Tenses with Past meaning
Времена для выражения прошлого
Past Simple используется
- для выражения событий, которые произошли и закончились в прошлом (I lost my key yesterday. Tchaikovsky was a great composer. He wrote many pieces of music.)
Слова-помощники: yesterday, last week/month/year, two days/weeks/months/years ago
Past Continuous используется для описания
- процесса или неоконченного действия в определенный момент в прошлом (Yesterday at 5 o’clock I was reading a book.)
- часто используется в сочетании с Past Simple (Jane phoned me while I was having lunch.)
Past Perfect используется, чтобы
- описать действие в прошлом, которое произошло раньше другого действия в прошлом: When John arrived at the party, Kate had already gone home.
Present Perfect используется, когда
- действие закончено, а его результат важен сейчас (I can’t find the book. I’ve lost it.)
- действие закончено, а период времени, о котором идет речь, еще длится: I have drunk 2 cups of coffee today. (Today еще не закончилось); I have been to Canada twice (подразумевается in my life, и life еще не закончилась)
Слова-помощники: just, already, yet, recently, so far, in the last few days/months, since breakfast/lunch
Примеры использования Tenses with Past meaning
- My parents came to visit me last September. -
- My neighbour asked us if we had seen his dog. -
- Did Barry come to your party last week? -
- I haven't seen Joe today. -
- I found Elisa's diary when she had already moved out. -
- Alexia has lost her purse and now has no money. -
- We did not have time to visit Louvre. -
- It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining. -
- Where have I left my phone? -
- Had you studied Italian before you moved to Milan? -
- The plane hadn't left by the time I got to the airport. -
- I didn't go anywhere because it was raining. -
- Why has Mike gone already? -
- Harry said he went to the library yesterday. -
- Tailor has never heard of this book. -
- Emily went to China last year. -
- Lana has drunk four cups of coffee today! -
- I sold my house two months ago. -
- What time did Sarah leave on Tuesday? -
- Have you ever tried sushi? -
- Where did you go shopping yesterday? -
- My mother has just bought a new car! -
- I was having a terrifying dream when the alarm clock rang. -
- Matt says he liked that museum a lot. -
- Frank was making pizza while Ale was cooking salad. -
- Harold had known about their divorce for a while before everyone found out. -
- I had never seen Joanna laugh before yesterday. -
- Mary announced that she had found a new job. -
- By the time Doris got to the office, everyone had already gone. -
- I have written three essays already. -
- By the time I met Mia again, she had already found a new boyfriend. -
- I wasn't sleeping when someone broke into my house. -
- I was wondering if you could help me with the project. -
- Mary hasn't graduated from the university yet. -
- Have you ever seen Paul cry? -
- I didn't call you yesterday because I was busy. -
- Dick was cutting the grass when the snake appeared. -
- My mother washed the floor when the painter had already gone. -
- We wish you moved to Los Angeles. -
- We went to a club last night. -
- My uncle was always telling us stories about our parents. -
- Helen has never been to Norway. -
- My husband was always talking about his friends from college. -
- I was working when the accident occurred. -
- I was cooking when Josh called. -
- They gave Julie a puppy for her birthday. -
- I have seen Anna twice in my life. -
- I was dancing when Matthew walked in. -