Grammar Grade 12

UNIT 2: PAST TENSES

1. Simple past
a. Structure

Affirmati Negative Interrog Interro-

ve ative Negtive
Past S+ S+ Was/were Was/were +
simpl was/were was/were + + S …? S + not …?

e … not… Did + S + Did + S +

S + Ved/3 S+ did + not …? not…?
…. + Vo
He was She was not Was she Wasn’t she
nice. nice. nice? nice?

They They didn’t Did the Didn’t the

worked. work. work? work?

She could She Could she Couldn’t

sing. couldn’t sing? she sing?
sing.
b. Functions
- Diễn đạt một hành động diễn ra và chấm dứt hoàn toàn trong quá khứ.
Ex: They went to the concert last night.
- Diễn đạt các hành động diễn ra liên tiếp trong quá khứ.
Ex: She became home, switched on (mở) the computer, and
checked her e – mails (thư điện tử).
- Diễn đạt một thói quen trong quá khứ, không còn ở hiện tại.
Ex: I used to play football with my friends when I was young.
- Dùng trong câu điều kiện loại II. If + S + V2/ed + Main clause (S + would + V)
Ex: If I had a million USD, I would buy that house.

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c. Signals.
- Yesterday – The day before yesterday
- Last + time (night/week/month/year)
- Số năm + year(s) ago
- When
- In + năm

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 Grammar Grade 12

2. Past continuous
a. Structure

Affirmati Negative Interrog Interro-

ve ative Negtive
Past S + was/ were +Ving S + was/ were + not Was/were + S + Was/were+ not + S
Cont … +Ving … Ving …? + Ving …?

inuo
us
They were They were not Were they Weren’t they
working. working. working? working?

She was singing. She was not singing. Was she singing? Wasn’t she singing?
b. Function
- Diễn tả hành động đang xảy ra tại một thời điểm trong quá khứ
Ex: When my sister got there, he was waiting for her.
- Diễn tả hai hành động xảy ra đồng thời trong quá khứ
Ex: While I was taking a bath, she was using the computer.
- Diễn tả hành động đang xảy ra thì có hành động khác xen vào trong quá khứ
Ex: I was listening to the news when she phoned.
- Hành động lặp đi lặp lại trong quá khứ và làm phiền đến người khác.
Ex: When he worked here, he was always making noise.
c. Signals

At + giờ + thời gian trong quá khứ: At 2pm yesterday.

At this time + thời gian trong quá khứ

In + năm

In the past: hồi đó

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Grammar Grade 12

When, while, at that time …

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3. Past perfect
a. Structure

Affirmati Negative Interrog Interro-

ve ative Negtive
Past S + had + S + had + Had + S + Had + not +
perfe Ved/3… not + Ved/3? S + Ved/3…?
ct Ved/3…
He had been nice. He hadn’t been nice. Had she been nice? Hadn’t she been
nice?
They had worked. They hadn’t worked. Had the worked? Hadn’t the worked?

She had sung. She hadn’t sung. Had she sung? Hadn’t she sung?

b. Functions
- Diễn tả hành động đã xảy ra và đã hoàn thành trước một hành động khác trong

quá khứ: Thường sử dụng các từ nối như before, after, just, when, as soon as (ngay

khi, vừa mới), by the time (vào lúc), until, …

Ex: When I came, he had gone to bed.

- Diễn tả một hành động xảy ra một khoảng thời gian trong quá trong quá khứ, trước

một mốc thời gian khác.

Ex: I had gone to school before 7 a.m yesterday.

- Diễn tả một hành động xảy ra như là một điều kiện tiên quyết cho hành động khác

trong quá khứ.

Ex: I had work hard and was ready to pass the exam.

- Dùng trong câu điều kiện loại 3, để diễn tả điều không có thực trong quá khứ.

If + S + had +V3/ed, S + would/could + have + V3/ed

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Ex: If she had told me the truth yesterday, I would have helped

her.

- Dùng trong câu mong ước để diễn tả ước muốn trong quá khứ.

Ex: I wish I had gone with you yesterday.

c. Signals
- When
- Before
- After
- By the time

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4. Past perfect continuous

a. Structure

Affirmati Negative Interrog Interro-

ve ative Negtive
Prese S + have/has + S + have/has + not + Has/Have + S + Has/Have + not + S
nt been + Ving… been + Ving… been + Ving …? + been + Ving …?

perfe
ct
Cont
inuo
us
They have been They have not been Have they been Haven’t they been
working. working. working? working?

She has been She has not been Has she been Hasn’t she been
singing. singing. singing? singing?
b. Functions
- Diễn tả một hành động xảy ra kéo dài liên tục trước một hành động khác trong quá
khứ.
Ex: He had been typing for three hours before he finished his
work.
- Diễn tả một hành động xảy ra kéo dài liên tục trước một thời điểm xác định trong
quá khứ.
Ex: My father had been driving for 5 hours before 10pm last
night.
- Nhấn mạnh hành động để lại kết quả trong quá khứ.
Ex: This morning he was very tired because he had been
working very hard all night.
c. Signals

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Grammar Grade 12

- Until the
- By the time
- Prior to that time (thời điểm trước đó)
- Before
- After

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