Past Simple, Continuous, Present Perfect 13.12.23
Past Simple, Continuous, Present Perfect 13.12.23
10 Past simple and past continuous ➜ Unit 6 Past simple and present perfect ➜ Units 12–14
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Unit
Exercises 5
5.1 Read what Laura says about a typical working day:
I usually get up at 7 o’clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, which
takes me about half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish
work at 5 o’clock. I’m always tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal
in the evening. I don’t usually go out. I go to bed at about 11 o’clock, and I
always sleep well.
LAURA
Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn’t do yesterday.
1 She got up at 7 o’clock. 7 at 5 o’clock.
2 She a big breakfast. 8 tired when home.
3 She . 9 a meal yesterday evening.
4 It to get to work. 10 out yesterday evening.
5 at 8.45. 11 at 11 o’clock.
6 lunch. 12 well last night.
5.2 Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:
buy catch cost fall hurt sell spend teach throw write
1 Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
2 ‘How did you learn to drive?’ ‘My father me.’
3 We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we it.
4 Dave down the stairs this morning and his leg.
5 Joe the ball to Sue, who it.
6 Kate a lot of money yesterday. She a dress which
£100.
5.3 You ask James about his holiday in the US. Write your questions.
1 YOU: Where did you go ?
JaMES: To the US. We went on a trip from San Francisco to Denver.
2 YOU: How ? By car?
JaMES: Yes, we hired a car in San Francisco.
3 YOU: It’s a long way to drive. How long ?
JaMES: Two weeks. We stopped at a lot of places along the way.
4 YOU: Where ? In hotels?
JaMES: Yes, small hotels or motels.
5 YOU: good?
JaMES: Yes, but it was very hot – sometimes too hot.
6 YOU: the Grand Canyon?
JaMES: Of course. It was wonderful.
5.4 Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.
1 It was warm, so I took off my coat. (take)
2 The film wasn’t very good. I didn’t enjoy it much. (enjoy)
3 I knew Sarah was busy, so I her. (disturb)
4 We were very tired, so we the party early. (leave)
5 It was hard carrying the bags. They really heavy. (be)
6 The bed was very uncomfortable. I well. (sleep)
7 This watch wasn’t expensive. It much. (cost)
8 The window was open and a bird into the room. (fly)
9 I was in a hurry, so I time to call you. (have)
10 I didn’t like the hotel. The room very clean. (be)
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Unit
6 Past continuous (I was doing)
A Study this example situation:
B I was doing something = I was in the middle of doing it at a certain time. The action or situation started
before this time, but had not finished:
I started doing I was doing I finished doing
D You can say that something happened (past simple) in the middle of something else (past continuous):
Matt phoned while we were having dinner.
It was raining when I got up.
I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.
I hurt my back while I was working in the garden.
But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another:
I was walking along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we talked for a while.
Compare:
When Karen arrived, we were having When Karen arrived, we had dinner.
dinner. (= we had already started before (= Karen arrived, and then we had
she arrived) dinner)
E Some verbs (for example, know and want) are not normally used in continuous forms (is + -ing,
was + -ing etc.). See Unit 4A for a list of these verbs.
We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not we were knowing)
I was enjoying the party, but Chris wanted to go home. (not was wanting)
6.3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1 2
SUE
6.4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1 Jenny was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).
2 ‘What (you / do) at this time yesterday?’ ‘I was asleep.’
3 ‘ (you / go) out last night?’ ‘No, I was too tired.’
4 How fast (you / drive) when the accident (happen)?
5 Sam (take) a picture of me while I (not / look).
6 We were in a very difficult position. We (not / know) what to do, so we
(do) nothing.
7 I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last (see) him, he
(try) to find a job.
8 I (walk) along the street when suddenly I (hear)
something behind me. Somebody (follow) me. I was scared and I
(start) to run.
9 When I was young, I (want) to be a pilot. Later I
(change) my mind.
10 Last night I (drop) a plate when I (do) the washing up.
Fortunately it (not / break).
➜ Additional exercise 1 (page 302) 13
Appendix 1
Regular and irregular verbs
1.1 Regular verbs
If a verb is regular, the past simple and past participle end in -ed. For example:
infinitive clean finish use paint stop carry
past simple ⎫
⎬ cleaned finished used painted stopped carried
past participle ⎭
For spelling rules, see Appendix 6.
For the past simple (I cleaned / they finished / she carried etc.), see Unit 5.
We use the past participle to make the perfect tenses and all the passive forms.
Perfect tenses (have/has/had cleaned):
I have cleaned the windows. (present perfect – see Units 7–8)
They were still working. They hadn’t finished. (past perfect – see Unit 15)
Passive (is cleaned / was cleaned etc.):
He was carried out of the room. (past simple passive) ⎫ see Units 42–44
⎬
This gate has just been painted. (present perfect passive) ⎭
292
Appendix 1
infinitive past simple past participle infinitive past simple past participle
be was/were been light lit lit
beat beat beaten lose lost lost
become became become make made made
begin began begun mean meant meant
bend bent bent meet met met
bet bet bet pay paid paid
bite bit bitten put put put
blow blew blown read read [red]* read [red]*
break broke broken ride rode ridden
bring brought brought ring rang rung
broadcast broadcast broadcast rise rose risen
build built built run ran run
burst burst burst say said said
buy bought bought see saw seen
catch caught caught seek sought sought
choose chose chosen sell sold sold
come came come send sent sent
cost cost cost set set set
creep crept crept sew sewed sewn/sewed
cut cut cut shake shook shaken
deal dealt dealt shine shone shone
dig dug dug shoot shot shot
do did done show showed shown/showed
draw drew drawn shrink shrank shrunk
drink drank drunk shut shut shut
drive drove driven sing sang sung
eat ate eaten sink sank sunk
fall fell fallen sit sat sat
feed fed fed sleep slept slept
feel felt felt slide slid slid
fight fought fought speak spoke spoken
find found found spend spent spent
flee fled fled spit spat spat
fly flew flown split split split
forbid forbade forbidden spread spread spread
forget forgot forgotten spring sprang sprung
forgive forgave forgiven stand stood stood
freeze froze frozen steal stole stolen
get got got/gotten stick stuck stuck
give gave given sting stung stung
go went gone stink stank stunk
grow grew grown strike struck struck
hang hung hung swear swore sworn
have had had sweep swept swept
hear heard heard swim swam swum
hide hid hidden swing swung swung
hit hit hit take took taken
hold held held teach taught taught
hurt hurt hurt tear tore torn
keep kept kept tell told told
kneel knelt knelt think thought thought
know knew known throw threw thrown
lay laid laid understand understood understood
lead led led wake woke woken
leave left left wear wore worn
lend lent lent weep wept wept
let let let win won won
lie lay lain write wrote written
* pronunciation
293
Units
137-
5–6 Past simple and past continuous
145
14 Choose the correct alternative.
Is it true that Sir Isaac Newton understood gravity because an apple (1) fell / was falling on his head
when he (2) lay / was lying under a tree in his garden? Probably not. However, many great and small
discoveries are the result of lucky accidents …
One day in 1879 chemist Constantin Fahlberg (3) didn’t wash / wasn’t washing his hands before dinner.
While he (4) ate / was eating he (5) noticed / was noticing that the bread (6) tasted / was tasting sweet.
The sweetness was saccharin.
Alexander Fleming (7) became / was becoming interested in the control of bacteria while he
(8) worked / was working as a doctor during the First World War. In 1928 he (9) tidied / was tidying his
laboratory when he (10) saw / was seeing that one of the dirty dishes (11) didn’t have / wasn’t having
any bacteria on it, but that something else (12) grew / was growing there. It was penicillin.
In 1930 dietician Ruth Wakefield (13) prepared / was preparing some cookies for guests when she
(14) realised / was realising that she had no chocolate powder. She (15) decided / was deciding to use
small pieces of ordinary chocolate instead. The chocolate pieces (16) didn’t melt / wasn’t melting, and
the first chocolate chip cookies were a great success.
Dr Percy Spencer was a physicist in the 1940s who probably enjoyed chocolate chip cookies.
He (17) walked / was walking past some equipment in the laboratory when he (18) felt / was feeling
something strange in his pocket. It was his chocolate bar and it (19) melted / was melting. This accident
(20) led / was leading to the invention of a new piece of cooking equipment – the microwave oven.
15 Put the verbs into the correct form: past simple or past continuous.
From: Ada
To: Becky
Subject: Naomi
Hi Becky,
Guess what, my sister Naomi is married! She (1) got (get) home from her round the world
trip last week with a husband!! She (2) (meet) him when she (3)
(travel) round New Zealand. One afternoon, while her friends (4) (shop),
she (5) (go) to look round an art gallery. She (6) (look) at
a small sculpture when a young man (7) (come) into the room and he
(8) (start) to put it into his rucksack. She (9) (call) the security
guard because she (10) (think) the man (11) (try) to steal it. She
(12) (be) really embarrassed to discover that he (13) (not steal)
it – it (14) (belong) to him! Anyway, he (15) (not mind) and he
(16) (ask) her to go for a coffee. They (17) (get married) a month
later in Bali. We (18) (not know) anything about it! Can you believe it?
He’s really nice and they are very happy together!
Love, Ada
The present perfect simple is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed
(finished/decided etc.), but many verbs are irregular (lost/done/written etc.).
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.
C You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet.
D You can also use the past simple (did, went, had etc.) in the examples on this page. So you can say:
Ben isn’t here. He’s gone out. or He went out.
‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’ or ‘No, I just had lunch.’
Present perfect ➜ Units 8, 11 been to ➜ Units 8A, 126A Present perfect continuous ➜ Units 9–10
14 Present perfect and past ➜ Units 12–14 yet and already ➜ Unit 111 American English ➜ Appendix 7
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Unit
Exercises 7
7.1 Read the situations and complete the sentences using the present perfect. Choose from these
verbs:
break disappear go up grow improve lose shrink stop
1 Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. Tom has lost his key.
2 Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is better. Her English
3 My bag was here, but it isn’t here any more. My bag
4 Lisa can’t walk and her leg is in plaster. Lisa
5 Last week the bus fare was £1.80. Now it is £2. The bus fare
6 Dan didn’t have a beard before. Now he has a beard. Dan
7 It was raining ten minutes ago. It isn’t raining now. It
8 I washed my sweater, and now it’s too small for me. My sweater
7.4 Read the situations and write sentences with just, already or yet.
1 After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says, ‘Would you like something to eat?’
You say: No thank you. I’ve just had lunch . (have lunch)
2 Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says, ‘Can I speak to Joe?’
You say: I’m afraid . (go out)
3 You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take your plate away.
You say: Wait a minute! . (not / finish)
4 You plan to eat at a restaurant tonight. You phone to reserve a table. Later your friend says,
‘Shall I phone to reserve a table?’ You say: No, . (do it)
5 You know that Lisa is looking for a place to live. Perhaps she has been successful.
You ask her: ? (find)
6 You are still thinking about where to go for your holiday. A friend asks, ‘Where are you going
for your holiday?’ You say: . (not / decide)
7 Laura went out, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks, ‘Is Laura still out?’
You say: No, . (come back)
15
Unit
8 Present perfect 2 (I have done)
A Study this example conversation:
DaVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
JaNE: Yes, I’ve been to lots of places. Jane’s life
DaVE: Really? Have you ever been to China? (a period until now)
JaNE: Yes, I’ve been to China twice.
DaVE: What about India? past now
JaNE: No, I haven’t been to India.
When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the present
perfect (have been / have travelled etc.). Here, Dave and Jane are talking about the places Jane
has visited in her life, which is a period that continues until now.
B In the following examples too, the speakers are talking about a period that continues until now
(recently, in the last few days, so far, since I arrived etc.):
Have you heard anything from Ben recently? recently
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Everything is going well. There haven’t been any in the last few days
problems so far. since I arrived
The weather is bad here. It’s (= It has) rained every past now
day since I arrived. (= from when I arrived until now)
It’s good to see you again. We haven’t seen each other for a long time.
In the same way we use the present perfect with today, this evening, this year etc. when these
periods are not finished at the time of speaking:
I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today. today
Have you had a holiday this year?
I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you? past now
C We say ‘It’s the (first) time something has happened’. For example:
Don is having a driving lesson. It’s his first lesson.
We can say: This is the first time
I’ve driven a car.
It’s the first time he has driven a car. (not drives)
or He hasn’t driven a car before.
or He has never driven a car before.
In the same way we say:
Sarah has lost her passport again. This is the second
time this has happened. (not happens)
Andy is phoning his girlfriend again. It’s the third
time he’s phoned her this evening.
8.2 Complete B’s answers. Some sentences are positive and some negative. Use these verbs:
be be eat happen have have meet play read see try
A B
8.3 Write four sentences about yourself. Use I haven’t and choose from the boxes.
used a computer travelled by bus eaten any fruit
been to the cinema read a book lost anything today
this week
1 I haven’t used a computer today. recently
2 for ages
3 since …
4 this year
5
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