Ways of relating or organizing events in the past – Using 4 Past Tenses in English

1. Ways of relating or organizing events in the past – Using 4 Past Tenses in English Past (Simple Past) Past Progressive Present Perfect Past Perfect

2. Past Tense • Used to describe events that happened in the past and have ended. • This tense is used to say “this occurred” and not necessarily to relate the event to other things that happened. Examples— I went to Mexico. Eve gave him the apple, and Adam ate it. The student left his notebook.

3. Past Progressive “to be” in present tense Present Participle (“-ing”) • Used to describe events that were happening for a period, but have now ended. • This tense can help to locate one short event in the context of a longer, on-going event. Examples— While we were waiting in traffic, the car overheated. I was talking to my boss when you called.

4. Present Perfect “have” in present tense Past Participle *See Irregulars on pp. 354-56 • Used to describe events that began in the past, but continue in the present.  “Continuing in the present” can include things that continue to be true. Example— I have been to Mexico five times. The trips ended, but it remains true that the speaker has been to Mexico.

5. Past Perfect “have” in past tense Past Participle *See Irregulars on pp. 354-56 • Used to describe events that began in the past, continued for a time, but have now ended. Often this tense is helpful for establishing the context of one Example— I had been to Mexico five times before our trip to Veracruz. Prior to the fire, Edna had said that the building was unsafe. They had just arrived when the phone rang.

6. Present Progressive vs. Present Perfect The policeman was writing a ticket. The dogs were chasing after a tennis ball. Everyone was there. Nobody was waiting for us. The policeman has written many tickets. The dogs have chased many things. Everyone has been many places. Nobody has ever bought me flowers.

7. Present Progressive vs. Past Progressive The policeman has written many tickets. The dogs have chased many things. Everyone has been many places. The policeman had written many tickets before he lost his ticket book. The dog had chased many things, but never caught a rabbit. Everyone had been to Millennium Park, but no one had ever seen a concert there.

8. Does it matter which tense I use? Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn’t. “I went to Mexico” and “I have been to Mexico” are very similar in meaning, but would probably be said by a native speaker in different contexts. Which of the questions below would each response likely fit? Have you been anywhere Spanish-speaking? What did you do over Spring Break?

9. Can you show the difference between these tenses by completing the sentences with an appropriate context? VERB: TO EAT Timothy ate sushi… Timothy was eating sushi… Timothy has eaten sushi… Timothy had eaten sushi…