B2.

1​ ​-​ ​UNIT​ ​2
GRAMMAR

PAST​ ​SIMPLE​ ​&​ ​PAST​ ​CONTINUOUS

As you already know, we use the past simple to talk about ​finished actions in the
past​.

I​ ​left​ ​home​ ​at​ ​8​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​and​ ​I​ ​came​ ​back​ ​at​ ​12​ ​o’clock.

PAST​ ​SIMPLE

In English there are REGULAR and IRREGULAR verbs. To make the affirmative of
regular verbs you only have to add ​-​ed at the end of the infinitives. To make the
affirmative​ ​of​ ​irregular​ ​verbs​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​study​ ​the​ ​list​ ​of​ ​irregular​ ​verbs.

FORM

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It lived in​ ​Canada​ ​a​ ​few​ ​years​ ​ago.
We
You (*​ ​live​ ​is​ ​a​ ​regular
They verb)

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The way of making ​negative sentences and questions in the past simple doesn’t
change​​ ​between​ ​regular​ ​and​ ​irregular​ ​verbs.

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It didn’t​ ​have ​ ​money​ ​to​ ​buy​ ​it.
We
You
They

didn’t​ ​=​ ​did​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Did we see uncle​ ​Tom​ ​yesterday?
you
they

Spelling​ ​rules​ ​for​ ​the​ ​-ed​ ​endings

general​ ​rule accept​ ​→​ ​accept​ed add​ ​-​ed

verbs​ ​ending​ ​in​ ​e arrang​e​ ​→​ ​arrange​d add​ ​-d

compar​e​ ​→​ ​compare​d

verbs​ ​ending​ ​in​ ​consonant​ ​+​ ​y stu​dy​​ ​→​ ​stud​ied ​ ​change​ ​-​y​ ​to​ ​-​i​ ​and
add​ ​-​ed

verbs​ ​ending​ ​in p​lan​​ ​→​ ​plan​ned double​ ​the​ ​last

consonant-vowel-consonant s​top​​ ​→​ ​stop​ped consonant​ ​and​ ​add
-​ed

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And, as you also know, we use the past continuous to describe ​an action in progress
at​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​moment​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past​.

Yesterday​ ​at​ ​noon​ ​I​ ​was​ ​working.

Now,​ ​study​ ​the​ ​list​ ​of​ ​irregular​ ​verbs.

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 ​ ​IRREGULAR​ ​VERBS​ ​LIST

PAST PAST PAST

INFINITIVE PAST​ ​SIMPLE INFINITIVE
PARTICIPLE SIMPLE PARTICIPLE

arise arose arisen dig dug dug

be was​ ​/​ ​were been do did done

beat beat beaten draw drew drawn

become became become dream dreamt dreamt

begin began begun drink drank drunk

bend bend bent drive drove driven

bite bit bitten eat ate eaten

bleed bled bled fall fell fallen

blow blew blown feed fed fed

break broke broken feel felt felt

bring brought brought find found found

broadcast broadcast broadcast fly flew flown

build built built forbid forbade forbidden

burn burnt burnt forget forgot forgotten

buy bought bought forgive forgave forgiven

can could --- freeze froze frozen

catch caught caught get got got

choose chose chosen give gave given

come came come go went gone

cost cost cost grow grew grown

creep crept crept hang hung hung

cut cut cut have had had

deal dealt dealt hear heard heard

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 PAST PAST PAST
INFINITIVE PAST​ ​SIMPLE INFINITIVE
PARTICIPLE SIMPLE PARTICIPLE

hide hide hidden ride rode ridden

hit hit hit ring rang rung

hold held held rise rose risen

hurt hurt hurt run ran run

keep kept kept say said said

kneel knelt knelt see saw seen

know knew known sell sold sold

lay laid laid send sent sent

lead led led set set set

lean leant leant sew sewed sewn

learn learnt learnt shake shook shaken

leave left left shine shone shone

lend lent lent shoot shot shot

let let let show showed shown

lie lay lain shrink shrank shrunk

light lit lit sing sang sung

lose lost lost sit sat sat

make made made sleep slept slept

meet met met slide slid slid

pay paid paid smell smelt smelt

put put put sow sowed sown

read read read speak spoke spoken

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 PAST PAST PAST PAST
INFINITIVE INFINITIVE
SIMPLE PARTICIPLE SIMPLE PARTICIPLE

spell spelt spelt swim swam swum

spend spent spent swing swung swung

spill spilt spilt take took taught

spoil spoilt spoilt teach taught taught

spread spread spread think thought thought

spring sprang sprung tell told told

stand stood stood think thought thought

steal stole stolen throw threw thrown

stick stuck stuck understand understood understood

sting stung stung wake woke woken

strike struck struck wear wore worn

swear swore sworn weep wept wept

sweep swept swept win won won

swell swelled swollen write wrote written

PAST​ ​CONTINUOUS
FORM

I was

You were

He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It was having​ ​dinner​ ​with​ ​friends.

We
You were
They

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 I wasn’t

You weren’t

He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It wasn’t paying​ ​attention.

We
You weren’t
They

wasn’t​ ​=​ ​was​ ​not

weren’t​ ​=​ ​were​ ​not

Was I

Were you

Was he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it driving​​ ​at​ ​that​ ​time?

we
Were you
they

If​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​revise​ ​the​ ​spelling​ ​rules​ ​for​ ​-ing​ ​endings​,​ ​please​ ​go​ ​back​ ​to​ ​unit​ ​1.

Remember! State verbs (​see​, ​hear​, ​understand…​) are not normally used in the
continuous​ ​tense​ ​unless​ ​they​ ​describe​ ​actions.

We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to show that ​an action
happened​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​an​ ​activity​.

In these cases, we normally need to use ​WHEN​, ​WHILE or ​AS​. Have a look at these
examples:
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 I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​my​ ​mum​ ​when​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.

While​ ​we​ ​were​ ​running​,​ ​we​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​most​ ​beautiful​ ​dog​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world.

As​ ​he​ ​was​ ​explaining​ ​the​ ​theory,​ ​someone​ ​interrupted​ ​him.

We can use ​when with both the past simple and the past continuous. However,
while ​and ​as can only be used with the part of the sentence in ​the past
continuous​.

I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​my​ ​mum​ ​when​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.

*​I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​my​ ​mum​ ​while​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.​ ​→​ ​While​ ​I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to
my​ ​mum,​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.

*​I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​my​ ​mum​ ​as​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.​ ​→​ ​As​ ​I​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​my
mum,​ ​my​ ​neighbour​ ​arrived.

USED​ ​TO

As you also know, we use ​used to + infinitive ​for ​things that happened repeatedly in
the​ ​past​​ ​(for​ ​example,​ ​when​ ​you​ ​were​ ​younger),​ ​and​ ​don’t​ ​usually​ ​happen​ ​anymore.

My​ ​family​ ​used​ ​to​ ​play​ ​board​ ​games​ ​on​ ​Sunday​ ​evenings.

If you need to revise how to form affirmative sentences, negative sentences and
questions​ ​with​ ​the​ ​structure​ ​used​ ​to​,​ ​please​ ​keep​ ​on​ ​reading:

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 USED​ ​TO
FORM

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It used​ ​to play​ ​tennis​ ​as​ ​a​ ​kid.
We
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It didn’t​ ​use​ ​to play​ ​tennis​ ​as​ ​a​ ​kid.
We
You
They

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Did we use​ ​to play​ ​tennis​ ​as​ ​a​ ​kid?
you
they

didn’t​ ​use​ ​to​ ​=​ ​did​ ​not​ ​use​ ​to

​Used to only exists in the past, so don’t use it to talk about present habits! If you
need to express present habits or routines, use the present simple and add adverbs like
usually​ ​or​ ​normally​.​ ​Compare:

I​ ​used​ ​to​ ​wear​ ​glasses​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​child.​ ​(=​ ​past​ ​habit)
≠
I​ ​usually​ ​wear​ ​glasses​ ​nowadays.​ ​(=​ ​present​ ​habit)
I​ ​use​ ​to​​ ​wear​ ​glasses​ ​nowadays.

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PAST​ ​PERFECT​ ​SIMPLE​ ​&​ ​PAST​ ​PERFECT​ ​CONTINUOUS

PAST​ ​PERFECT​ ​SIMPLE

USE

We​ ​use​ ​the​ ​past​ ​perfect​ ​when​ ​we​ ​are​ ​already​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​the​ ​past​​ ​and​ ​want​ ​to​ ​talk
about​ ​an​ ​earlier​ ​past​ ​action​.

My​ ​friend​ ​told​ ​me​ ​he​ ​had​ ​finished​ ​the​ ​report.

FORM

To​ ​make​ ​the​ ​past​ ​perfect,​ ​use​ ​the​ ​verb​ ​to​ ​have​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past​ ​simple​ ​(​had​)​ ​and​ ​add​ ​the
past​ ​participle​​ ​of​ ​the​ ​main​ ​verb.

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It had left​ ​the​ ​room.
We
You
They

had​ ​=​ ​’d

Be​ ​careful!​ ​’d​ ​can​ ​also​ ​be​ ​the​ ​contraction​ ​of​ ​would​.​ ​Always​ ​pay​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​the
context​ ​and​ ​the​ ​form​ ​of​ ​the​ ​main​ ​verb​ ​(past​ ​participle​ ​or​ ​bare​ ​infinitive).

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It hadn’t seen​ ​him.
We
You
They

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 hadn’t​ ​=​ ​had​ ​not

I
you
Had he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it been​ ​there?
we
you
they

The past perfect simple is also very frequently used with the adverbs ​never​, ​ever​, ​just​,
for​, ​since​, ​already ​and ​yet​. The rules to use them are the same as the ones you have
studied.​ ​Have​ ​a​ ​look​ ​at​ ​these​ ​examples:

They​ ​told​ ​me​ ​they​ ​had​ ​never​ ​been​ ​to​ ​Malaysia.

Before​ ​meeting​ ​me,​ ​had​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​met​ ​someone​ ​from​ ​Finland?

When​ ​we​ ​arrived​ ​at​ ​the​ ​airport,​ ​the​ ​plane​ ​had​ ​just​ ​taken​ ​off.

I​ ​saw​ ​your​ ​mum​ ​last​ ​night,​ ​she​ ​looked​ ​beautiful.​ ​I​ ​hadn’t​ ​seen​ ​her​ ​for​ ​ages!

She​ ​couldn’t​ ​believe​ ​you​ ​hadn’t​ ​been​ ​to​ ​that​ ​place​ ​since​ ​your​ ​dog​ ​passed​ ​away.

When​ ​he​ ​told​ ​me​ ​to​ ​have​ ​lunch​ ​with​ ​him,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​already​ ​eaten​ ​a​ ​salad.

When​ ​you​ ​told​ ​me​ ​not​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​him​ ​anything​ ​I​ ​hadn’t​ ​texted​ ​him​ ​yet​.​ ​Thank​ ​God.

PAST​ ​PERFECT​ ​CONTINUOUS

USE

We​ ​use​ ​the​ ​past​ ​perfect​ ​continuous​ ​when​ ​we​ ​are​ ​already​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​the​ ​past​​ ​and
want​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​an​ ​earlier​ ​past​ ​action,​ ​but:

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 ● it​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​how​ ​long​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​had​ ​been​ ​done​ ​for.

The​ ​hurricane​ ​damaged​ ​the​ ​house​ ​where​ ​she​ ​had​ ​been​ ​living​ ​since​ ​she​ ​moved
to​ ​Honolulu.

​ ​had​ ​been​ ​living damaged

This​ ​action​ ​happened​ ​first. This​ ​action​ ​happened​ ​after​ ​the​ ​other.

The​ ​length​ ​of​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​is​ ​highlighted​ ​with​ ​the​ ​time​ ​clause​ ​since​ ​she​ ​moved​ ​to
Honolulu​.

● it​ ​says​ ​how​ ​long​ ​something​ ​happened​ ​up​ ​to​ ​a​ ​point​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past.

We​ ​had​ ​been​ ​planning​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​Ibiza​ ​for​ ​a​ ​week​ ​when​ ​we​ ​realised​ ​we​ ​couldn’t
afford​ ​it.

​ ​had​ ​been​ ​planning realised

This​ ​action​ ​happened​ ​first. This​ ​action​ ​happened​ ​after​ ​the​ ​other.

The​ ​second​ ​action​ ​interrupts​ ​the​ ​first​ ​one.

FORM

The past perfect continuous is formed by the verb ​to be ​in the past perfect simple ​(​had
been​)​ ​and​ ​the​ ​-​ing​ ​form​ ​of​ ​the​ ​main​ ​verb.

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 I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It had​ ​been cleaning​ ​the​ ​room.
We
You
They

had​ ​=​ ​’d

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It hadn’t​ ​been chatting​ ​all​ ​night.
We
You
They

hadn’t​ ​=​ ​had​ ​not

I
you
Had he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it been ​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​work​ ​on​ ​foot?
we
you
they

As you can see, the form of both the past perfect simple and the past perfect continuous
is​​ ​the​ ​same​ ​for​ ​all​ ​persons​.

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