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Past Simp-Past Perfect

The document provides a detailed explanation of the Simple Past and Past Perfect tenses, including their forms, uses, and exceptions in spelling. It outlines the structure for positive, negative, and question forms, along with signal words that indicate their usage. Additionally, it includes exercises for practice in converting verbs into the correct tense.

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rita11monteiro
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22 views

Past Simp-Past Perfect

The document provides a detailed explanation of the Simple Past and Past Perfect tenses, including their forms, uses, and exceptions in spelling. It outlines the structure for positive, negative, and question forms, along with signal words that indicate their usage. Additionally, it includes exercises for practice in converting verbs into the correct tense.

Uploaded by

rita11monteiro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WORKSHEET A

SIMPLE PAST vs PAST PERFECT

Form of Simple Past

Positive Negative Question

no I spoke. I did not speak. Did I speak?


differences

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column).

For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example

after a final e only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit – admitted


or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

 Habitual action in the past


Example: He visited his parents every weekend.

 action in the past taking place at a certain/ dedinite time

 actions in the past taking place one after the other


Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
Signal Words of Simple Past

 yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday

Simple Past vs Past perfect


Form

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

2nd column of irregular verbs had + 3rd column of irregular verbs ( Past Participle)

Example: Example:
I spoke I had spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: had + infinitive + ed ( Past Participle)

Example: Example:
I worked I had worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding ed:

 when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:
love - loved

 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:
admit - admitted

 final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:
travel - travelled

 after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
Form of Past Perfect Simple

Positive Negative Question

no I had spoken. I had not spoken. Had I spoken?


differences

Use

 action taking place before a certain time in the past


(putting emphasis only on the fact, not the duration)

Example: Before I came here, I had spoken to Jack.

We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured.
However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had
happened before, we use Past Perfect.

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

some time in the past before/up to a certain time in the past

Example: Example:

Jane got up at seven. She opened her birthday presents Before her sixth birthday, Jane had
and then the whole family went to the zoo. never been to the zoo.

Signal Words

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

 first  already
 then  up to then
 before that day
 after*
Exercise 1
Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps in the correct tense – Past
Perfect or Simple Past.

1. After Fred (to spend) his holiday in Italy he (to


want) to learn Italian.
2. Jill (to phone) Dad at work before she (to leave) for
her trip.
3. Susan (to turn on) the radio after she (to wash) the
dishes.
4. When she (to arrive) the match already
(to start).
5. After the man (to come) home he (to feed) the cat.
6. Before he (to sing) a song he (to play) the guitar.
7. She (to watch) a video after the children (to go) to
bed.
8. After Eric (to make) breakfast he (to phone) his
friend.
9. I (to be) very tired because I (to study) too much.
10. They (to ride) their bikes before they (to meet) their
friends.

Exercise 2
Put the verbs into the correct tense - Simple Past or Past Perfect Simple.

1. When he (wake up) , his mother (already / prepare)


breakfast.

2. We (go) to London because the Queen (invite) us for tea.

3. He (hear) the news, (go) to the telephone

and (call) a friend.

4. When she (start) to learn English, she (already / learn)


French.

5. Jane (already / type) ten pages when her computer (crash) .


6. By the time he (arrive) at the pub, they (run) out of beer.

7. Before that day we (never / think) of going to Japan.

8. I (know) him for a long time before I (meet) his family.

9. They (not / know) where to meet because nobody (tell)


them.

10. It (be) cloudy for days before it finally (begin) to rain.

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