22 Single completed actions ] Pepe er ht cons nes | General truths about the past | Permanent situations and states inthe past | ‘The main events ina story “The present (in contiona sentences) (see Unit 11 for more information) | ! The present (after wish, i's time, would rather, etc) (ee Unit 13 Yor more information) Eee To emphasise contrast in the past To emphasise strong feeling in the past ‘Sony and Philips invented the CD in the early 1980s. We moved house a lot when I was a kid. Early clocks were usvally very unreliable. Did the ancient Egyptians have more advanced technology than other civilisations? Frank turned on the TV and sat on the sofa. I we didn’t have computers, what would the world be like? ''d rather Michael didn't waste so much time playing video games. Perhaps our grandparents didn't have e-mail, bt they did have the telephone and telegrams. | did enjoy our visit to the Science Museum last summer. Actions in progress at a particular ‘moment in the past Actions in progress around a particular ‘moment in the past Temporary situations and series of actions in the past Changing and developing situations in the past Annoying or amusing past habits (usually with abvays) Background information in a story ‘Actions in progress over a period of time ‘Two actions in progress atthe same time ‘The present and the future (in conditional | sentences) | (see Unit 11 for more information) ‘The present and the future (ater wish, it’s te, would rather, ete) | {see Unit 13 for morenformation) Past simple vs present perfect simple In general, the past simple is used to refer to periods of time or moments which are finished. The present perfect is used to refer to periods of time which continue up to the present. ¥ The nineteenth century saw many technological advances, such as the camera and the electric light bulb. ¥ There have been many technological advances in recent years, the most important being the spread of the internet. ‘The past simple is used to refer to events at a specific time in the past. The present perfect is used when the specific time something happened isr't important or relevant, or when the present result of a past event is important. ¥ Lsent my frst email six months ago. Have you ever sent an e-mail before? Were you chatting to Matt online at midnight lastnight? At the turn ofthe twentieth century, many discoveries were being made in physics and other sciences. At the time, Iwas working fora large software company in California, Iwas getting frustrated with my internet provider so | decided to change. When she was young, Tina was always taking things apart to see how they worked. twas raining outside and people were making their way home after work. Were you writing e-mails al yesterday morning? While ! was playing a computer game, my brother was doing his homework. Would you be happier if you were studying computer science? | wish we were going to the computer fair next weekend,Pasttime Unit 3 Pe eRe ee Cy _ ‘+ We often use the past continuous to describe background events in progress and the past simple for the main events. ¥ We were talking about MP3s when Andrea mentioned her new music website. + We normally use the past simple to describe regular or repeated actions in the past, nat the past continuous. When Iwas a child | visited my grandmother every week. Past continuous vs present perfect continuous In general, the past continuous is used to refer to actions in progress during periods of ime or at moments which are fished. The present perfect continuous is used to refer to actions in progress during periods of time which continue up to the present. / We were working on my computer forfour hours yesterday. We have been working on my computer forfour hours so far. Past perfect simple Situations and states before the past Had you had your computer long before it broke down? Completed actions before a moment inthe past A series of actions continuing up to a moment in the past Completed actions where the important When talking films appeared, the cinema had already become a popular form of entertainment. When Dimitra called, | had managed to fix her computer. By the time of his death, Thomas Edison had invented a number of things that changed everyday life, | beat Jason at International Captain because I'd played ita lot with my brother. | thing is the result at a. moment in the past. Past perfect continuous ‘Actions and situations continuing up to a | She'd been writing computer games for over ten years before she finally had moment in the past (or just before a ait. moment in the past) Past habits, particulary for the distant past The ancient Greeks would rely on the power of slaves, rather than machines. & ~ wWoutdcan also be used wit 2 continuous inriive when we ae refering to a habit involving actions in progress. i Whenever | went to James's house, he would usually be playing on his computer. Would is not usually used to refer to past states. Past habits and states, particularly for the distant past Itused to seem strange to be able to communicate over long distances. Remember that used to is not the same as be used to. Be used to refers to a situation that is now familiar or no longer strange. ¥ At first, people found it strange sending messages by mobile, but now everyone's used to it. We use get used toto refer to the process of becoming familiar with a situation. It's surprising how quickly people in the nineteeth century got used to traveling by train. 23Unit 3 24 Grammar A Circle the correct word or phrase. 1 Rick should know about the meeting because | told / have told him about it yesterday. 2 Did you meet / Have you met last July while you were both backpacking around Europe? 3 Im resigning because the pressure at work has become / became too much for me. 4 Amonth ago, | got / have got a letter from Neil, but | haven't replied. 5 Julie was / has been anxious to speak to you since she heard about your accident. 6 Ihad / have had no idea you were such a good chess player. 7 Ifyou finished / have finished, put your hand up and Il collect your exam paper. 8 There were / have been a number of different reasons for our divorce. 9 Itwas my birthday last week and my grandad gave / has given me a new laptop. 10 | don't know who's responsible because | didn't work / haven't worked here long. 11 My brother and | were never allowed / have never been allowed to chew gum when we were young 12 My parents sent / have sent me to a private school until | was 12. B Write the verb in brackets in the correct form, past simple or past continuous, in each gap. You may have to use the passive form. 1 When the explosion happened, hundreds of people... (pass) through the airport. 2 When I heard the phone ring, | (stop) writing to answer it. 3 Amy (read), so she didn’t see me walking past. 4l (have) piano lessons every week from the age of six onwards. 5 We decided to leave the beach because it (get) dark and we wanted to get home while there was still some light. 6 Jessica already «ona (think) of leaving university before she failed her first year exams? 7 Since the hotel had a pool, you (swim) every day? 8 The Industrial Revolution (attract) many people from the country to the city. 9 The Hubble Space Telescope (put) into orbit around the Earth in 1990. 10 Sorry I couldn't come on Friday, but (work) on my project. 11 By the time we (arrive), the party was almost over. 12 The national park (create) to protect local wildlife. C Write a verb from the box in the correct form in each gap. | appear * check + complete + disappear + get * go * kidnap * look * make * mean * open wait * wear * work High-tech trouble ttall (1) as | made my way home from work. We (2) on a top secret computer program, and everyone (3) 7 pretty nervous about finishing on time, so it was good to get away from the office. It (4) and it seemed like everyone (6) - home at the same time, anxious to avoid getting wet. | (6) down into the underground station and (7) for the train when | (8) her at the end of the platform. She (9) a red leather jacket that (10) me of something Id seen in a fim, although I couldn't remember when. As | watched, she an her handbag and (12) ‘out what looked like a hanct-held computer. She (13) something on the screen, then (14) inmy direction. Suddenly, my mobile phone (15) a sound that (16)... VhadIII III EE Pasttime Unit 3 a text message. Frowning, | (17) a key and the message (18) ‘We (19) your daughter. We know you (20) the program. Follow the ‘woman in red.’ | looked up just as she (21) .~. around the corner. | (22) after her. D One verb in each sentence is in the wrong tense. Underline the incorrect word or phrase and write the correct tense. 1 Ive been having a lot of problems with my computer recently and so I got a technician to come and have a look at it, but she has told me that it was because I wasn't using it property 2 Iwas a few days since | heard from Roger, but he left Russia last Monday and he was planning to arrive in China yesterday, so | called his mum to see if she had heard anything, 3 Patricia and | were having a really good discussion when Jason suddenly appeared and decided that he wanted to join in, even though he has known absolutely nothing about what we were talking about. 4 |had never been visiting a working prison before, so when the opportunity came up | was really eager to have a look around and | certainly wasn't disappointed, although we weren't actually allowed to see the area where the prisoners live. 5 Charlie didn’t know what Callum had said to Imogen, but he could see immediately that she had been crying and he was putting his arm around her to comfort her, which made her feel a litle better. 6 Although there was no reason to doubt what Alex said, | was ringing Rick to check and he told me that ‘Alex had been right and the concert really had been cancelled because the lead singer had come down with flu 7 The year before, | had given Lisa @ CD for her birthday, but this particular year | wanted to surprise her, ‘so | went into town and I was looking round the shops when suddenly | had seen an oldfashioned hat, and it was her size, so | immediately bought it. 8 Olivia was cycling to school, as she usually did on those days when her father was working and wasn't able to drive her, when she was passing an old woman, who was waiting for the lights to change so that she could cross the road. Write the verb in brackets in the correct form, past continuous or present perfect continuous, in each gap. 1 ‘Why are you out of breath?” ‘Because | 7 for the last hour. (exerci 2. ‘Your light was on when | walked past last night.’ Yes, | . online to my cousin in Australia.” (chat) 3. ‘You've really improved on the flute.” ‘Well, |hope 50 because I... a lot lately. (practise) 4 ‘You're not jealous of my other friends, are you?” ‘No, but you quite a lot of them recently.’ (see) 5. ‘Ididn't wake you up, did 1? No, | . ' (sleep) 6 ‘Did you quit your job in the end?” 4 o 7 ‘Why is your street such a mess?" ‘Oh, the council ses up the roads, but they should finish this weekend.’ (dig) 25 of doing so for a long time, but then | decided not to," ’ink)Unit 3 26 Grammar F Write one verb in each sentence in the past simple and the other verb in the past perfect. 1 The ambulance (left) by the time the reporters (get) to the scene of the accident. 2. Before | (meet) Dr Christian, 1 (see) a number of different specialist. 3 It - (be) only the second time | (ever / be) in a helicopter. 4. Up to the moment when Mr O'Donnell (say) ‘Youre fired, | (have) no idea why he wanted to see me. 5 When Tonya (finished) eating, she (ask) the waiter to bring the bill 6 Luckily, | . (ust / reach) the end of my essay when the teacher (tell) us all to put our pens down, 7 We (do) everything we had to do by five, so we (decide) to go out for a coffee. 81 (want) Mrs Thomas's young son to touch my ornaments because | (just / clean) them. 9 My mum (be) annoyed with me because | (forget) to get milk when | was at the shop. 101 (get) Janine a book for her birthday, but she (read) it before G Ifa word or phrase in bold is in the correct form, put a tick. If itis incorrect, write the correct form on the line. [ Thee ed wo thee fing conan Gangig sol a where | Sens Dene ict inors cal wot ois wars tes Oger a People (1) have been dreaming of having a personal means was possible, there were many occasions when friends who (8) | of communication for along time. In the fate 1960s, the idea fag'arranged to meet completely (9) had missed each other (2) had seemed so far in the fucure that (3) was included suse ofa slight misunderstanding, People would often have in the science fiction series Stor Trek. Since the 1980s, however, e a mobiles (4) became a part of everyday life. Although they °° =k very careful arrangements to be sure of meeting up (5) were initially seen asa status symbol for successful business AS mobiles (10) have been becoming more popular, so they people, mobile use (6) had spread to include practically _ (11) have become more powerful The large.unrelable mobile | everyone in the developed world, old and young ake phone of the 1980s (12) has evolved into the small, stylish |The impact on social ife (7) had been enormous We have got camera phone of today Ban “ 7 10 5 i 3 6 9 12 H_ Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given. 1 | started working at eight and | was still working at six in the evening, when you called. been When you called, ten hours. 2 We often went to the seaside with our grandparents as children. would Our grandparents, to the seaside as children. 3 I's about seven years now since Laura started to lean Russian. learning Laura seven years. 4. Being with the older children soon stopped beng frightening when I went to secondary school used ‘Secondary school was frightening, but | with the older children. 5. Every night forthe past week | have had the same dream. having ' for a week now. 6 | always disliked karate lessons but now I'm starting to enjoy them. used i karate lessons, but now I'm starting to.EE EE EE EE Eh rr | Write one word in each gap. Joc 1 Because the pencil (1) people (2) be invented. Before the first half of the sixteenth century, people (3) paint with. It (4) that point no one (5) England. The locals (7) this unusual soft substance (8) produce works of art. Graphite is soft and dirty, and in order to write or draw with it, it (9) something, such as sheepskin or string. People had (10) Pasttime Unit 3 become such a fundamental part of our lives, it’s difficult to remember that not been using them forever. Like other products of human ingenuity, pencils had to to use pens to write with and brushes to | also possible to use a metal stick to make faint marks on paper. However, up to | found an easy way to make marks that could be erased. Then, some time _ before 1565, a large deposit of the chemical, graphite, (6) found near Borrowdale in Cumbria, | use this graphite (a kind of soft black rock) to mark sheep. Soon, tales of spread to artists around the world, who were eager to use it to - to have to be covered in | trying to improve the pencil for some time before manufacturers in Italy came up with the idea of enclosing the graphite in a wooden case. The modern pencil was born. hoose the correct answer. How long A have you been waiting B are you waiting before Val finally turned up? C you waited D had you been waiting You did you? Anever used to B got used to be so good at backgammon, Care used to D wouldn't Could you tell me, sir, what you park at three in the morning? Ahave done C were doing B have been doing D had done in the | was angry when you saw me because | with my sister. Ahave been arguing Chad been arguing B argued D would argue The Black Pirate over a milion copies already this year. Ahad sold Chad been selling Bhas sold D was seling Don't throw the paper away because | ityet. ‘haven't read C haven't been reading B hadn't read D hadn't been reading 7 By the time we arrived, the fim Ahas already started already started B would already start —_D had already started 8 We had to walk home in the end because Jimmy hiss car keys. Ahas been losing Bhad lost C was losing D had been losing 9 It took Edward a long time to in Canada. Abe used to Bused to living C get used to D be used 10 'd ove to have lived in the old days, when people to market by horse and carriage. Ahave been traveling C got used to traveling B would travel D had been traveling 11 I much preferred it when we every summer on holiday. Aused to go B were used to going to Wales Chad gone D have been going 12. Your teacher called me today and said that you in the playground again Ahad been fighting C have fought B used to fight D would fight 27