Questions tagged [past-simple]
Questions related to the past simple, simple past or preterite, which is mainly used to describe events in the past.
642
questions
0
votes
0answers
18 views
You’ll tell me what you “learned”/“have learned"
For example, I lent my friend a book. Which one of these two sentences makes more sense to say?
So you’ll tell me what you learned.
So you’ll me what you have learned.
0
votes
1answer
18 views
We’ve read or we read?
Books we pretend we have read.
What if instead of have read, I simply wrote we read ?
Would the meaning of the sentence change?
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Past perfect for two simultaneous events “Her business had proved that it was possible to be sustainable and profitable at the same time.”
Could anyone please explain me why we use past perfect instead of past simple before “that” in the sentence below? As I understand, we use past perfect in a sequence of events to show that the action ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
But once we begin Vs But once we began
But once we began to work hard, poverty would vanish.
What happens if we use begin instead of begin and will instead of would, means like below:
But once we begin to work hard, poverty will vanish.
...
0
votes
3answers
44 views
The difference between: I’ve been rescued and I was rescued? [duplicate]
Can you tell me what is the difference between:
I have been rescued
and
I was rescued
I know the first one is in the present perfect tense (so it’s an unstated time in the past and has an ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Is there any difference between “since when did it become…” and “since when has it become…”? [duplicate]
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between since when did it become and since when has it become? For example:
Person A: I'm going to the dentist tomorrow. It's such a pleasure.
...
2
votes
0answers
30 views
Wish with would or past simple [duplicate]
I have trouble with the verb 'wish'. Searching this website, I could not find an answer to my questions, which is 'when we use past simple and when would?'
a) I wish I would live in LA --> This is ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views
I have never thought you are ideal. / I never thought you were ideal
Is it correct explanation of an each sentence (in the brackets)?
I have never thought you are ideal. (it's about the present situation that started in the past)
I never thought you were ideal. (it's ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
When can I use present perfect for old events?
In English Grammar in Use, it is said that we have to use past simple instead of present perfect for things that are not recent or new:
Use the past simple (not the present perfect) for things that ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Why does the author choose past simple instead of present perfect in “all the leads went nowhere”?
Detour Records have been trying to track down members of this band since the 90s but all the leads went nowhere. Then fast forward twenty years and after doing more research and from reading a post on ...
-1
votes
2answers
74 views
never seen a video that wasn't/hasn't been disliked [closed]
I've never seen a video on YouTube that hasn't been disliked by people.
I've never seen a video on YouTube that wasn't disliked by people.
Which one is correct?
-1
votes
0answers
17 views
present perfect vs past tense usage difference [closed]
The house has belonged to him since his birth.
The house belonged to him since his birth.
Which sentence is correct? If both are correct what is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
The tallest building I have ever seen was in New York. Is the use of 'was' acceptable here? [duplicate]
A student has written
The tallest building I have ever seen was in New York.
I know the expected formation is
The tallest building I have ever seen is in New York.
But is the first sentence ...
1
vote
2answers
27 views
Correct usage of simple past and present perfect?
I have really been struggling with past simple and present perfect exercises today.
what I know is mostly:
simple past is used for finished actions made in the past and not related to the present and ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
worked vs was working [duplicate]
Are these examples interchangeable or it's better to use the second one if we say "he was living in Seattle", because there is emphasis of temporary action?
Tom worked in a hotel when he ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
didn't pay attention vs wasn't paying attention
As I understand, following sentences have the same meaning, haven't they? There is only a small difference that the first one says about the fact (I didn’t pay attention), but the second one says ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
The past perfect event happens before which sentence? The next one or the previous one?
If there is no such word as before or when, how do I know when the past perfect event takes place? I tried to figure out the context, but which is the context, the previous sentence or the next ...
0
votes
0answers
14 views
Using of 'past perfect' in indirect narration
We know that in indirect narration, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, for the reported verb simple past is changed to past perfect.
For example,
Direct narration: I said to you, "Did ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
I've realized that I had sent/sent you this task before - Past Perfect or Past Simple?
Which tense should I use in this sentence and why?
I've realized that I had sent/sent you this task before.
The context: a couple of days ago my student told me she had sent me some homework that I ...
0
votes
0answers
11 views
Past Perfect Tense or Simple Past Tense for two Independent Clauses
They had searched through the big trunks in the attic and found clothes for them to wear.
This sentence contains two independent clauses:
They had searched through the big trunks in the attic.
They ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
“I had just two flights last year, and I'd had/I had 4 or 6 of them the year before” - Past Simple or Past Perfect?
All grammar books teach us that we have to use Past Perfect for the action that happened before another action in the past, but I feel that it doesn't always make sense. For example, in this sentence, ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Can we use present continuous tense and simple past in a sentence?
Is this sentence grammatically correct? "I've been going to school offline as the classes started a week ago."
1
vote
1answer
26 views
met vs have met
I have a question about simple past and present perfect. This sentence:
Her husband is a very nice man. I have liked him ever since I met him.
Why do we use "met" and we don't use "...
0
votes
2answers
72 views
“I watched the movie many times when…” vs “I had watched the movie many times when…”
Could you tell if there is any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
I watched the movie many times when I was a child.
I had watched the movie many times when I was a child.
Are ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
past perfect or past simple with work
is there any difference between these sentences?
I had worked hard so I needed a break
I worked hard so I needed a break
-3
votes
1answer
27 views
Which answer is right? [closed]
So I had a lesson today and the teacher gave us a question, A: What is wrong? B: I ___________ a glass (break).
My question is, which answer should I give her?
I have broken a glass
I broke a glass.
...
1
vote
2answers
25 views
Do I use the simple tense or continuous in this case?
It's full day and I'm interacting with a co-worker:
Don't mind if I yawn a lot while you're talking. I didn't sleep /
haven't slept all night.
Don't mind if I'm yawning a lot while you're talking. I ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Present Perfect vs. Past Simple when there is still a chance for the subject to do what they are being asked about
The context: I am looking for a book at home. I can't find it anywhere. I think my roommate could help me.
The roommate is still at home.
I ask him/her "Have you seen the book?"
I think ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
how you feel feel/ felt
Context: Asking someone if he told his parents about him feeling stressed.
Did you tell him how you feel?
or
Did you tell him how you felt?
0
votes
0answers
19 views
past simple and past continuous in this context
which one is correct?
"when I got the job offer I was still working in my old company, which I'd worked for 7 years"
"when I got the job offer I still worked in my old company, which I'...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
“He/she is the first to…” vs. “he/she was the first to…”
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
Neil Armstrong is the first man to step on the Moon surface.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to step on the ...
0
votes
4answers
77 views
Difference between Past Simple and Past Continuous in a sentence
I was running a test and made a mistake in the sentence "They lived in Germany when they were young." I used Past Continuous instead of Past Simple, that is "They were living in Germany ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
played guitar/had played guitar at the party
He is the man who played guitar at the party. This is stating a fact.
He is the man who was playing guitar at the party. This emphasizes the duration, but the meaning is
essentially the same as the ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Questions regarding the differences between simple and progressive past
I have a few sentences in which I don't know which tense to use.
In the first sentence, I want to describe how a zoom meeting ended, but everybody stayed. So should I say:
I saw that everybody was ...
0
votes
2answers
27 views
“I didn't have a laptop before” vs. “I haven't had a laptop before” in context
Could you tell me if there is any difference between the past simple and the present perfect in the following context.
I've just won a tablet. I haven't had a tablet before.
I've just won a tablet. I ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Would remain or Remained?
Throughout Mum's pregnancy, which had been textbook, he had noted Mum's smaller belly, and had suspected something wasn't quite right. But without all the whiz-bang technology we have today— ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Is there any difference in meaning between the past simple and the past continuous when used before “till” or “until”?
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the past simple and the past continuous when used before till? For example:
I worked till midnight and then went to bed.
I was working ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Five months ago, I {decided/have decided} to learn how to play the piano
Five months ago, I {decided/have decided} to learn how to play the
piano.
Is "Five months ago" a definite time?
I have read that when there is a definite time, I should use the simple past ...
0
votes
0answers
257 views
“Until now I didn't realize that…” vs. “until now I hadn't realized that…” [duplicate]
Could you tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the following sentences?
Until now I didn't realize that you can sing so well.
Until now I hadn't realized that you can sing so well.
...
1
vote
1answer
10 views
handled (past tense used for future events)
Why is this sentence correct: If not handled well, it may result in a fire.
Why use past tense? How to know when to use it?
1
vote
1answer
23 views
what's the difference between since + present perfect and since + past simple when since is not used as because
What's the difference between since + present perfect and since + past simple when since is not used as because?
I've seen both being used but never really understood what's the difference -between ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
Can someone help me with these examples of got and gotten?
I've got 2 questions.
Is it correct to say: He's got me something / he's got me a present? Or can you just say: He got me something / he got me a present?
My second question: When someone gave you ...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
past participle and past simple
The paintings have been proven to be fakes
The paintings proved to be fakes
Questions:
What is the difference between using has been proven and proved? I know one is a past participle and one is ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Did I use correct tenses in this sentence?
Regarding my competence in speaking about this topic, I could say that:
I learned German at school, or I was learning German at School.
I studied German, or I was studying German.
0
votes
3answers
50 views
Past simple and present simple
Should I say
“I saw the kid. He is sleeping on the couch”
or
“I see the kid. He is sleeping on the couch”
1
vote
1answer
44 views
She fell off her bike three times this week vs She has fallen off her bike three times this week
The book I'm studying gives as the correct answer the following sentence :
She fell off her bike three times this week.
Is present perfect simple incorrect in this case? (She has fallen over three ...
3
votes
2answers
46 views
Can “before” be equal to “when” in certain contexts?
There are the following sentences:
"I had been waiting for three months before they finally sent
me an answer"
"He had been waiting for the bus for 10 minutes before it arrived"
...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
“I made sure we choose/chose items that doesn’t use the most plastic.”
In the following sentence:
Yesterday, when I was shopping with my mum, I made sure we choose items that doesn’t use the most plastic.
Which is correct: to say I made sure we (choose) or (chose)?
0
votes
1answer
60 views
is it ok to use “is” with past participle?
I prefer using "is" sometimes with past participle.
ex-
Your screen is frozen.
Your case is picked.
your device is repaired.
in both the examples, I consider frozen, picked as an adjective ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
a matter of style or a necessity to use past simple in this text
South London called Broadway Sound. Early on the morning of August 12th 1982 the band, comprising of Colin Swan, Geno Buckmaster, Brian Grover and their trusty roadie ‘Robbo’ assembled at the tiny ...
