《大学英语》课程教学课件（PPT讲稿）How to Talk About the Past in English

How to Talk About the Past in English

How to Talk About the Past in English

Part one how to talk about your past experience Use the present perfect tense to talk/ask about your past experiences,but only you don't say the time. Remember that the past tense and present perfect tense can both be used to talk about things that happened in the past.The only difference is that we can use a specific time with the past tense,but we cannot use a specific time with the present perfect tense. -I've tried windsurfing. -I've never been bungee jumping. -Have you ever been skydiving?

Part one how to talk about your past experience  Use the present perfect tense to talk/ask about your past experiences, but only you don’t say the time.  Remember that the past tense and present perfect tense can both be used to talk about things that happened in the past. The only difference is that we can use a specific time with the past tense, but we cannot use a specific time with the present perfect tense.  -I’ve tried windsurfing.  -I’ve never been bungee jumping.  -Have you ever been skydiving?

Present perfect tense pI've read“The Idiot”. I've never drunk whisky. Have you ever grown your own vegetables? Past tense I went windsurfing three years ago. I didn't drink a lot last year. Did you eat a lot of sushi when you were in Japan? So when you talk about your past experience,you often start with the present perfect tense,then switch to the past tense when you mention with the specific time. Have you ever been to Australia? Yes,I went there two years ago,for my friend's wedding

Present perfect tense  I’ve read “The Idiot”.  I’ve never drunk whisky.  Have you ever grown your own vegetables? Past tense  I went windsurfing three years ago.  I didn’t drink a lot last year.  Did you eat a lot of sushi when you were in Japan?  So when you talk about your past experience, you often start with the present perfect tense, then switch to the past tense when you mention with the specific time.  Have you ever been to Australia?  Yes, I went there two years ago, for my friend’s wedding

Part two how to compare the past and present He used to have a beard I used to live in Berlin. They didn't use to get on so well. I didn't use to wear glasses. Did you use to play a musical instrument? Didn't he use to work here?

Part two how to compare the past and present  He used to have a beard  I used to live in Berlin.  They didn’t use to get on so well.  I didn’t use to wear glasses.  Did you use to play a musical instrument?  Didn’t he use to work here?

We use "used to"when we refer to things in the past which are no longer true.It can refer to repeated actions or to a state or situation: He used to play football for the local team,but he's too old now. That white house over there used to belong to my family.(It belonged to my family in the past,but not any more.) Warning:In statements,the form used to does not change.We do not use the verb be before it.It always refers to past time: We used to go to the seaside every summer when I was a kid. Not:We are used to go.or We use to go.or We were used to go. Negative:didn't use to It didn't use to be so crowded in the shops as it is nowadays

 We use “used to”when we refer to things in the past which are no longer true. It can refer to repeated actions or to a state or situation:  He used to play football for the local team, but he’s too old now.  That white house over there used to belong to my family. (It belonged to my family in the past, but not any more.)  Warning: In statements, the form used to does not change. We do not use the verb be before it. It always refers to past time:  We used to go to the seaside every summer when I was a kid.  Not: We are used to go . or We use to go . or We were used to go .  Negative: didn’t use to  It didn’t use to be so crowded in the shops as it is nowadays

You also can use "would"to talk about the actions/habit which you did in the past but you don't do now. -when we got home,Mum would make us beans on toast and then we'd watch cartoons. -there was this bakery near the office where I would go every lunchtime to get a sandwich and chat to the other regulars. -she doesn't live here any more.(she lived here in the past, but doesn't live here now.Similar with "used to") -I don't have time to listen to music any more

 You also can use “would” to talk about the actions/habit which you did in the past but you don’t do now.  -when we got home, Mum would make us beans on toast and then we’d watch cartoons.  -there was this bakery near the office where I would go every lunchtime to get a sandwich and chat to the other regulars.  -she doesn’t live here any more. (she lived here in the past, but doesn’t live here now. Similar with “used to”)  -I don’t have time to listen to music any more

Part three How to set the scene of a story Setting the scene of a story (background) The Past Continuous can be used to 'set the scene'of a story.When we open a book for the first time,the text makes use of the Past Continuous to establish a 'setting'. -We were sitting on the bus,ready to leave.It was raining so hard you couldn't even see out of the window. -I was living in a small apartment at the time. -I was driving home after work

Part three How to set the scene of a story  Setting the scene of a story (background)  The Past Continuous can be used to ‘set the scene’ of a story. When we open a book for the first time, the text makes use of the Past Continuous to establish a ‘setting’.  -We were sitting on the bus, ready to leave. It was raining so hard you couldn’t even see out of the window.  - I was living in a small apartment at the time.  -I was driving home after work

Interrupted action in the past Past Continuous Uses USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past X Past Present Future Use the past continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted.The interruption is usually a shorter action in the simple past.Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time. Examples: I was watching TV when she called. When the phone rang,she was writing a letter. While we were having the picnic,it started to rain

Interrupted action in the past

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption Past Present Future In USE 1,described above,the past continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the simple past.However,you can also use a specific time as an interruption. Examples: Last night at 6 PM,I was eating dinner. At midnight,we were still driving through the desert. Yesterday at this time,I was sitting at my desk at work. IMPORTANT In the simple past,a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished.In the past continuous,a specific time only interrupts the action. Examples: Last night at 6 PM,I ate dinner. I started eating at 6 PM. Last night at 6 PM,I was eating dinner. I started earlier;and at 6 PM.I was in the process of eating dinner

Parallel actions USE 3 Parallel Actions Past Present Future When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence,it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time.The actions are parallel. Examples: I was studying while he was making dinner. While Ellen was reading.Tim was watching television. Were you listening while he was talking? I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter.so I made several mistakes. What were you doing while you were waiting? Thomas wasn't working,and I wasn't working either. They were eating dinner,discussing their plans,and having a good time

Parallel actions