Single completed actions Sony and Phils invented the CD in the early 1980s. Repeated or habitual actions in the past| We moved fouse alot when | was a kid. General truths about the past | Early clocks were usualy very unrefable. Permanent situations and states Did tive ancient Egyptians have more advanced technology than other culisations? inthe past ‘The main eveit in story Frank turned on tho TV and sat on the sofa ‘The present (in conditional sentences) | if we didn't have computers, whet would the world be lke? (ee Unit 11 for move information) The present ater wish, it's time, Fd rather Miche! didn’t waste so much ime playing video games. would rather, etc) {see Unit 13 for moce information) Emphatic past simple ‘Toremphasise contrastin the past | Perhaps our grandparents didnt have emai but thev did have the telenhone and telegrams. Toemphasise strong feeling inthe past | (did enjoy our vst to the Science Museum last sumrner. Past simple vs present perfect simple * general, the past simple is used to refer to periods of tine or moments which are frished, The present perfect is used to refer to periods of time which continue up tothe present ¥ The nineteenth century saw any technological advances, such as the camera and te electic light bulb. ¥ Thave have been mary technological advances in recent years, the most important being the spread ofthe Internet. + The past simple is used to reer to events at specific time in the past, The present perfect is used when the specific time something happened isnt important or relevant, or when the present result of a past event is important, YI sent ny frst emai si months ago. ¥ Have you ever sent an emai before? ‘Actions in progress at a particular moment the past Actions in progress around a particular | At the turn of the twentieth century, many discoveries were being made yu chatting to Matt onthe at ebiight last ign? ‘orient in the past in physics and other Sciences. ‘Temporary situations and series of At the time, I was working fora large software cormpany in California. actions inthe past | Changing and developing sitiations | I was getting frustrated with my intemet provider so | decided to change. in the past Annoying oF amusing past habits Wher she was young, Tina was always taking things apart io see how they worked, (usualy with alvays! | Background information in a story ‘twas raining outside and people were making their way home after work ‘Actions in progress over a period of time | Were you writing emails all yesterday morning? Twa actions in progress atthe same time | Wwhie / was playing a computer game, my brother was doing his homework The present and the future (a conditional | Would you be happier if you were studying computer science? sentences) (ee Unt 11 for more information) The present and the future (after wish, | fish we were going to the computer far next weekend, ‘t's te, would rather, etc) (see Unt 13 for more information)ee Se Pasttime Unit 3 Girne continuous vs past simple ‘We often use the past continzous to describe background events in progress and the past simple for the main events / We were talking about MP3s when Andrea mentioned fer new music website 1+ Whnormlly use tha past simple to desea wpplar ar rapaatad actions inthe pact, nat the past continua When Iwas a child, | visited my grandmother every week, Past continuous vs present perfect continuous In general, the past continuous is used to refer to actions in progress during periods of time or at moments which are finished. The present perfect contruous is used to refer to actions in progress ding periods of time which continue up to the present -/ We were working on my computer forfour hours yesterday We have been working on my computer forfour hours so far. | Past perfect simple | Poecae Situations and states before the past | Had you hal your computer long before it broke down? Completed actons before armament | When taking fms appeared, the cinema had akeady become a populer form inthe past | ofemertainmert. When Dimitra caled had managed to fx her computer. ‘Asevies of actions contining upto | By the time of his death, Thomas Edison had invented 3 nurber of tings that moment nthe past, ‘hanged averse ‘Completed actons where the important _| | beat Jason at Iteratonal Captain because played it a ot with my brother. [things he result ol 2 momentin the past ‘Actions and situations continuing upto @ | She'd been writing computer games for over ten years before she finally had rromentin the pastlor ust before 2 | ait roment tthe past) Past habits, particularly for the | The ancient Greeks would rely onthe power of slaves, rather than machines. | distant past |] + wautacan oso be uses wth a coniuous ifitve when eae rearing to habitinohing actions in progress 7 Whenever I went to Jarves's house, Ne would usually be playing on ts computer. |B + Wouldis not usualy used to refer to past states ast habits and states, particularly for | Itused to seem strange to be able to communicate over long distances. the cistant past © Remember that used tei not the same as be used to. Be used fo refers to a situation that is now familar or | ro onger strange, i <7 AL rst, peopl fourd it strange sending messages by moble, but now everyone's used to + We use get used toto rele tothe process of becoming fama vith a stuatin. BRR © ts sursisna row ack people inthe inteet century got used to traveling by tran. 23