Lecture 2

Ass. Prof. Anca Condrea

Tenses

S + VB (-ed) or (2nd form) of the verb

Usage
1. An action that began & ended at a specific time in the past An action that occurred over a period of time & was completed in the past An activity that took place regularly in the past

Example
1. We won a gold medal last

year
2.

2. She skated for fifteen min. 3. They trained every morning before school

3.

Tenses

S + to be (2nd form) + VB-ING

Usage 1. An interrupted action 2. A repeated or continuous state in the past
Example
1. I was watching the Olympics on TV when he walked in 2. Last March, I was skating better than ever.

Tenses

S + to have (2nd form) + VB-(3rd form)

Usage
1. An action that occurred before another action in the past An action that was expected to occur in the past

Example
1. She had left by the time I arrived 2. I had hoped to hear their decision before now.

2.

Tenses

When we arrived, the train had already left. I did not know he had worked for them. The garage was closed and I was sure he had done it on purpose. He had said it so many times that we did not pay attention.

Tenses

When we arrived, the train had already left.

Comment: had already left indicates the anteriority vs. the action we arrived.

Tenses
Present Perfect & Past Perfect Comparison I have been here for 5 minutes. I had been there for 5 minutes. I am here for the past 5 minutes. I was there for the past 5 minutes

Tenses

S + to have (2nd form) + to be (3rd form) + VB-ING Usage

An action which started in the past and finished before another moment in the past It emphasizes a prolonged action or an action still on the way

Example
She was tired because she had been shopping all day.

He had been working for them for several years.

Tenses

He had been working for them since war.

Comment:
The action started before and continued in the past moment