Down in the past

Basic, but useful: the various uses of the past simple


Completed action in the past

We use the simple past to designate an action that started and stopped at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

I saw a movie yesterday.
Last year, I travelled to Japan.
Did you have dinner last night?


Same goes for a series of completed actions

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.


Duration in the past

The simple past can be used to express a duration that starts and finishes in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as all day, for five minutes, etc.

I lived in Brazil for two years.
They sat at the beach all day.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.


Habits in the past

The simple past is also used to describe a past habit, similar to the meaning of "used to." To make it clear that you're talking about a habit, you might add expressions such as always, often, usually, never, etc.

I studied French when I was a child.
He played the violin.
They never went to school, they always skipped class.


Past facts or generalisations

The simple past sometimes describes past facts or generalisations that are no longer true. Again, this use of the simple past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

She was shy as a child, but now she's very outgoing.
People paid much more to make phone calls in the past.


And finally, a useful reminder:

When-clauses happen first

Clauses aren't just jolly old men who invade shopping malls at Christmas time. They're also groups of words that have meaning but are often not complete sentences.

When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.
She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the simple past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and then, she answered my question. It's not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

However, the example below has a different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.

I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

 

Word of the Day

languid

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Lacking vigour or vitality. 2. Lacking interest. 3. Pleasantly lazy and calm.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin languere (to languish). Earliest documented use: 1595.

USAGE:

After sleeping for hours, the cat moved leisurely in a languid motion.

Word of the Day

Frustrated with your co-worker? You might want to

vituperate

MEANING:

verb tr., intr.: To use harsh or abusive language.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin vituperare (to blame), from vitium (fault) + parare (to make or prepare). Earliest documented use: 1542.

USAGE:

Gordon Ramsay tries to break the chefs on his show by vituperating them.

 

 

present simple vs. present continuous

As a certain Austrian governance once said: “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” So today, we’re going to look at tenses, the present simple and present continuous to be precise.

 The present simple is used to talk about things in general. It implies that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

I usually go away at weekends.

The earth goes round the sun.
He is selfish.

The present continuous is used when referring to things happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not complete.

I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.

Let’s leave. It isn’t raining now.

 You also use the continuous for temporary situations:

I’m living with my parents until I find a place of my own.

You’re working hard today.
He’s being selfish.

Finally, it might be useful to point out the case of ‘I always do’ vs. ‘I’m always doing.’

‘To do something always’ means doing it every time.

I always go to work by car.

‘Always doing something’ is used when somebody does something very often, perhaps too often, or more often than normal:

I’m always losing things.

He’s always complaining.