Past Tense

DELTA
CELT Athens 2015

The Simple Past: Meaning

Which of the following do you think describe most accurately the
meanings of the past tense?
1.The past tense is used to refer to a period of time before the present moment.
2.We use the past tense when a definite time in the past is mentioned.
3.The past tense can refer to the present if it denotes something unreal.
4.The past tense can be used to refer to something that is not true in the present.
5.The past tense can be used to refer to the present feelings or thoughts of the speaker.
6.The past tense can be used to present the speakers feelings, thoughts or attitudes as
distant so as not to impose on the listener

Decide what the past tense means in the sentences below.

Choose from the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

past event
past state
repeated past event
hypothetical present time reference
politeness and tentativeness
changed perception

a.I lived in a small town at the time.

b.I took the train every morning.
c.Did you want to see me?
d.I thought you were leaving.
e.Its time we left.
f.They moved to London in January.

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Compare the sentences in each of the pairs below. What are the main
differences between the two tenses?
1.Has Philip Roth written any poems?
Did Oscar Wilde write any poems?
2.She has injured her ankle.
She injured her ankle.
3.Did you put the cat out?
Have you been to Moscow?

The following sentences are American English. How does American English
usage differ from British English with reference to the expression of past time?
Hey! Why are you limping? Did you hurt your foot?
Did you see her yet?

Adverbials used with the past tense and the

present perfect
Brainstorm adverbials which could be used with:
1.
2.
3.

the past tense

the present perfect
both

How does the meaning of the adverbial change in the two sentences in each pair below?
1.I
was
I have only met him once.

young

and

2.Have
you
seen
George
Did you see George in the office this morning?
3.Now
I
knew
Now my dream has come true.

what

beautiful

once.

this

morning?

wanted.

used to
What are the two main meanings of used to?
What is the meaning of used to in each of the following sentences?
1.She used to be my teacher.
2.I used to go for a swim every morning.
3.He used to stay at that hotel for two days.

In which of the sentences can you replace used to with would?

Which form can you always replace used to with?

Past Perfect: past in the past

The past perfect relates to the past in the same way that the present perfect
relates to the present. Its time reference is shown in the following diagram:

Match the meanings of the past perfect with the sentences below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

definite past in the past

habit up to then
indefinite past in the past
resultative past in the past
state up to then

A. I had cycled to work every day until I broke my knee.

B. He had had an operation and couldnt go to work.
C. She had lived there for ten years when she met him.
D. The letters had been sent three days before.
E. He had been a car salesman before.

Past Perfect: hypothetical use

What does the past perfect mean in the following sentences? Is it still a
past-in-the-past?
A. If he had known it was a secret, he wouldnt have said anything.
B. I wish I hadnt drunk so much last night!
C. What if someone had seen you?