UNIT 2
1 . Simple Past & Past Progressive
1 . Simple Past & Past Progressive
Simple Past
|
Past Progressive
|
Action in the past taking place once, never or several times
|
Action in the past whose course / duration is to be emphasized
|
Actions in the past taking place one after the other
|
Actions in the past taking place at the same time
|
Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
|
Action in the past starting before another action and continuing after it
|
A .- Simple Past
The " simple past " describes a finished action in the past.
When I was young I lived in Madrid (Now I live in Barcelona)
B.- Past Continuous
Indicates that an action was happening in certain moment in the past that is made refrence to. We do not knoe if the action is finished or still continues.
Example
When the mother came home her husband was playing with the kids
Sometimes, it describes two simultaneous actions that happened in the past. In such case que us the "past imple" to decribe the action that ended and the "past continuous" for the other action that was happening when the first one happened.
Example
Yesterday evening when you called me I was having a shower
When the parents arrived home the children were watching TV
Another difference is to indicate that the "past continuous" is sometimes used to indicate that the action is more casual, less planned.
Example
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I was running (algo rutinario, que suelo hacer con frecuencia, por lo que no lo resalto)
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I ran (algo diferente, un tanto extraordinario, por lo que quiero destacarlo)
Practice online:
2. Past States or Habits
“USED TO” - past repeated actions, habits and states
ü 'Used to' can be used to talk about past states as well as past repeated actions and habits
When I was younger, I used to paint for 2 hours every day –This is a past repeated action or habit, so 'used to' is acceptable here.
I used to be a painter – This is a past state – 'used to' is acceptable here.
ü If a past action happened only once, 'used to' cannot be used.
This painting was commissioned in 1856
Used to (affirmative form)
ü We use used to + infinitive to talk about past habits which are now finished.
Example
Robert used to play football when he was younger, but he stopped playing 20 years ago.
Robert played football regularly in the past, but he does not play now.
Kate used to go to the cinema a lot, but she doesn't now. / When I was a child I used to suck my thumb.
ü We also use used to for past states and situations which are no longer true.
Example
Robert used to be a very slim when he was younger. / I used to live in London, but I moved in 1980.
ü Used to (negative form) The negative of used to is normally didn't use to (=did not use to)
Example
I didn't use to live in London. / You didn't use to like classical music.
ü Used to (question form) We normally form questions with did...use to...?
Example
Where did you use to live? / Did you use to like classical music?
Used to vs be/get used to
ü We use used to + infinitive to express a habit, activity, or situation that existed in the past but which no longer exists.
We use be used to + Verb -ing to mean 'be accustomed to'.
ü In the expression get used to, get means 'become'.
I used to drive a Mercedes, but now I drive Citroen. / I am used to driving my new car, but I found it very strange at first. / Mary moved to St. Petersburg last winter. Now she is used to living in cold weather. / Though it has been two weeks, I haven't got used to wearing glasses yet.
Practice online:
When and While
ü When is used for shorter actions, and while is used for longer actions.
ü When is usually used with simple tenses, and while with progressive tenses.
For example, let’s look at two actions, one short and one long:
- Short action – Fall down (it only takes a second to fall down)
- Long action – Ride a bike (bike rides can last a long time)
Because one is long and one is short, these two actions can’t happen at the same time. The short action interrupts the long action:
- I was riding my bike when I fell down.
- I fell down while I was riding my bike.
Let’s consider two more actions:
- Reading a book
- Telephone ringing
It is clear that the telephone ringing is the shorter action, it only takes a few seconds:
- I was reading a book when the telephone rang.
- The telephone rang while I was reading a book.
Example
http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/pastpastcont.html
UNIT 2
1 . Simple Past & Past Progressive
1 . Simple Past & Past Progressive
Simple Past
|
Past Progressive
|
Action in the past taking place once, never or several times
|
Action in the past whose course / duration is to be emphasized
|
Actions in the past taking place one after the other
|
Actions in the past taking place at the same time
|
Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
|
Action in the past starting before another action and continuing after it
|
A .- Simple Past
The " simple past " describes a finished action in the past.
When I was young I lived in Madrid (Now I live in Barcelona)
B.- Past Continuous
Indicates that an action was happening in certain moment in the past that is made refrence to. We do not knoe if the action is finished or still continues.
Example
When the mother came home her husband was playing with the kids
Sometimes, it describes two simultaneous actions that happened in the past. In such case que us the "past imple" to decribe the action that ended and the "past continuous" for the other action that was happening when the first one happened.
Example
Yesterday evening when you called me I was having a shower
When the parents arrived home the children were watching TV
Another difference is to indicate that the "past continuous" is sometimes used to indicate that the action is more casual, less planned.
Example
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I was running (algo rutinario, que suelo hacer con frecuencia, por lo que no lo resalto)
Yesterday morning, from 8 to 10, I ran (algo diferente, un tanto extraordinario, por lo que quiero destacarlo)
Practice online:
2. Past States or Habits
“USED TO” - past repeated actions, habits and states
ü 'Used to' can be used to talk about past states as well as past repeated actions and habits
When I was younger, I used to paint for 2 hours every day –This is a past repeated action or habit, so 'used to' is acceptable here.
I used to be a painter – This is a past state – 'used to' is acceptable here.
ü If a past action happened only once, 'used to' cannot be used.
This painting was commissioned in 1856
Used to (affirmative form)
ü We use used to + infinitive to talk about past habits which are now finished.
Example
Robert used to play football when he was younger, but he stopped playing 20 years ago.
Robert played football regularly in the past, but he does not play now.
Kate used to go to the cinema a lot, but she doesn't now. / When I was a child I used to suck my thumb.
ü We also use used to for past states and situations which are no longer true.
Example
Robert used to be a very slim when he was younger. / I used to live in London, but I moved in 1980.
ü Used to (negative form) The negative of used to is normally didn't use to (=did not use to)
Example
I didn't use to live in London. / You didn't use to like classical music.
ü Used to (question form) We normally form questions with did...use to...?
Example
Where did you use to live? / Did you use to like classical music?
Used to vs be/get used to
ü We use used to + infinitive to express a habit, activity, or situation that existed in the past but which no longer exists.
We use be used to + Verb -ing to mean 'be accustomed to'.
ü In the expression get used to, get means 'become'.
I used to drive a Mercedes, but now I drive Citroen. / I am used to driving my new car, but I found it very strange at first. / Mary moved to St. Petersburg last winter. Now she is used to living in cold weather. / Though it has been two weeks, I haven't got used to wearing glasses yet.
Practice online:
When and While
ü When is used for shorter actions, and while is used for longer actions.
ü When is usually used with simple tenses, and while with progressive tenses.
For example, let’s look at two actions, one short and one long:
- Short action – Fall down (it only takes a second to fall down)
- Long action – Ride a bike (bike rides can last a long time)
Because one is long and one is short, these two actions can’t happen at the same time. The short action interrupts the long action:
- I was riding my bike when I fell down.
- I fell down while I was riding my bike.
Let’s consider two more actions:
- Reading a book
- Telephone ringing
It is clear that the telephone ringing is the shorter action, it only takes a few seconds:
- I was reading a book when the telephone rang.
- The telephone rang while I was reading a book.
Example
