Unit 2: the open road

Talking about the past

1. Have you ever been to another city?
Which one? When? How?, etc?
2. Tell your partner three things that
you used to do as a child.
3. What were you doing at 3pm
yesterday?

Past simple
1. An action that happened and finished in the
past.
Ex: I saw a great movie last night.
2. list a series of completed actions in the past
Ex: Ifinishedwork,walkedto the beach,
andfounda nice place to swim.
3. used with a duration which starts and stops in
the past.
Ex: Ilivedin Brazil for two years.
4. describe past facts or generalizations which are
no longer true
Ex: Hedidn't liketomatoes before.

Past continuous
1. indicate that a longer action in the past
was interrupted.
Ex: Iwas watchingTV when she called.
2. you can also use a specific time as an
interruption.
Ex: Last night at 6 PM, Iwas eatingdinner.
3. actions were happening at the same time.
Ex: Iwas studyingwhile hewas
makingdinner
4. Showing annoyance (constantly, always)
Ex: Shewas always comingto class late.

Past perfect simple

1. something occurred before another action in
the past.
Ex: Kristinehadneverbeento an opera before
last night.
2. Simple Past can be used instead of the Past
Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the
sentence.
Ex: Shehad visitedher Japanese relatives once
in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.
Ex: Shevisitedher Japanese relatives once in
1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

Past Perfect Continuous

1. something started in the past and

continued up until another time in the
past.
Ex: Theyhad been talkingfor over
an hour before Tony arrived.
2. Past Perfect Continuous before
another action in the past is a good
way to show cause and effect.
Ex: Jason was tired because hehad
been jogging.

Did you know?

1. He was tired because hewas
exercisingso hard.
2. He was tired because hehad been
exercisingso hard.

1.

Would

1. Used for past habits.

Ex: when I was 4, I
would ride my bike
round the town.
wrong
2. Not used with state
verbs.
Ex: I would have a dog
when I was in London.

Used to
1. Used for past habits.
Ex: when I was 4, I used
to ride my bike round
the town.
2. Can be used with any
verbs.
Ex: I used to have a dog
when I was in London.