Questions tagged [past-simple]
Questions related to the past simple, simple past or preterite, which is mainly used to describe events in the past.
836
questions
0
votes
2
answers
75
views
Is this statement right? Ferrari just released a
I was reading this news over internet and i am wondering if this statement can be written differently or not.
Ferrari just released a few photos of its upcoming limited-edition track-focused 812
Can ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Online translator versus me. Whose translation is correct and why?
I wrote the following sentences in my native language and translated them into English. I wonder if they are correct.
Yesterday, the participants of the club held a meeting. My friend and
I had been ...
- 701
0
votes
0
answers
105
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.
user134468
0
votes
1
answer
510
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?
user134468
2
votes
2
answers
134
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 ...
- 35
0
votes
0
answers
56
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
3
answers
224
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 ...
user134468
1
vote
1
answer
995
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.
...
- 15.6k
2
votes
0
answers
34
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 ...
- 39
0
votes
0
answers
118
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 ...
- 2,328
4
votes
2
answers
181
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 ...
- 173
1
vote
1
answer
32
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 ...
- 7,233
-1
votes
2
answers
80
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?
- 722
1
vote
0
answers
34
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 ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
218
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 ...
- 11
-1
votes
1
answer
48
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 ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
550
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 ...
- 109
0
votes
2
answers
63
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, ...
- 109
1
vote
1
answer
1k
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
2
answers
3k
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 ...
- 15.6k
0
votes
0
answers
29
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
- 11
-3
votes
1
answer
48
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
1
vote
2
answers
39
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 ...
- 701
0
votes
1
answer
43
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 ...
- 199
0
votes
0
answers
233
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?
- 303
0
votes
0
answers
32
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'...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
891
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 ...
- 15.6k
0
votes
4
answers
601
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 ...
- 105
0
votes
1
answer
282
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 ...
- 3,909
0
votes
2
answers
291
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 ...
- 15.6k
1
vote
1
answer
290
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— ...
user126190
0
votes
1
answer
86
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 ...
- 15.6k
0
votes
1
answer
52
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
0
answers
2k
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.
...
- 15.6k
1
vote
1
answer
15
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?
- 303
1
vote
1
answer
57
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 ...
- 11
-1
votes
3
answers
115
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 ...
- 303
0
votes
1
answer
94
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.
- 3
0
votes
3
answers
62
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
1
answer
267
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 ...
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
75
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"
...
- 701
0
votes
1
answer
40
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)?
- 585
0
votes
1
answer
331
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 ...
- 15
0
votes
1
answer
61
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 ...
- 7,233
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Past tense in hypothetical statement?
I don't understand why this sentence is correct: What would you do if this happened to you?
Why use happened and not happen(s)? Is it because it's an imagined situation?
Do we always have to use past ...
- 303
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
Until (till) and tenses in the main clause. Why prefer one over another?
They had been playing soccer until it started to rain.
They played soccer until it started to rain.
Is there any reason you should prefer one over the other? Grammar resources say that the word "...
- 701
0
votes
3
answers
33
views
"is" or "was," when we tell the time of something
Do we say "it is ×× years ago?"
If I'm trying to describe a cartoon, and there is a line that says "30 years ago" on one of pictures of this cartoon, should I say "it was 30 ...
- 31
0
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Double past tense in a sentence. Allowed or not allowed?
May I know what is the rule on using two past tenses in a sentence? Why are some allowed and others not?
Examples:
I did not tell him...
I knew he was going to...
Some people told me that double ...
- 303
0
votes
1
answer
464
views
I scheduled a meeting with him for Monday
Let's suppose my manager asks (via email) me to talk to our vendor representative and sort out some issues:
Please, contact him and try to sort the issues out.
After scheduling a meeting with the ...
- 369
1
vote
1
answer
5k
views
I've scheduled a meeting with him on Monday
Let's suppose my manager asks (via email) me to talk to our vendor representative and sort out some issues:
Please, contact him and try to sort the issues out.
After scheduling a meeting with the ...
- 369