The Past

◊ GRAMMAR

For the formation of past tenses, see entry at ↑ Tenses.

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◊ talking about the past

The simple past tense is used to refer to an event in the past.

She opened the door.

One other factor influenced him.

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In order to indicate exactly when something happened, or to indicate that something happened for a period of time or took place regularly, it is necessary to use additional words and expressions.

The Prime Minister flew to New York yesterday.

He thought for a few minutes.

They went for picnics most weekends.

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When you want to talk about something which had been happening for some time when an event occurred, or which continued to happen after the event, you use the past continuous tense.

We were driving towards the racetrack when a policeman stepped in front of our car to ask for identification.

While they were approaching the convent, a couple of girls ran out of the gate.

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You also use the past continuous to talk about a temporary state of affairs in the past.

Our team were losing 2-1 at the time.

We were staying with friends in Italy.

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◊ regular events

`Would' or `used to' can be used instead of the simple past to talk about something which occurred regularly in the past.

We would normally spend the winter in Miami.

She used to get quite cross with Lally.

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`Used to' is also used to talk about situations that no longer exist.

People used to believe that the earth was flat.

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`Would' is not used like this.

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◊ perfect tenses

When you are concerned with the present effects of something which happened at some time in the past, you use the present perfect tense.

I'm afraid I've forgotten my book, so I don't know.

Have you heard from Jill recently? How is she?

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You also use the present perfect when you are talking about a situation which started in the past and still continues.

I have known him for years.

He has been here since six o'clock.

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You use the present perfect continuous tense when you want to emphasize the fact that a recent event continued to happen for some time.

She's been crying.

I've been working hard all day.

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When you are looking back to a point in the past, and you are concerned with the effects of something which happened at an even earlier time in the past, you use the past perfect tense.

I apologized because I had left my wallet at home.

...when he learned that the fence between the two properties had been removed.

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You use the past perfect continuous tense when referring to a situation or event which started at an earlier time and continued for some time, or was still continuing.

I was about twenty. I had been studying French for a couple of years.

He hated games and had always managed to avoid children's parties.

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◊ future in the past

When you want to talk about something that was in the future at a particular moment in the past, you can use `would', `was/were going to', or the past continuous tense.

He thought to himself how wonderful it would taste.

Her daughter was going to do the cooking.

Mike was taking his test the week after.

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