Questions tagged [past-tense]
This tag is for questions about the usage of tenses to refer to the past.
174
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Should I use the past tense with did?
Should I use the past tense with did? For example, I was to say:
The important question is: Did they knew what it means or not?
Or should I say:
The important question is: Did they know what it ...
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Is there a simple and clear way to explain the difference between past simple and present perfect?
I read (or do I say "have read"?) many rules for when to use the present perfect. I found them complex and hard to understand (or do I say "have found"?). I am finding it hard to apply these rules in ...
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3
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When is using the past perfect tense not necessary?
Is it more natural to speak in simple past or past perfect when explaining past events to a friend? It seems like Americans use more simple past in everyday life than past perfect. I found this ...
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9
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3
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Present-perfect-tense vs. Simple-past-tense
I've been reading this question. I have also been reading this pdf. From these two sources it appears that there is no difference between Present-perfect-tense and Simple-past-tense.
I myself ...
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3
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Why "Would you mind if I asked you something?" is correct?
Instead of "Would you mind if I ask you something?" Why past tense, I don't get it?
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7
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“I saw a dog” vs. “I have seen a dog”
I saw a dog.
I have seen a dog.
What are the differences between them?
Did these events happen on the same day?
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9
votes
2
answers
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"Have had" versus "had"
How does the usage of "have had" and "had" differ?
Here is my example from my other question:
People who have had their belongings taken will turn into miserable people.
Here are the things I ...
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1
answer
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" could " vs. " could have "
As I know we can use both structures to talk about past ability , but is there any difference between them?
A. He could climb the mountain
B. He could have climbed the mountain
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3
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"got" vs. "have got"
Reg: What's that you have got Meggie?
Reg: Show us.
Meggie: No, she's mine! I got her for my birthday!
Reg: We just want to have a look.
Reg used the present perfect have got in the first sentence; ...
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8
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5
answers
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7
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Which tense to use in an academic paper when referring to past research?
I am writing a paper in mathematics.
Stone theorems have a long history. B [B78] proved the stone theorem for the B model. C and D [CD14] not only prove a stone theorem for the cake process in ...
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Past Simple vs. Present Perfect
I didn't grow out of it.
or
I haven't grown out of it.
Which sentence is grammatically more correct? I'd rather say the second, but I saw in the text the first one.
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3
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Present perfect or simple past?
I just came across this question:
This tree (be) _____ planted by the settlers who (found) _____ our city over four hundred years ago.
I think "over four hundred years ago" is an unspecified ...
user49231
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2
answers
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Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
Sometimes I feel difficulty telling the difference between simple past and present perfect.
Given a picture like this:
which one is correct between these two? Or in what sense are they different?
A....
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7
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Why is 'The Chinese have invented the printer' wrong?
In the textbook by by Raymond Murphy, Intermediate English Grammar, 2nd edition, on page 26:
"The Chinese invented printing."
Raymond Murphy says that we can't use the present perfect here. ...
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18
votes
2
answers
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Past tense: learned/learnt, dreamed/dreamt?
In my very first question, Carlo made an edit stating that learnt is a rare past tense of learn. I am accustomed to using learnt for past tense and learned as an adjective (as in He is a learned ...
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2
answers
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Using “used to” vs "would" when expressing something done in the past
I understand how the phrase "used to" can describe something that was done in the past:
When I was growing up, my parents used to read to me at bedtime.
My dad used to take the family out ...
J.R.♦
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"I heard the clock strike ten": why not "striked ten"?
I heard the clock strike ten.
Why is strike in the simple present in this sentence?
What are the conditions for using a simple present verb after a past tense verb to talk about the past?
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"I would rather did it myself" or "I would rather do it myself"?
Which of the following is the correct sentence:
I would rather do it myself.
I would rather did it myself.
When I meant to say that I don't know how to do this work otherwise I am well ...
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votes
4
answers
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When to use "drank" and "drunk"
I am a bit confused in using drank and drunk. I know we use it with past tense but not when to use drank and when to use drunk. What are the better ways to use these?
I visited this, too, but it ...
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1
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"She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska." Why incorrect?
The rule says if the order of two actions/events is clear then the past perfect is not necessary, i.e. you can use past simple. So if the sentence has before or after then the order is clear and ...
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10
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2
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Tense agreement: "Before he 'had come'/'came' to the factory, Tom 'was studying'/'had studied' at the university of London"
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Before he had come to the factory, Tom was studying at the university
of London.
Before he came to the factory, Tom had studied at the University ...
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9
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1
answer
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English's imperfect tense and its imperfection
It just occurred to me that in English, when we use what Spanish would refer to as the "imperfect tense", we are actually adding a mode of termination to the action. Whereas in Spanish, there is no ...
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"I'm born and brought up in India" - I don't want to use the 'past' tense here
I read this question here and this one is different because the second clause is in present tense.
I'm born and brought up in India. - too commonly practiced in India.
I was born in India is correct ...
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Which is the correct tense to use with 'by'?
I gave him the money by 6 PM.
I had given him the money by 6 PM.
I can't spot the difference between them and both seem right, but I was told the first one is wrong. Can anyone say, why?
Here is a ...
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2
answers
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Should I always use the perfect present, when the sentence uses "never"?
In my English classes, I was taught that never should not be used with past forms, only with present perfect forms; this is also what I read in a grammar book I bought some years ago. (I bought the ...
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5
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Is it possible to be grammatically correct without using past perfect?
Can you guys please help with which verb tense to use when talking about numerous specific events?
In the example below, I'm not quite sure if past perfect really is necessary.
"She sent me a ...
- 1,761
4
votes
1
answer
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"Was going to" versus "would be" as the past tense of "will"
Do you think that "was going to be" or "would be" could be used as past tense of will?
I thought this book was going to be your choice.
I thought this book would be your choice.
Do these two ...
- 1,761
3
votes
3
answers
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Why should we use 'Did you come?' instead of 'Did you came?'? [duplicate]
I know 'Did' is the past tense of 'Do' and if we want to
ask question in present tense 'Do you come?' and in past tense it is 'Did you come?'.
Why don't we use 'Did you came?' as came is the past ...
3
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2
answers
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Can the past simple or the present perfect fit in this example with yet
Two days ago I tried to order a book but could not pay because your system did not accept/ has not accepted paypal payments yet.
if I choose to add yet with past simple it means that at the time of ...
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2
votes
1
answer
277
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"Has been" vs "was"
Would you please explain the difference between these two sentences?
Spain ceded (or gave) Puerto Rico to the United States. Since then, Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory.
Spain ceded(or ...
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1
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Where did they go / do they went?
Where did they go?
Where do they went?
Can you please advise which of above forms is correct? I'm pretty sure that first one is fine but wondering about second one.
Can I use a second form as ...
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"Water will boil at 100°C" and "The vine wouldn't grow"
I have read in Longman English Grammar, page No 246,
that we use 'will' and 'would' to describe natural tendency
Like the simple present tense [> 9.6-8] will (with a 3rd person subject)
can ...
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vote
2
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In American English, why is the past tense of "plan" spelt "planned"?
In American English, a lot of words are spelt with a single consonant plus "-ed", rather than two consonants as you often find in British English. Why isn't "plan" spelt with a single consonant?
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3
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Have gone or Have been
Could you please tell me whether this conversation is grammatically correct or not.
A: Where were you last week?
(Or can I ask like this)
A: "Where have you been in the last week?"
B: I ...
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vote
2
answers
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did call vs called
Is there any difference in meaning between the two sentences below?
I did call him
And
I called him
Both of the above sentences are in past tense. Please help me understand the difference in ...
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1
vote
1
answer
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Book Is/Was Divided Into Sections
Suppose a book consists of three sections:
The book is/was divided into three sections.
I am thinking the past tense option "was" should be used, because the act of dividing the book into three ...
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7
votes
8
answers
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Mistaking versus mistaken
I've always been curious why some people insist that "I was mistaken" is grammatically correct whereas "I was mistaking" is grammatically wrong. Doesn't the later follow past progressive verb tense? ...
user63712
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3
answers
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Compared to or Comparing to?
I am not sure what is compared in this phrase but it seems that people believe it as the correct word.
She is nice, compared to you.
You're nicer, compared to him.
But why? What makes ...
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votes
4
answers
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Past simple vs used to vs would
I feel a little tangled in grammatical nuances and would like you to help me clear some things out. I know it's possible to use either the past simple, "used to" and "would" to ...
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Does "will" always become "would" in the past?
1)
Tom: I will phone you on Sunday.
Me: Tom said he would phone me on Sunday.
2)
I decided I will go to the library. (today)
I decided yesterday I would go to the library. (tomorrow)
...
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1
answer
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Why does "the then chairman" contain "the then" at the same time?
A special court for CBI cases on Monday framed charges against the then chairman and managing director, executive director and senior vice-president of the erstwhile Global Trust Bank and ...
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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 ...
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2
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Have you phoned or Did you phone? [duplicate]
1.Have you phoned your sister?
2.Did you phone your sister?
What is the difference between the above two sentences? (Do they sound similar?)
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2
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Tense after when
I have these 2 examples:
I was sure that you would give me a telegram when you COME to Moscow.
I was sure that she would go to the museum again as soon as she HAD the spare time.
Why in first ...
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answer
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"Kristina 'has passed'/'passed' her exam! She 'has got'/'got' 90%"
Kristina has passed her exam!
Kristina passed her exam!
Does English use the present perfect (1) or the past tense (2) to announce news?
Apart the way to express the vote—90%, 90, I don't know—which ...
user114
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votes
1
answer
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It's been a long time since I (went/have been) to Canada
It's been a long time since I went to Canada
Does the above sentence mean: since first or last went to Canada?
When you as a native speaker hear the above and below sentences, could you give me ...
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votes
1
answer
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Imperfective and perfective aspects of verb "glow"
The following six examples are taken from Google Books:
Now that they were up close, it was clear that one section of the wall
was glowing a much deeper green than the rest. Jack moved next to ...
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1
answer
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Reported speech: When to not change "was" to "had been"?
Recently, I was studying about reported speech and while thinking about a few "directly" reported constructions came to mind.
I'm trying to change those sentences to reported speech.
Barbara ...
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2
answers
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“have despatched...yesterday” vs. “despatched … yesterday” [duplicate]
I have a doubt in the below sentence whether to use Past Simple or Present Perfect Tense,
We have despatched the parcel yesterday.
We despatched the parcel yesterday.
I know the second one is ...
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