Questions tagged [past-tense]
This tag is for questions about the usage of the past tense in English.
1,293
questions
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1answer
28 views
What's the difference in meaning of this two sentences?
They would often visit friends in Europe.
They often visited friends in Europe.
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0answers
19 views
what is the most important in this sentence the present relevance or the fact that this event belongs to the past?
http://fluencyspace.com/exercises/mixed-past-tenses/
It is great to tell people that I have seen (see) the tallest building in the world!
I know the answer is present prefect but I think the"...
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2answers
50 views
“Ago” at present perfect simple?
Are there any instances in which the use of "ago" in Present Perfect Simple Tense would be deemed correct? For example:
I've (just) finished reading 5 minutes ago.
From my perspective, the ...
0
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1answer
48 views
Past Perfect & Past Simple + Before
As we can see in
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastperfect.html
If the past perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, past perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below....
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1answer
24 views
Made or have made
I don't think they made a reservation
I don't think they have made a reservation
They 'have made' a reservation sounds good to me.
What is the difference. Why is using past sentence in this ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Referring to a habit int the past
Which of the following sentences is grammarly correct and why?
When I was a child, I wouldn't go to sleep unless my mom had kissed me goodnight.
or
When I was a child, I wouldn't go to sleep ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
A question about tense agreement
Is the following sentence gramatically correct?
I didn't understand what he wants to tell you.
I think that it expresses that at some time in the past I didn't understand what he still ...
0
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0answers
16 views
Is the use of past tense correct in this context?
An American official said on Saturday night that senior military officials had decided that, with American forces largely withdrawing from Syria, commandos should take action quickly to try to kill or ...
0
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2answers
39 views
Confusion with past and past perfect tense usage
I want to write a narrative in simple past tense. I have some confusion regarding the usage of past and past perfect tense. Kindly read the below narrative and provide guidance.
He asked me why I ...
2
votes
2answers
34 views
By the time…, was/had been
Could someone tell me what's the difference between:
By the time we got here, the place was barricaded.
By the time we got here, the place had been barricaded.
The same question about these ...
0
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1answer
21 views
“Since they partnered up they have made a lot of money”
Since they partnered up they have made a lot of money.
Or should it be
Since they had partnered up they have made a lot of money.
because first they partnered up and only then they have made a ...
0
votes
1answer
12 views
To be, is or was
Sometimes, I make a sentence whose subject can represent something of the past and something that still exists today. Which tense should I use for the helping verb?
For instance:
Any cellphone which (...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
Drive with vs ride with
Can we say Toni rode with/drove with Danny to the mall?
I am not sure if "rode with" gives the same meaning of "drove with".
I want to say that Toni went in the car with Danny, and he drives her to ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Why do people use “did” instead of “do” when asking something?
When I go to shops to buy something, always workers ask me,
"Did you need a bag?" or "Did you need a receipt?".
I'm really wondering why they say "Did" than "Do" because I learned that when I talk ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
“it has been been…today” vs. “It was…today”
Edited
Is it correct to the say:
It has been been attempted to deliver today.
My concern here is that I have mentioned “today “ so I think I have to use past simple always. Is it?
It was attempted ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
Past simple usage in this sentence
"They had to live each day, for a month, as an old person, with hidden cameras to record how other people reacted to them".
Why is past simple used in the end of this sentence?
0
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1answer
13 views
Describing past action
I would always see him coming to school late with his jeans.
I would always see him coming to school late with his jeans worn.
I would always see him coming to school late while wearing his jeans.
...
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3answers
71 views
How should verb goes with “let” be in past tenses?
How should verb goes with "let" be in past tenses?
Present tense: let's go; let me see
Past tense: let's went? let me saw?
I'm unable to search for any information about this. It seems like let will ...
3
votes
1answer
56 views
Difference between Past continuous and Past perfect continuous
In these following sentences, which one is grammatically correct?
They were playing football since 10 o'clock.
They had been playing football since 10 o'clock.
According to this reference ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
hadn't vs didn't
When I was at home, I had decided not to go to a restaurant. But later when I left home for some errand, I was hungry. So I went to a restaurant. So which one would rightly describing my situation?
I ...
0
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0answers
23 views
If we used or if we have used
I'm wondering which one of these two sentences is correct? And if they both are correct, then what's the difference between them?
For displacement maps we use 32 bit depth images in order to avoid
...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Where did you go? vs Where were you go?
In these following sentences, which one is grammatically correct?
Where did you go?
Where were you go?
Thank you.
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Can we use past simple without giving the exact time?
Can we use past simple without giving the exact time. For example.
'I will tell you how I learned English through self-study.'
0
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0answers
9 views
different tenses for almost simultaneous actions and feelings
I saw this sentence:
I have just seen this band and I really enjoyed their show
why past simple for enjoy and not present perfect, is it good English?
Is it because: you can only say that you ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
What is the correct way to refer to future that is spoken about in the past?
I want to talk about a moment in the future that I though about in the past. Is any of these sentences correct and why?
I thought we might become more than just friends in the far future, when our ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Comparing two sentences is the same meaning (Past and Past perfect tense)
"I felt a little better after I had taken the medicine" <--by Google search, it has about 2,820 results
VS
"I felt a little better after I took the medicine" <--by Google search,...
1
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2answers
32 views
Particular question about past
He knew that I was trying to tell him the fact that him being
wrong.
He knew that I was trying to tell him the fact which is him being
wrong.
He knew that I was trying to tell him the
fact ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
In this case are 2 past perfect ok [duplicate]
Yesterday I looked at the record you sent me last week. I saw on the sleeve that you wrote/had written "no payment is necessary for you" but I had paid 50 usd through discogs to get it.
So it would ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
What is the difference between “introduced”, “had introduced” and “have introduced”?
Although Immanuel Kant, one of the greatest thinkers in the history of philosophy, --- many pieces of technical terminology to articulate the themes of his critical philosophy, perhaps none --- more ...
1
vote
2answers
75 views
Did I answer or Have I answered?
I was talking to a person on chat. Yesterday he asked me a question. Today I replied, then added:
Did I answer your question?
Now that I think about it I should have probably phrased it like so:
...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Usage of swum vs swam
Should I use use 'swum' or 'swam' in sentences such as
He swum across the river.
-OR-
He swam across the river.
Which is correct? What's the difference?
Thanks
2
votes
1answer
21 views
Usage of did while describing the subject
If you're using did followed by a description of the subject, will the verb that follows be in present or past?
For example, should it be
Did the person you choose have the key?
or
Did the ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
I had an enjoyable night or I have an enjoyable night
When receiving text from a friend the next day after a dinner.
I replied "Thank you for your invitation. I had an enjoyable night."
Or should I reply "I have an enjoyable night"
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Using “was” even though it still is the case
Is it okay to say was even though it still is the case?
He had his xray this morning and it was normal.
He had his xray this morning and it’s normal.
0
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2answers
24 views
require or required after as
After 'as', what form of word should come? A noun, an adjective, an adverb or simple past form of verb?
as require
or
as required
0
votes
2answers
66 views
What is the tense of “wasn't interrupted”
So I'm writing a book and English is not my native language. As I've gotten deeper into the writing process I noticed that I'm almost randomly choosing between past tenses without making much logic (...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
When have you come? Vs when did you come?
I know that the adverb "when" can not be used in questions referring to present perfect. I have referred to many grammar books such as Raymond Murphy's and Micheal Swan's and all those books say that "...
-2
votes
1answer
28 views
what is the best solution in this case
Sorry I have not answered before because I was away from home, to answer to your question " how I heard from the band" , that's because I was looking through the feral kid page when I saw your record,...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
how to distinguish between different uses of present perfect?
1- Complete the following exercise :
I live in New York now ,but I ___________ (live) in Mexico for many years
The answer is "lived" as my grammar book mentioned, But why? ,Since we use the ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
what is the best choice here
"I was about to email you why I have not received the parcel when..."
I was wondering if present perfect for receive is a good choice since at the time of writing the parcel has not arrived or ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Is it okay to say we or us even if you are no longer part of something?
I now work in marketing but I used to work in production.
How do you compare marketing to production?
Here in marketing, your suggestion gets considered. In production, they just ask us to do menial ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Why was the simple past instead of the present perfect used?
I have found the following sentence in Michael Swan's grammar book.
From his earliest childhood, he loved music.
So far as I know, present perfect is used to talk about actions that have just ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Proper use of Past Perfect Vs Past Simple [duplicate]
English is my second language. I've learned all tense rule. Problem is every day I'm facing a huge confusion between Past simple and Past Perfect.
According to grammar rule, we can you use Past ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
The difference between “I never followed you” and “I've never followed you”
If someone says to me that
You unfollowed me!
Which answer is correct?
1) I never followed you
2) I've never followed you
I feel like both are correct, but I can't understand the ...
1
vote
2answers
36 views
Can I use the present tense “don't” when referring to a past event?
I would like to know if this sentence is correct:
I don't love you anymore after you left me.
I am wondering if it should be "didn't love anymore", as the second part after after is in the past ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
After the word “before” should use past tense?
After the word “before” should use past tense?
“This picture was taken before we were blessed with a daughter into our world.”
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Implications of using simple past instead of present perfect
I am reading a text (a PhD thesis) which almost exclusively uses simple past tense when describing something that has happened in the past. In some cases, I feel that the author should have used past ...
0
votes
2answers
60 views
Which one is correct: have happened or had happened?
I'm wondering from these sentences which one is true:
1."So, which one have happened yesterday? You went for a walk or stay here?"
or
2."So which one had happened? You went for a walk or stay ...
3
votes
1answer
77 views
The preterite with imaginary situations in the future: “if tomorrow it was proven”
Is below sentence is correct?
If tomorrow it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does not and never did exist, would you want to remain a part of your religion.
This is because word ...
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votes
1answer
22 views
What is the tense used here? [closed]
I thought you would have eaten by now.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . (OR)
I thought you would have ate by now.
Which is correct?
What is the tense used here?
