Past & Perfect - GE 9 Unit 4

1. PAST SIMPLE

a. For completed actions in the past.

b. Tell the main events of the story in the order that they happened.

One day, one of the sailors went for a drive in the cut back, and accidentally ran over a kangaroo.

2. PAST CONTINUOUS

a. For a longer action that was in progress when another (shorter) action happened.

While the sailor was taking some photos, the kangaroo came round.

b. For background information that isn’t part of the main story.

In 1987 the world’s best sailors were competing in the coast of Fremantel.

c. When two longer actions are happening at the same time.

While I was watching TV, she was making dinner.

We often use when, while, an as in the Past Continuous

He phoned me when/while/as I was getting ready to leave.

3. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE (PPS)

a. For an action that was completed before another action in the past

The insurance company told the police what had happened.

b. If the order of past events is clear, we don’t usually use PPS

I woke up, got dressed, and made some breakfast. (Past Simple)

c. When we are telling a story, we don’t have to use the PPS every time we refer to something further in the past. When we have established the time, we can use the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.

I started telling everyone about the wedding I had been to in Mexico two years earlier. My sister was getting married and I arrived late for the ceremony. When I got there …

d. Can use by the time, when, because, so, before, after, as soon as, and until to make sentences with the Past Perfect.

By the time I got there, most people had gone home.

e. Don’t have to use the Past Perfect with because, so, before, after, as soon as, or until because the order of events in usually clear.

I < had > called her before I left the office.

I waited until everybody < had > left.

f. Often use the Past Perfect after knew, realized, thought, forgot, and remembered.

I knew that she had been looking for a new job.

I realized that I had left my keys in the office.

4. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

For a longer action that started before another action in the past (and often continued up to this past action).

A man had been searching for a biscuit and eventually he bought a box of 24.

Example:

I was feeling bored one morning last week so I decided to go on a nearby lake.

While I was driving there, I saw a man lying at the side of the road.

I stopped the car and got out to see if he was all right.

The man explained that he had been running along the road and then suddenly collapsed.

He didn’t remember how long he had been lying there, but he thought that he had broken his leg.

I helped him into the car and took him to the nearest hospital.

I stayed there because I wanted to see if he was all right.

After I had been waiting for an hour and a half, the doctor came and told me that the man had had a heart attack and I saved his life.

Note:
I woke up, had a bath ( a shower ), got dressed, had breakfast, then went for work. 

I arrived late for the ceremony.
I was late for work.