Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

2.1 Simple past tense (I did)

We use the simple past tense to talk about something that

happened at a definite time in the past (yesterday, the day
before yesterday, a few days ago, last month, in 2011, before
the trip, when I was small, after the rain stopped, etc.).

Jacky went to Europe in 2011.

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Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

The simple past tense of many verbs is formed with -ed: 2.2 Present perfect tense (I have done)

We played basketball after school last Friday.
However, some verbs have an irregular past tense form:
Sam’s parents took him to Disneyland two days ago.
Amy bought her mother a beautiful scarf in Italy.
We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action in
the past that has a connection to the present, or something
that started in the past and continues up to or into the present.
We also use it to talk about a past event if the time it
happened is not known or not important.

For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 2.

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 Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

I don’t feel well.

Is your brother I think I’ve caught Have you seen
No, he has
home? a doctor?
gone/he’s gone a cold.
to the library.

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Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

When we use the present perfect, our focus is on the present
status of an action. We are not focused on how, when or
where the past action occurred. We do not use this tense with
adverbs/adverbial phrases specifying a definite past time such
as yesterday, last week and three years ago, but we can use
the present perfect with just, ever, yet, never, already,
recently, for, since, etc., which suggest an indefinite time
including the present moment.
A: I’ve just been to the new science exhibition!
B: Oh, I’ve already seen it. Have you seen the electric-
car exhibit? It’s great!
A: You speak Cantonese very well. Are you from Hong
Kong? How long have you lived there?
B: I have never lived in Hong Kong. In fact, I haven’t
ever been to Hong Kong. I grew up in Guangzhou,
actually.

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 Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

We can use today, this morning, etc. with the present

perfect tense when these periods of time are not finished
at the time of speaking. I saw Alice this morning.
She looked happy.
Compare:

I’ve seen Ann this morning.

She looks great.

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Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

2.3 Past continuous tense (I was doing) 2.4 Past perfect tense (I had done)

We use the past continuous tense for an action that was in
progress at a definite point in time in the past (e.g. at 5.00 pm
yesterday) or when something else happened (e.g. when I got
home).
Last week I was sightseeing in New Zealand.
We were sleeping when the fire broke out.
We use the past perfect tense for an action that happened
before another action or event.
I didn’t see Melinda at Jason’s party last night. She had
left by the time I arrived.
Compare: Sandy went to Daniel’s party, but she didn’t
stay long. She left soon after I arrived.

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 Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

We do not use the past perfect for a single past action. 2.5 Present perfect continuous tense (I have been doing)

û I had gone to Shenzhen yesterday. The present perfect continuous tense is formed by
have/has + been + -ing form of the verb.
ü I went to Shenzhen yesterday.
Sorry I’m late. Not very long.
ü I had gone to Shenzhen when Mike came to visit me. Have you been I’ve been waiting
waiting long? for only 45
minutes!

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Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

We use this tense for an action which started in the past, and We can also use this tense for an action repeated over a period
of time and continuing up to now.
• is still going on now
Sam is a good swimmer. He has been practising for 6
It’s been raining all day. I hope it’ll stop soon. years/since he was eight.

• has just stopped When we talk about an action that happens over a period of
time up to the present, we can use either the present perfect
A: You are sweating.
or the present perfect continuous.
B: Yes, I’ve been running.
My father has worked/has been working in a bank
for 10 years/since 2002.

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 Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

We use the present perfect continuous when our emphasis Where have you
is on the continuity of the action, i.e. when we want to stress been? I’ve been
that the action has been in progress up to now. It can be used looking for you
everywhere.
when the action has stopped, the situation has changed, or
the action is expected to continue.

Here, since the girl has found the boy,

the action (the search) will no longer
continue.
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Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

What’s bothering If, on the other hand, we want to emphasise the result of the
him?
action, we use the present perfect tense.

A: He looks happy.

He’s been looking B: He is. He’s found a job at last.

for a job for
months without
success.

Jack hasn’t found a job. The action

(the job-hunting) will continue into
the future.
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 Unit 2 Talking about the past Unit 2 Talking about the past

Some verbs are not used in the continuous tenses, including We use the present perfect continuous, not the present
the present perfect continuous. (See Appendix 1 for a list of continuous when we talk about how long something has been
the verbs.) going on.

ü Cecilia is one of my best friends. We have known Compare:

each other for many years.
I didn’t expect to No. I’m just
û We have been knowing each other for many years. see you. Are you visiting my
still living here? aunt.

present continuous
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Unit 2 Talking about the past

Nice to see you. Yes, I've been

Have you been studying for
preparing for them since last
exams? month.

present perfect continuous

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