Questions tagged [past-tense]

This tag is for questions about the usage of tenses to refer to the past.

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-2 votes
1 answer
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Using "is" to refer past event

I heard once my Boss salary. "My Nephew came from US, He is sitting next to my seat and enjoyed front seat driving view. In US it is no allowed" My question is He is sitting next to my seat ...
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1 answer
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hasn't have vs. didn't: which one is correct?

What is correct and what is the difference between: I didn't see anybody there. I haven't seen anybody there.
2 votes
2 answers
168 views

stood vs standing

I was listening to a podcast and person 1: If you were stood on the station platform? pedant: Standing, if you were standing on the station platform? What is wrong with stood in that sentence? as ...
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0 votes
2 answers
38 views

"He was dead for two years"

When we use past participle we should add other additional clause as past participle cannot usually stand alone on its own. If we have to use a single clause we usually prefer simple past as in "...
2 votes
1 answer
26 views

Talking about a past habit in a story narration

I was watching a comedy show; the comedian was talking about going on a trip with his dad and he said "I was sharing a hotel room with my dad. I knew he snored.". Is it right to use simple ...
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2 votes
1 answer
135 views

Why update is in the present after was?

Sentence: The only thing I did today was update the PDF file. Can someone explain to me why the verb to update in the present after was? Is this kind of grammar common? I appreciate any help you can ...
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0 votes
0 answers
24 views

Can we use past simple here instead of past continuous

Mary was one of 185 passengers on a British Airways flight to Warsaw. She was feeling very excited when she got on the plane at Gatwick Airport. She had been waiting a long time for this day. She ...
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0 votes
1 answer
23 views

"Finish" or "finished" after the "always" adverb and "every day" in the end

The below simple test makes confuses me and the answer key for this test says the correct answer is "finished". Why "finish" is not the correct one? The first part of the sentence ...
1 vote
1 answer
23 views

past tense with modal verbs

Here are two sentences extracted from the Harry Potter series: 1, The harder she tried to pull it(a sweater) over his head, the smaller it seemed to become, until finally it might have fitted a glove ...
0 votes
0 answers
15 views

Had decided or decided in this context? [duplicate]

I don't remember exactly when I first heard of you. I think it was when I received the very first xxxx single , I had read a good review of it and decided to order it . I received it with a letter ...
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0 votes
0 answers
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Is past perfect continuous possible in this case?

In a previous question I asked" what were the best choice?" "had been or has been", I was answered that "had been" was not possible but if I add "before all these ...
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0 votes
0 answers
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What is the best choice here " had been playing or have been playing" [duplicate]

Do you still like them ( all these bands you have been playing with)? Does" have been playing" convey this idea : the man does not play with this bands. All of them split a long time ago ...
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1 vote
1 answer
23 views

Why did Mark Twain write: There laid a man on the ground

By and by I was close enough to have a look, and there laid a man on the ground. I thought it would be correct to say: There lies a man on the ground. (now) There lay a man on the ground. (before) If ...
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0 votes
0 answers
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How do you use the present perfect after "since"?

My understanding is that "since" indicates the start of an event, so it's understandable to use the past simple after "since", as in "It's been ten years since we met each ...
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1 vote
2 answers
33 views

Yesterday + for = past continuous?

There is a sentence: Yesterday I (clean) for 3 hours. Someone said that since we have "yesterday", it will be Past Simple and everything else doesn´t matter. However, cleaning is a process,...
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0 votes
0 answers
13 views

"I never paid attention to this point" vs "I had never paid attention to this point."

During a discussion somebody brings up a point that I didn't/hadn't paid attention to before, what is the correct way to express this: I never paid attention to this point. or I had never paid ...
0 votes
0 answers
8 views

Asking questions in Past Tense [duplicate]

I came home and cooked dinner for myself. Which one is correct? Did you come home and cooked dinner for yourself? Did you come home and cook dinner for yourself?
1 vote
0 answers
12 views

Could past simple fit in this case ?("question" in past perfect answer in past simple)

I ordered a copy of this new record on vinyl and postage was only 1,6 euros( it should have been around 10 euros) .Surprised I just double-checked to see if I had chosen the good option . Yes I ...
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0 votes
1 answer
21 views

for them to have left

a. It was possible for them to have left the house. What does that sentence mean? That it was possible that they had already left the house? or That they could leave the house, but they didn't. ?
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0 votes
2 answers
15 views

How to answer this question

As soon as he …………….. (get) under the shower, the doorbell …………….. (ring) i was thinking to use past continues on the 'ring' but he go to the shower first. so I though to use past continues on the '...
-2 votes
1 answer
37 views

When we almost finished / When we were finishing

When we almost finished planting the young trees, father brought 10 rose bushes. When we were finishing planting the young trees, father brought 10 rose bushes. Which sentence is more idiomatic? I ...
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0 votes
2 answers
44 views

We used to live there five years ago - is it correct?

my question is actually in the title. I'm confused by the past time expression "ago"+ used to, although I don't see a proper explanation of whether it's possible or not. I usually see used ...
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-1 votes
3 answers
26 views

"Are nouns ever a closed class?", is this construction correct?

When I came across this question, the construction used for the question itself surprised me: Are nouns ever a closed class? Why the verb is in present tense? Does it make sense? Shouldn't be used ...
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-1 votes
2 answers
38 views

Past Perfect vs Present Perfect [closed]

everyone! I was reading a book and there was like "After we have done our home tasks we went to the cinema" I wonder why it's present perfect , bit not past perfect ? Thank you beforehand!
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-1 votes
1 answer
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Which tense should I use here: "didn't live up to" or "hadn't lived up to"? [closed]

What is the difference between: Не said that the performance didn't live up to his expectations and Не said that the performance hadn't lived up to his expectations? Should we use Past Simple or ...
0 votes
1 answer
27 views

They went to Paris and I went to Rome. / They were going to Paris and I was going to Rome

I met Tom and Jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They went to Paris and I went to Rome. We had a chat while we were waiting for our flights. I met Tom and Jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They ...
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0 votes
1 answer
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Past Simple or Present Perfect in a Subordinate Clause with 'Until'

I waited until he found out the truth before I attempted to explain myself. OR I waited until he had found out the truth before I attempted to explain myself. Is Past Perfect necessary here? I ...
0 votes
1 answer
36 views

Explain the grammatical difference between "My parents would've never allowed that behavior." and "My parents would had never allowed that behavior."

What is the difference between "My parents would've never allowed that behavior." and "My parents would had never allowed that behavior."
-1 votes
1 answer
44 views

didn't notice with past simple or perfect [duplicate]

I didn't notice he fell. I didn't notice he'd fallen. I didn't notice he stole my money. I didn't notice he'd stolen my money. what's the difference and what's more correct?
0 votes
1 answer
38 views

Tense for events that went on over the same period of past time

My textbook says: When we talk about two events or activities that went on over the same period of past time, we can often use the past continuous or the past simple for both . . . However, it doesn’...
-1 votes
2 answers
47 views

did or had done [duplicate]

1a) I didn't know what he did. 1b) I didn't know what he'd done. The context is "He stole from my house, and I didn't know it at the time of speaking" what would I use? Do they both mean the ...
3 votes
2 answers
137 views

"has risen" and "rose"

I'm really confused about tense: The percentage of the employees has risen from 20 percent to 24 percent over the past five years. The university's four-year graduation rate rose from 20 percent in ...
0 votes
1 answer
30 views

Let me know once/when/after you got/get/bought/buy the laptop

Let me know once/when/after you got/get/bought/buy the laptop. Which choice of words should I use, and what are the differences? I am always confused about the tenses, and don't know which kind of ...
0 votes
0 answers
23 views

Past perfect or simple with time duration

1a) He was craving pizza because he didn't have it for months. 1b) He was craving pizza because he hadn't had it for months. 2a) he smelled so bad because he didn't have shower for 10 days. 2b) he ...
0 votes
0 answers
30 views

He is one of the people to find out what happened or he was one of the people to find out what happened? Which one is grammatically correct?

He is one of the people to find out what happened. He was one of the people to find out what happened. If we talked about what already happened it seems like I should use "he was" but then ...
0 votes
0 answers
18 views

was living/lived - last year

1 Last year, I visited a music Festival in my town. I liked it. 2 Last year, I was visiting a music festival in my town. I liked it. Do you agree that 1 is correct while 2 is wrong? I think that 2 is ...
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0 votes
0 answers
18 views

I built/was building/in/for

Do you agree? I built this house for 5 years. - wrong I built this house in 5 years. - correct I was building this house for five years. - correct In what contexts could "I was building this ...
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0 votes
1 answer
30 views

past continuous vs. past simple

When I was first living in New York, I ate a lot of pizza. When I first lived in New York, I ate a lot of pizza. Is it true that the first one is natural but the second one is not?
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0 votes
1 answer
35 views

Past continuous vs past perfect continuous

1a) He went through her phone and found out she'd been lying to him all the time. 1b) He went through her phone and found out she was lying to him all the time. 2a) My friend asked me to watch that ...
0 votes
1 answer
17 views

Why the past perfect is used in the sentence and is it correct?

The sentence: Remove products that are part of a bundle from the cart when the bundle has been added to the cart. Why using the past perfect here "when the bundle has been added to the cart&...
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0 votes
2 answers
52 views

Why did the writer choose this form in this text"

When the gig was over Johnny's hand had swollen to the size of a catcher's mitt. The patron came over to Johnny, his face cut and swollen, gave Johnny a hug and in his english brogue, said it was the ...
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-1 votes
1 answer
52 views

simple past + by 6pm

This question helped me construct the next sentences and I want to make sure if they're correct: By 6pm I had given him the money, and then I went home. (Would "gave" be incorrect?) I gave ...
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0 votes
3 answers
23 views

Should "realized" be used with the past perfect or simple?

A few example sentences: I woke up late and realized I overslept (or) had overslept. I went to market yesterday bought some clothes while paying the bill I realized I left (or) had left my wallet at ...
0 votes
2 answers
73 views

What is the difference between "didn't" and "hadn't"

I was tired because I didn't sleep / hadn't slept. I was hungry because I didn't eat / hadn't eaten. which one is right and what's the difference ? I want to give information and cause of myself ...
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can I use 'was' twice in a sentence?

For example: "I was salivating on the food he was cooking." Thank you in advance.
0 votes
3 answers
31 views

The past of something routinely done

I watch a movie every Monday. I know this sentence is in the present tense and it indicates something routinely done. How could I say that in the past as I no longer watch movie. My guess is: In the ...
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4 votes
3 answers
147 views

Was used to / used to / got used

Do these constructions mean the same ? I used to play football when I was a child. I was used to play football when I was a child. And I got used to play football.
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0 votes
1 answer
25 views

When / while + past continuous/simple

I´m studying the use of while and when with simple past/past continuous. I´ve watched some videos about it, but I cannot fully understand when I should use "while" or "when" and if ...
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0 votes
0 answers
27 views

DID you work/were you working

Did you work at the same job 5 years ago? Where you working at the same job 5 years ago? What are the nuances discriminating the two meanings? I like 2 better.
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0 votes
1 answer
43 views

how to understand where it is better not to use Past Perfect?

I am confused, because I use Past Perfect even where it's not needed. Please, help me to figure out. For instance, why we don't say: We had had nothing in common with her, so we quickly lost contact....
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