Questions tagged [past-simple]
Questions related to the past simple, simple past or preterite, which is mainly used to describe events in the past.
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2answers
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Which is the better choice here? Present perfect continuous or past simple?
Today is Sunday and I don't feel well because I have been drinking three days in a row: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The drinking has stopped, but I can still feel its effect, so present perfect ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
I miss you like I (have) never missed someone else [duplicate]
Which one of the following phrases is correct? I'm unsure about using present perfect or not.
I miss you like I've never missed someone else.
I miss you like I never missed someone else.
1
vote
1answer
44 views
What is difference past simple and past perfect in this sentence?
I (non-native English speaker) have sometimes been confused about when to use past simple and when to use past perfect.
President Donald Trump has vetoed a measure from Congress that revoked his ...
-3
votes
1answer
38 views
weren't going vs didn't go [duplicate]
I already asked a question about “weren’t playing” vs. “didn’t play”. I’m not sure if the same rules apply in an example like this one:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't go north.
vs
The ...
2
votes
2answers
37 views
Is the past simple and past participle the same for all regular verbs?
So each verb has the base form (V1) which is used in present simple, the past simple (V2) and the past participle (V3).
For example:
V1: allow (I allow you to leave early)
V2: allowed (I allowed ...
6
votes
2answers
789 views
weren't playing vs didn't play
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
1
vote
2answers
20 views
Difference in meaning using Would + present or simple past
I'm wondering what the difference is between these two phrases.
What would happen if aliens visited Earth?
What would happen if aliens visit Earth?
Am I right in thinking that the first phrase ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
past simple/continuous with a specific time
I was driving too fast last night.
I drove too fast last night.
I want to know if the past simple and continuous can both be used in this case, because usually the past continuous is used for ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Can I use past continuous here?
A:..Then I sent you a message from the cafe to to say where I was
last night.
B: I didn't get any texts from you yesterday! I tried to phone
you but there was no answer.
I have two ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Past Continuous with while
The sentence:
The boy stole / was stealing the apples while nobody was looking / looked.
Question: Which variant is more appropriate?
1
vote
2answers
29 views
Can we give the answer to the present perfect question in past simple?
I saw this in a Cambridge conversation book:
A: Have you gone to school today?
B: Yes, I went to school today.
Can you please tell me why B answered in the Past Simple instead of the Present ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
“Documents have been updated” VS “Documents are updated”
I've received an email titled "Documents have been updated" informing me that some changes were introduced in some our documents (no surprise here of course). But I'd like to know if there is any ...
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3answers
49 views
Use of the past simple to indicate an action has finished?
I was taught by an excellent teacher that in a sentence like "I cleaned the kitchen yesterday" the past simple is used to convey the whole kitchen was cleaned, otherwise you'd have to use past ...
0
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1answer
16 views
The order of actions (in the example sentence)
I talked to her before she had arrived.
Could you make the order of actions clear in this sentence?
0
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1answer
29 views
How write about personal achievements? (tense choice) [closed]
Let's say I have to describe my personal achievements during my work in some project. What tense should I use - the simple past or the present perfect?
The past simple
Achievements:
...
3
votes
1answer
149 views
Haven been<-->went
I haven't been to a beach party for over a year.
The last time I went to a beach party was a over year ago.
Can I use gone instead of been in the first sentence to get the similar meaning to the ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
When…+present perfect [closed]
Is
Susan does not live here,When I first came here three years ago, she has moved to another city.
Or
Susan does not live here,When I first came here three years ago, she had moved to another ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Past Simple VS Past Continuous(within the period of time in the past)
Alexander Fleming became interested in the control of bacteria while he was working as a doctor during the First World War.
This summer the pool worked only from June till August.
I wonder, doesn't ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Difference between present and past simple after 'suggested that'
These are the sentences that I found in Cambridge grammar books:
I suggested that she bought a car.
I suggested that he gives up golf.
Both of the sentences above start in the past simple but ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Had not needed vs did not need
I was asked to fill the blank below preseving the meaning of the sentence.
It was not necessary for him to take any warm clothes, so he travelled light.
He ________________________ take any warm ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Past Continuous vs Past Simple difference in meaning
Could you, please, help me understand this dialogue from my English textbook?
A: Why was Ann crying before?
B: She had been training for the finals for over a week before she found out she had ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Asking question using Present past tense
I have confusion in asking question like, If I want to ask about Tea came or not.
Is Tea came
Did Tea come
Which one is correct or both wrong? Is there any other way to ask it.
Thank you
0
votes
2answers
56 views
“I should have studied last night, but I didn't.” (tense choice)
I should have studied last night, but I didn't.
I've come across this sentence in a grammar book. Why the present perfect is used after "should", but the past simple is used to say "I didn't"? The ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
He has wasted his time when he was at university. (tense choice)
Could you please tell me whether the sentence
He has wasted his time when he was at university.
is grammatical? What seems a little bit confusing is that the the present tense (has wasted) refers ...
1
vote
3answers
60 views
Can you use two verbs in simple past tense in a row like this? [closed]
Is the usage of the verbs "measured & compared" correct in the following sentence?
We will assess network performance in this regard measured compared to the protocol which hops over other ...
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votes
5answers
4k views
“Tea drinking” vs. “tea drunk” in this context
Which of these two is preferred?
A: Tea drinking is a British custom
B: Tea drunk is a British custom
P.S. What is it called when we say tea drinking instead of drinking tea?
Also, can we ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Why is this grammatically correct? - “I would like to cancel the job that I had ordered”
As the title states, would you mind teaching me why this sentence is grammatically correct?
"I would like to cancel the job that I had ordered"
The reason I ask is that the below sentence doesn't ...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Should this sentence use past or present tense?
In a movie after a failed shoot-out, villain said:
That was the worst effing shoot-out I have ever seen in my life.
Is this grammatically OK? I have seen usage like
It is the best thing that ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Is “I have posted the letter last week” grammatical?
Is this sentence grammatically OK? Take a look at this sentence:
I have certainly posted the letter last week. I wonder why it hasn't arrived yet.
So what is the problem with this sentence?
I took ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Present perfect Vs. Simple past in Question form
I've learnt Present perfect express the more of results than the action itself.
She has gone there.
Such as this above means, "she went there, so she's not here now". But when you use in question ...
0
votes
1answer
152 views
“Have you known” or “Did you know”?
First of all, I know it has been mentioned before but I'm not sure which is correct. I've been learning about the Past Simple and the Past Perfect and if I've understood correctly, well, in high level:...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Suitable verb form in the past tense sentence
There's the next sentence:
"I saw Mr Brown ..... the building at two o'clock."
leave / to leave / having left
Which option would be the most appropriate to put in and why ? I really want to put ...
2
votes
3answers
172 views
Tense with “recently”
Should I use recently with simple past or present perfect?
I recently bought a mobile. It has very good features with a four-GB ram. I just love the mobile.
I have recently bought a mobile. It has ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Tense choice with expressions denoting a finished time period, like “last night”, “yesterday”, “two days ago”
Have you called me last night?
Did you call me last night?
What's the difference between these sentences?
0
votes
2answers
53 views
Proper tense in “I read the documentation but I didn’t find any information about requirements”
I read the documentation but I didn’t find any information about requirements.
Is it right to use the simple past here? Or should I say it like this:
I've read the documentation but I haven’t ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
finished action vs unspecific time in the past
I know there are several rules when to use past simple or present perfect.
for example specific words like :ago,yesterday,since,for,yet etc and in such cases is simple for me what tense to use but ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
why used “simple present” instead of “simple past” or “present perfect”
I didn't understand. Why did they use "simple present" instead of "present perfect" in this "Although I do not understand much yet"?. The Paragraph is below.
Nepal is a fascinating country, but I ...
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vote
0answers
53 views
Why is The Present Perfect form used in sentence with the past time marker? [closed]
Yesterday Google has released a new free course on developing Android
apps with Kotlin. Check it out on Udacity:
Here's a link on Twitter
I'm confused with such using of Past Perfect, i.e. I ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Looking for reference of present continuous and simple past in story telling?
The sentence being: After pulling the fisherman to safety, the groomsmen returned for more wedding photos on the jetty – this time in their underwear, dripping wet and a little battered and bruised.
...
0
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1answer
218 views
Can “during the last few months” be used with present perfect?
Here are the sentences:
We haven’t eaten at that restaurant during the last few months.
We didn’t eat at that restaurant during the last few months.
I think during implies the duration has ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
past simple for an action completed in “the recent past”
imagine: I went to the post and posted a parcel in the morning, then emailed someone "first thing I did in the morning" Is it possible to write this even if it is still the morning (past simple ...
2
votes
3answers
132 views
Had, not would have
A usage that sets my teeth on edge has grown all too common among young people. An example:
I wish public schools would have taught English grammar better in the 1990s.
Surely this sentence should ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
“she was raped” or “she had been raped” in this reported speech
A) A 21 year old girl studying in Vidynagar alleged that she was raped by a boy in a hotel in the city on August 23. Based on above complaint police arrested accuse.
B) A 21 year old girl ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
“I have written a book” or “I wrote a book” in this sentence? [duplicate]
Past perfect vs Past simple problems always baffle me..
When I want to talk about my experience of writing a book and getting a revision
on it in the past, should I use past perfect? or simple past?
...
0
votes
0answers
122 views
have you been to London before/ were in London before?
Is this your first time in London or have you been to London before?
vs
Is this your first time in London or were you in London before?
*situation : a local is taking a tourist for a city tour * ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Correct Situation for use of Simple Past
Where did you go when I came to your home in the morning?
a) I went to the Market .
b) I went to the market when you came to my home.
b1) You came to my home when I went to the market.
c) I had ...
0
votes
2answers
46 views
past perfect unnecessary usage
In the afternoon, he'd attended a funeral.
What's the meaning of "he'd attended"?
Is it "he had attended"?! if so then why should we use past perfect instead of simple past?
Is it "he would ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
past perfect and past simple difference in a sentence
Consider these two sentences:
Laura passed her exam because she studied very hard.
Laura passed her exam because she had studied very hard.
I think that the second one is correct because first, she ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
questions with Past Simple
If I ask a question in Past Simple using the coordinating conjunction and, does the second verb take -ed or not?
e.g. Did you muster up the courage and propose? or
Did you muster up the courage ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Where should I put the word “would” (for repeated past actions) in a sentence with more clauses?
I'd like to know where the word "would" should be used in a sentence with more clauses, like the following.
Among the examples, I'd choose the first one, as "I" is the main subject who performs the ...
