TENSES

USING PAST TENSESUSING THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE (V2)∙The past tense is connected to all past actions where the time is important or known.These actions have no connection with the present time.EXAMPLESMy grandfather lived in Turkey from 1929 to 1948.He came to Canada over 50 years ago.He travelled all over the world after he retired.USING THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE (was/were + VERB + ing)∙USE 1. The past continuous tense is used to show that an action was already happening at a particular time in the past. In other words, the action began before the given timeand, most probably, continued after that time.EXAMPLES∙In 1952 my grandfather was living in England. (He started living there in 1948 and continued to live there after 1952).∙The last year of the war in Viet Nam, many people were leaving all the fighting in their country. (They began running away before the last year of the war, and continued doingso during the last year and after the last year).∙USE 2.The past continuous is used to show that a longer action was interrupted by a shorter one (or many shorter ones).The longer action is stated in the past continuous and the shorter one in the simple pasttense.EXAMPLES∙When he was living in England, he met his wife, my grandmother.∙While Victoria was ruling the British Empire, she had nine children.USING THE PAST PERFECT TENSE (had + V3)The past perfect tense is used to express an action that happened before another one in the past. The past perfect is used for the earlier action and the simple past is used for the later one.EXAMPLES∙When she had settled in Toronto with her family, my friend Jazz began her high school studies.∙Mr. Barbijan had lived in Europe for more than half his life when he immigrated to Canada.The past perfect should not be used for the only action in a sentence. It can be used after the following time signals:∙prior to + year / month∙prior to + adverbial phrase∙by + year / monthEXAMPLESPrior to 1998, I had never traveled outside of Canada.Prior to setting up his very first business in Halifax, he had moved his family there from Portugal.By last December, I had graduated from Seneca College.PRACTICE EXERCISE 1Use the past continuous tense and the simple past tense, as appropriate: Put the verbs in the correct tenses:1. In 1995, my father ___________ in Portugal when he __________ his first business. (live –start)2. I ____________ my homework around eight o’clock last night. (do)3. In 2005, my brother ____________ from Seneca College. (graduate)4. While she ____________ him about her problems, he ____________. (tell – yawn)5. When Dad ____________ my mother, she ____________ in Hong Kong with her family.(meet – live)6. When I ____________ on the plane to Canada, I ___________ two movies. (come over –watch)7. My parents _____________ their vacation in Tahiti, when they _______________ a terribleaccident which _____________ their lives forever. (enjoy – have – change)8. This time last year, I _____________ in my first full-time job. (work)9. While they ____________ in Japan, they ___________ the long process of immigrating toCanada. (live – begin)10. He ____________ embarrassed when he ____________ his essay to the class. (feel – read)11. Jimmy’s father _____________ to work when he ____________ a heart attack. (walk –have)12. Unfortunately, Jane, my best friend, ____________ attention when she ____________ thecar in front of her. That _________ how she first ____________ my father. (not pay – hit –be – meet)13. The war in his country ____________ almost over when Mr. Thanh ___________ to comehere to start a new life. (be – decide)14. Last October, I ______________ with my girlfriend. (break up)Use the past perfect tense and the simple past tense, as appropriate: Put the verbs in the correct tenses:1. When my father ___________ to Greece, he __________ that his father ______________. (return –find – die)2. Three years ago, my grandmother ______________ both sadness and happiness in her life. She___________ her husband, but she ________ two grandchildren. (experience - lose – gain)3. By the time I ____________ from college, my sister ____________ married for the third time.(graduate – get)4. By the time my father ___________ able to save enough money to return to Portugal to marry hischildhood sweetheart, he ____________ that she _____________ his best friend. (be – discover – marry)5. He _____________ his first million before he ___________ thirty. (make turn)6. When Sarah ____________ to the party, it ____________ . (get – already start)7. On the plane coming to Canada, my grandmother __________ very nervous because she_____________ before. (be – never fly)8. I ___________ to go to the cinema with them because I ____________ the movie before. (not want -see)9. In 2010 he ___________ to Europe, a year later he ___________ to Asia. (go – go)10. At first my father ______________ he ____________ the wrong thing by moving his family back toTurkey. (think – do)11. Prior to 2009, I ____________ overseas. (never travel)12. By the end of his first year in college my friend ___________ every course he ____________. (fail –take)13. Marcia ____________ to get me to have another drink but I _________ no because I ____________enough. (try – say – have)14. When my family _______________ here, they __________ that this city_____________ cold andunfriendly. (arrive – think – be)15. My uncle _______________ to his country of birth because he ________ unwelcome here. (return –feel)Correct the verb tense mistakes in the following paragraph: (There are 8 mistakes.):My neighbour Mr. Thanh once told me that he would never forget how he escape from his country in a small wooden boat that he and his friends had steal from a fisherman. When they were on the high seas, the weather suddenly turn bad and there was a terrible storm. Everyone was frightened when the waves wash over the bow of the boat because they thought the boat sank. The children on board were crying as they hold on to their parents. By the time the storm passed, four people were washed overboard. Sadly, his son and wife were among the lost. This was a tragedy Mr. Thanh was never recovering from.EXPRESSING PAST ACTIONS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO PRESENT OR FUTURE TIMEUSING THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (HAS/HAVE + V3)The present perfect tense connects past actions to present or future time. The specific time in the past when the action happened is not important.a.Repeated actions in the past with possibility they will continue in the futureEXAMPLEI have watched this TV show every Friday night for the past two years.b.Past actions in a time period that is not over yetEXAMPLEI have worked late every day this month. (the month is not over yet)c.Incomplete actions with unspecified times (ever, always, recently, lately, never,finally, yet, already)EXAMPLESI have been very busy recently.I have always loved the colour red.d.Near past (just): action finished in the past but very close to the presentEXAMPLEThe class has just started. (Class begins at 9 a.m. It’s 9:05 a.m.)e.Action that began in the past with possibility of continuing in the future.EXAMPLEShe has lived in Canada for six months.PRACTICE EXERCISE 1 CAN 8– simple past or present perfect? Listen to the situation. Then, choose the correct response to the situation:1. Situation: (listen)a. Did you read the newspaper?b. Have you read the newspaper?2. Situation: (listen)a. Have you seen the concert?b. Did you see the concert?3. Situation: (listen)a. Did you meet Mary?b. Have you met Mary?4. Situation: (listen)a. I’ve seen that movie.b. I saw that movie.5. Situation: (listen)a. I didn’t eat today.b. I haven’t eaten today.6. Situation: (listen)a. I haven’t looked.b. I didn’t look.7. Situation: (listen)a. I didn’t see it.b. I haven’t seen it.8. Situation: (listen)a. I didn’t see it.b. I haven’t seen it.9. Situation: (listen)a. I haven’t found a gift.b. I didn’t find a gift.10. Situation: (listen)a. I didn’t see it.b. I haven’t seen it.11. Situation: (listen)a. Have you seen my keys?b. Did you see my keys?12. Situation: (listen)a. He didn’t talk yet.b. He hasn’t talked yet.13. Situation: (listen)a. I understood it.b. I’ve understood it.14. Situation: (listen)a. I understood it.b. I’ve understood it.PRACTICE EXERCISE 2 – Simple Past or Present Perfect?Write the verb in parentheses in the present perfect or simple past.1. Tom _______________ (be) in Toronto since January 22, 2012.2. We _______________ (not, eat) today.3. The bus _______________ (not, be) on time and we _______________ (be) late.4. Mary _______________ (live) in a house all her life.5. Bill’s great grandfather _______________ (be) a doctor.6. Tom’s father _______________ (be) a doctor for 10 years.7. ELI 404 _______________ (not, be) difficult so far.8. Maria _______________ (not, live) in Canada for very long.9. Barbara _______________ (play) the piano since she was little.10. Tom’s on a diet. He _______________ (not, eat) much yesterday.11. Rent _______________ (be) expensive in Toronto for a long time.12. Groceries_______________ (be) expensive when I _______________ (live) in Europe.13. My class _______________ (be) very boring today. I hope this afternoon is better.14. It _______________ (rain) every day this month.15. Bob _______________ see) Niagara Falls many times.16. It _______________ (snow) yesterday.17. My back _______________ (be) sore since the car accident.18. The movie that we _______________ (go) to last night _______________ (be) boring.19. Mark _______________ (go) to Florida every winter for the past ten years.20. We _______________ (be) ELI 404 students for one semester.21. The course _______________ (be) easy.22. This exercise _______________ (not, be) difficult.23. Bill’s sister _______________ (get) divorced in 2000.24. Bill’s sister _______________ (be) divorced for several years.25. Moving to Canada _______________ (be) difficult.PRACTICE EXERCISE 3 – Simple Past, Present Perfect, or Simple Present? M ake questions and sentences.1. Tony (never, be) to Nova Scotia before.2. (you, be) to Montreal? - Yes, I (go) there last year.3. (your sister, meet) my friend? - No, she (not meet) him yet.4. (you, ever, talk) to an Inuit? - No, I (not meet) one yet.5. (father, ever, visit) the National Gallery?6. When (he, go) there?7. He (go) there last January.8. Yesterday I (see) a big blue BMW parking in front of our house.9. My roommate (not play) hockey yet, but I (play) twice since this winter.10. W e (not go) out last Sunday because it (rain).11. I s the window open? - Yes, this man (just, open) it.12. W here is Mary-Joe? - She (go) to the shops.13. I s Dora in? - Yes, she (go) to the bank, but she (just, come) back.14. H ave we got anything to eat? - No, I (not be) to the grocery store yet.15. W here are the children? - They (go) to the park a minute ago.16. H ow long (you, live) on this street? - We (move) here two years ago.17. T he Tuck family (not have) a holiday by the seaside for seven years.18. H e (be) at the cinema last night but, I (not see) him since.19. I (go) to the market and (buy) some vegetables. Here they (be).20. T ony (not be) at home now. He (go) to the post office.PRACTICE EXERCISE 4 –Present PerfectWrite the following sentences another way using Present Perfect with “for” or “since”. Example:They arrived three days ago.They’ve been her for three days.1. The last time we saw each other was three months ago.2. He became an engineer in 2005.3. Vincent bought his car two months ago.4. Jessie stopped taking piano lessons last year.5. They played ping pong when they lived in Korea. They don’t play now.6. The last time I went to Canada’s Wonderland was in 2008.7. She gave up smoking six months ago.8. They got divorced a year ago.9. He stopped taking the bus to work last year.10. The last time she bought a pair of shoes was eight months ago.11. She stopped drinking coffee three years ago.12. The time I visited my friend in Vancouver was five years ago.13. He became president in 2008.14. The last time she ate something was this morning.Tanya has just finished high school. She's going to study Spanish at university this fall. Right now she's in Mexico. She's going to work as a nanny for the summer. In the email below, fill in the blanks with an appropriate form of the verbs in (parentheses).Hi Fran,I ____________________ (be) in Mexico a week now. Mexico __________________ (be) a beautiful country. I ____________________ (practice) my Spanish every day since I ____________________ (arrive). I can't believe that I ____________________ (study) Spanish for five years, and I still can't speak fluently. I ____________________ (be) sure my Spanish ____________________ (improve) by the end of the summer. When I____________________ (start) university in the fall, I should be able to speak quite well.I ____________________ (do) a lot of sightseeing since I ____________________ (arrive) a week ago. The family I ____________________ (stay) with____________________ (be) great. They ____________________ (help) me get settled. I ____________________ (see) a lot of interesting places. I ____________________ (also eat) a lot of great food. I ____________________ (be) certain that I ____________________ (visit) many more interesting places during the summer.I ____________________ (not phone) my pen pal, Juanita yet. I _________________ (call) her next week. It's strange. I ____________________ (never meet) her yet, but I____________________ (think) of her as a friend. We ____________________ (write) each other for three years already. I ____________________ (look forward to) spending some time with her.I ____________________ (write) again soon and ____________________ (let) you know how things are going. Please ____________________ (email) me too. I____________________ (not change) my email address.Cheers,TanjaFill in the blanks with an appropriate form the verb in (parentheses).Next year my grandmother ____________________ (come) to visit me in Canada. She____________________ (live) in Germany. She ____________________ (be) 75 years old. She ____________________ (never be) to Canada, but she ____________________ (tell) me many times that she ____________________ (always want) to come to North America. When I ____________________ (be) a young girl, I ____________________ (live) in Germany. We ____________________ (visit) my grandparents every weekend. I____________________ (love) going to their house because my grandmother____________________ (gave) me and my sister treats when we ____________________ (go) there. When I ____________________ (move) to Canada with my family almost 20 years ago, I ____________________ (miss) my grandparents very much. Unfortunately my grandfather ____________________ (die) last year. I still ____________________ (miss) my grandmother, and I ____________________ (want) her to stay here for a long time. In fact, I ____________________ (try) to convince her to come for years. She____________________ (never meet) my two children. They ____________________ (be) excited about meeting her and I ____________________ (be) excited too. My husband____________________ (never meet) my grandmother either, but they____________________ (speak) on the telephone a few times. When she____________________ (come), we ____________________ (take) her to see many interesting sites. There ____________________ (be) many places in Canada that I____________________ (not see) yet. It ____________________ (be) fun.Fill in the blanks with an appropriate form of the verb in (parentheses).Barbara ____________________ (not live) in this city in all her life. In fact, until she__________________ (leave) to go to college, she _________________ (live) on a farm with her family. Her father __________________ (be) a farmer. He _________________ (raise) corn, wheat, barley, hay, and beef cattle. Ever since Barbara __________________ (be) a little girl, she____________________ (love) animals. For Barbara's 10th birthday her father__________________ (give) her a puppy, but he _________________ (be) old now. The dog__________________ (be) black and __________________ (have) floppy years. She__________________ (adore) Banjo. Banjo __________________ (follow) Barbara everywhere when she _________________ (be) young. If a stranger __________________ (come) to visit, Banjo always ____________________(stand) near Barbara and __________________ (growl). She___________________(feel) very safe when he __________________(be) by her side. Barbara__________________(live) in the city now for several years. She ____________________ (not visit) the farm lately because she ____________________ (be) very busy with her new job. She________________ (work) for a computer company for about six months. She __________________ (have) a lot to learn. She __________________ (spend) her weekends reading about company procedures. Barbara __________________ (plan) to go home in two weeks. Barbara's father__________________ (be) retired now, so he no longer __________________ (have) the cattle. Banjo _________________ (be) very old now, and he ___________________ (not see or hear) very well anymore. Banjo still __________________ (recognize) Barbara when she __________________ (return) home for a visit. He _________________ (bark) excitedly and _________________ (wag) his tail. Barbara always _________________ (brings) him a dog treat. Lately she___________________ (miss) playing with Banjo. She ____________________ (look forward to) her visit.Tenses: Summary。