Questions tagged [past-tense]
This tag is for questions about the usage of the past tense in English.
0
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1answer
25 views
Using will in interrogatives?
I really find it difficult to frame a proper English sentence.
I want to ask if this sentence is correct or not:
will she be happy if she comes to know that you bought it from the stolen money?
...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
why “wash” and not “washed”?
I helped my mother wash the dishes after dinner last night.
May I know last night is past, why wash is present?
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1answer
28 views
Why can't l chose much or far instead of quite?
I solved a problem in which l picked wrong answer and the question is the part of text which has blank to be filled . Text is very long so l want to give a part of the text .
"I don't like reading ...
0
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1answer
28 views
difference between past simple and past continuous - when I called her
When I called her, she was studying.
I know what it means.
When I called her, she studied.
But does the second sentence mean she started studying when I called her?
0
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1answer
13 views
implications of past simple tense - a few minutes ago
I learned that the past simple tense is used for actions which are completed at a definite point in time in the past.
Then, does the sentence below imply that they are not dancing anymore now (at the ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
I didn't notice until now that he left - past simple or present perfect?
I have thought that that when something that I can notice continues up to the present, I should use present perfect.
For example:
I have not noticed until now that his car is white.
When the ...
0
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2answers
23 views
Past tenses of Scuba-diving
Are these two sentences correct?
A. Past continuous: We were mainly Scuba-Diving while we were there.
B. Past Simple: Last week we Scuba-dove?
0
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0answers
14 views
Some past tense question
I played football
I had played football
I have played football
I was playing football
Can someone tell me what is the differece between those sentences if they are correct. If they aren't correct, ...
0
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1answer
22 views
That's where past/present-tense [on hold]
The bag where I buy at the shop is missing.
The bag where I bought at the shop is missing.
Which one is correct?
-1
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1answer
37 views
There are two different times so isn't it necessary to use past perfect instead of past simple with 'use'
Capital expenditure of their company in the year 2001 was clearly below the spending in the year 2000 when they used about half the investments for the concept conversion.
There are two years 2000 ...
0
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3answers
52 views
Present perfect simple for an unfinished action
I decided to walk back home. I had walked for about 200 meters when the storm began and I ran to the nearest cafe.
Would it be possible to use past perfect progressive since the walk was not ...
0
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0answers
14 views
“When” OR “Before” in this context
The patient had already died when the doctor came.
The patient had already died before the doctor came.
As many people use these interchangeably.
Do they convey the same meaning?
Thank you.
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2answers
18 views
Would past simple be ok in this case
Complete the passage with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
Goldilocks is probably the most famous and most charming “squatter” of all times.While the Bear family was looking(look)for ...
0
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0answers
14 views
~all of which + having vs. have?
We had exams three days ago, and there's a question I still don't get. We had to correct (but were not allowed to split into two sentences):
Good papers do not merely review literature and then say ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
When should we use present perfect tense
I am a English Learner. I am very bad regarding tense. Somewhere in the youtube in the comment section I got a comment about a topic How many match box have you used? . As per my knowledge the ...
0
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2answers
73 views
Which tense fits the context best? (“would win” or “won”)
Which tense fits the context best?
The Super Grocery Store organized a competition for kids. Whoever could guess the correct number of jellybeans in the big jar, would win a prize.
The Super ...
0
votes
1answer
16 views
Grammar: Past perfect tense
If someone just told me about some celebrity I didn't know about all my life. would it be natural to express this in past perfect tense.
For instance:
Someone tells me about me about Mohammed Ali and ...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
Is it not a strange past perfect here?
The rumor we heard at the time was that Chris D had a bunch of Upsetter overstock of this Tooth and Nail vinyl compilations and that he'd recently carried them down to Rhino for beer money.
the first ...
6
votes
2answers
184 views
Difference between did and does
I messaged my friend asking if a person(say Mr. ABC) replies to his messages. So I texted him saying: " Does Mr. ABC reply to your messages?"
He corrected me saying that it was "did" and not "does"
...
2
votes
1answer
15 views
Something that possibly happened in the past
On https://scifi.stackexchange.com/q/209550/1924 there was a comment
If someone thinks being able to find out more or less everything that happened in the past is less dangerous than a dragons, all ...
0
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1answer
17 views
Past tense or present tense with after
Some people after you help them, just go away.
Or
Some people after you helped them just go away.
Or
Some people after you’ve help them just go away?
Thanks
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Use of past tense in situational present
Is it idiomatic to say this.
Some people can be grumpy especially if they didn’t have a good night sleep.
20
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8answers
6k views
“My boss was furious with me and I have been fired” vs. “My boss was furious with me and I was fired”
I have a question and I hope you can help me. I've been learning English for many years but I'm still struggling with the difference between simple past and present perfect.
For example this sentence ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
after + doing vs I did, which one is correct or better? [on hold]
It was my first time to do something after +
graduating from university
I graduated from university
Which one is better?
3
votes
1answer
39 views
Why do I need the past, not the past perfect, here?
Capital expenditure of their company in the year 2001 _______ clearly below the spending in the year 2000 when they _______ about half the investments for the concept conversion.
A) used to be / had ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
I already finished the work
I have such a rule in my head that if we have "already", "still" or "yet" I am obliged to use Perfect Tenses.
But can these words be used in Past Simple?
I already finished the work (some time in ...
0
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2answers
34 views
I had finished it by 11 am
I was told to that it was incorrect to say:
I had finished it by 11 am
The person was saying Past Perfect could be used only with Past Simple, not times like this one. What do you think about it?
0
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0answers
18 views
When you had found it out by 11 am I had already come?
Can we say so:
I found it out at 11 am ?
It's Past Simple. The action happened while it was 11 am
Can we say:
I had found it out by 11 am?
It's Past Perfect. The action had happened before 11 am....
0
votes
1answer
14 views
she not go to live with her father (in past)
Can we use not go in past? For example, this sentence:
She not go to live with her father.
I am not sure if I can use this sentence like this:
She did not went to live with her father.
or:
...
0
votes
0answers
20 views
I had done when you had come by the evening
We have "A" and B moments in the past. "A" happened first, "B" happened second. "A" should be in Perfect. Example:
I had done when you came
I had done - "A"
When you came - "B"
"A" happened before ...
0
votes
0answers
7 views
Past simple and past continuous in picture descriptions
I found the following exercise in a workbook:
Choose the past simple or the past continuous:
...
In the exercise there .... a picture of three doctors who .... .
Answer key: was/sang
My question: ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
he has scored or he scored
My non-native English speaking friends and I meet regularly and learn English from one another. At our last meeting, I talked about an amateur hockey player, who is my friend. This is what I said to ...
1
vote
1answer
17 views
Which tense should be used in this situation?
I am confused about what tense I should use in this situation.
He ______ (can) picture his brother's face more clearly now, because he had saved the life of a fourteen-year-old boy, who remarkably ...
1
vote
2answers
38 views
“took a bath” or “have taken a bath”
Which sentence is correct (if not both) and what is the difference between them?
I just took a bath. [moments ago]
I've just taken a bath.
1
vote
1answer
33 views
How long did you do it (for)? [closed]
I keep having difficulties with past tenses:
1. If action has started and is still going on we can ask "how long have you been doing that", right?
2. Is Present Perfect Simple possible here? "How long ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Present perfect continuous for the verb to sign?
On the same exercise there is that sentence
He has been signing up for a historical tour to exactly these places
The reason of choosing the continuous form is that it is a temporary action.
But ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Past simple and “all night”
can i use just past simple in this case "
Sorry, I'm late because I was in a sauna with Johnny Depp and Angelina
Jolie all last night
"If I have "all last night is it ok to use just past simple ...
1
vote
1answer
14 views
Present or past when the thing doesn't exist
A: Did you ever have the orange sherbet at Johnny's Icecream Shop? It's a shame the place burned down and no longer exists.
B: I used to. All the time. I liked that a lot. What a pity.
Would it be ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
How to avoid multiple negatives in sentence [closed]
I have written few lines, but I feel those could be more better in English, even I am not sure about grammatical mistakes. Please correct my below sentences
"But that didn't go well as I didn't ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Is the past and prestent tense correct in this?
I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I started working this morning
Or should it be .. I like that you made it a point to bring me food before I start working this morning.
1
vote
1answer
6 views
Past tense of “ I have to”
Question 1: How do I change this correctly and accordingly to the past perfect tense
example: He have to do that because someone has told him to
possible answer: He had to do that because someone ...
0
votes
1answer
26 views
'Once' conjunction past tense
'Once they passed the exam, they worked in a national hospital and received more
training.'
I can't understand the correct meaning of this sentence.
I know a sentence like 'Once they pass the exam,...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Confused between past simple and past continious
The situation is that I am talking to some friends about an event that happened earlier:
When I was packing my clothes my dog was watching me.
When I was packing my clothes my dog watched me.
...
0
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0answers
18 views
why past continuous in this case as both actions are completed at the time of writing
A side is Freak Out, B side is Dr. Hoo Hoo, Mr. Tomomatsu were recording and mixing the same as the previous two 7", and legendary L.A Punk's engineer/producer GEZA X were mastering these songs.
why ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Usage of present tense in a past tense sentence
I read that if sentence is in past tense then all clauses of the sentence should be in past, except if it is a universal truth.
Now, I want to create a sentence and situation is this - I watched ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
never traveled or had never traveled?
Rousseau produced twenty-six jungle paintings in the final six years of his life. In fact, he had never traveled outside of France or seen a jungle.
If had never traveled would be changed into ...
0
votes
1answer
17 views
Present/ Past tense between sentences with past tense?
She overcame all of her difficulties and created her own destiny as a merchant all by herself. That is not all. After making a large fortune, she willingly donated almost all of her wealth to her ...
0
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1answer
65 views
Started or has started
Life started in a simple organisms .
Can has started can be used instead of started? Then how are the meanings different?
Because life is still going on, can i use present perfect?
0
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1answer
19 views
Tense agreement is or was?
The public and critics laughed at Rousseau's flat style of portraying human figures. This was because the paintings did not look real. Rousseau's style was markedly different from the contemporary ...
0
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1answer
27 views
is estimated OR was estimated
It IS/WAS estimated that people consumed a lot of bottled water in 2015.
In the sentence above, is and was both are possible? Then how the nuance is different?
If there is no difference, which is ...
