action that
began in the past and may
continue up to the present
time.
• Used for an action that still
has some relevance to the
present time.
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Signal Words
The Perfect
lately, since, so far,
until now / up to now,
hitherto.
In British English:
already, just, not yet,
ever, never, still.*
The Past
ago, at Christmas,
at Easter, at 4 pm,
earlier this week,
on Monday, once,
the other day,
until recently,
until yesterday.
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*Unless the period of time is
completed:
We already discussed this problem
yesterday.
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The Past Tenses
The Simple Past
Describes an action that took place in a completed period of time:
• I lived in Sheffield for 4 years.
(I don‘t live in Sheffield anymore)
• Shakespeare wrote many famous comedies.
(Shakespeare is no longer alive)
• As a child I ate lots of sweets.*
(I am no longer a child)
*When talking about past habits, it is also possible to use the phrase
used to.
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Simple Past with Stative Verbs
• With type II stative verbs (verbs of knowing, thinking
etc.) we use the past to show that the state
described by the verb is completed:
I didn´t know that you were a vegetarian. (But now I do)
• To express politeness, we often use type II and III
stative verbs in the past (attitudinal past):
I just wanted to ask you...
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The Past Tenses
The Past Progressive
• Describes an action that was in progress around a
particular point in time in the past:
What were you doing around 7 pm last night?
• Used to describe a background situation or a situation of
temporary duration:
He was smoking all the way through the interview.
Can you come up with examples to express the following?
1. An action interrupted by another action
2. Two actions simultaneously happening in the past
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The Past Progressive vs Past Simple
• The Past Progressive and Past Simple are often used
to contrast two clauses. In this case the Progressive is
used for background information, and the Simple
Past for actions of a shorter duration:
I was working in the garden when you rang.
Compare:
The baby was crying while I was speaking on the
phone.
They laughed when they saw him.
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• The teenagers _________ (throw) popcorn all the
way through the film.
• Whilst we __________ (watch) the film, someone
________ (answer) their mobile phone.
• I __________ (be aware) that the race was so
dangerous.
• Yes, I _______ (assume) Mr Smith was a lawyer.
• I ________ (wonder) if you could answer my
question.
• Whilst we __________ (listen) to the lecture,
Mark _________ (sleep).
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The Perfect Tenses
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect
Progressive
• Used for an activity that is
finished but still relevant to
the present.
“I’ve brought Porky with me”
• Emphasis on the result of the
activity, or how something
happened.
• “You’ve lost my car?”
• Often used for situations that
are long lasting / permanent.
“I’ve killed the spider ”
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• Often used for an activity
that is not yet finished.
“My mother has been reading
that Dan Brown book”
• Emphasis on the duration of
the activity.
“You have been studying for
ages”
• Often used when the effects
of the action are still visible.
“I’ve been working out”
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Compare the following sentences:
„Ann has been painting the ceiling. Her clothes are
covered in paint.“
(Emphasis is on the action. It is not important if the
action has been completed.)
“Ann has painted the ceiling. It´s now a nice shade of
magnolia.”
(Emphasis is on the result of the action and that it´s
completed)
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• __________ (you/run)? You are covered in
sweat!
• I’m so sorry. How long _________
(you/wait)?
• I ___________ (go) to that new gym on the
High St. for three months now.
• It __________ (snow) for 2 hours.
• How ________ (you/save) so much money?
£1,000 is a lot!
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The Past Perfect
• The Past Perfect is used to talk about an action which
happened before another action in the Past.
• We often use it when events are being told out of
order:
When I arrived home I was surprised to see my husband had
done the washing.
• Often used after the conjunctions after, before,
since.
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Since Sentences
• If since is followed by a point in time, use the
present perfect:
• I have been living in Dortmund since 2008.
• Or: I have been living in Dortmund for two
years. (length of time)
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Since Sentences (cont.)
• By the same logic, if since is followed by an action
that is seen as taking place over a short period of
time or a point in time, we use past for this clause
and present perfect for the main clause
• I have been living in my apartment since I moved to
Dortmund.
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Since Sentences (cont.)
• However, if both clauses are seen to be taking place
over a period of unfinished time, then we use
present perfect for both.
• Ever since I have been living in Dortmund I have been
learning German.
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