Verb Inflection with the Past Tense II Modern English Grammar 2 Session 3

Tutorial times and rooms Tuesday 10:15 – 11:00 VonRoll, Fabrikstrasse 2E, 0002 Friday 9:15 – 10:00 Unitobler, Lerchenweg, f007 MEG-2 © FAM

Let’s check Exploration 2 on page 106 MEG-2 © FAM

13.2. Meanings of Past Forms a) 1. John Lennon __________ (die) in New York in 1980. died 2. At half past four we _____________________ (have) tea and biscuits. were having/had 3. I ______________ (look) over at the other table. Pedro Romero _______________ (smile). looked /was looking smiled /was smiling 4. Chocolate ____________ (be made) in this building. was made 5. I ______________(get) back early this morning. got 6. It _______________ (rain) very heavily that day. rained / was raining 7. I wish you ____________ (do) more to help around the house. did 8. I ________________ (work) on my tax forms all day yesterday. was working / worked 9. While we ________________ (watch) the film, the phone ___________ (ring). were watching rang MEG-2 © FAM

13.2. Meanings of Past Forms b) 10. Every Christmas my father ______________ (insist) on reading The Christmas Carol. insisted was insisting (?) 11. He behaves as if he ________________ (own) the bloody place. owned 12. At the same press conference the Defence Secretary __________________ (unveil) plans to send more troops to Afghanistan. unveiled 13. It was well known that she ____________ (like) a drop or two. liked / likes 14. We _____________ (walk) almost anywhere in those days because there were practically no cars. walked 15. I _______________ (wonder) if you needed help with the shopping. wondered / was wondering MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 2a on page 105 and Activity 2b on page 107 MEG-2 © FAM

13.2.1 Primary Meanings meaning example sentences Historical/factual past John Lennon died in 1980. State or “situation” past Chocolate was made in this building. all the time until it was rebuilt as Unitobler Habitual past Every Christmas my father insisted on reading The Christmas Carol. Sequence of events in a narrative I looked over at the other table. Pedro Romero smiled. MEG-2 © FAM

13.2.2 Secondary Meanings meaning example sentences hypothetical conditionals If he ever helped with the dishes, I would be very happy indeed. or subordinate clauses I sometimes wish he helped more with the dishes. reported speech Mary’s email suggests that she prefers to stay in a hotel. backshift in reported speech Mary’s email suggested that she preferred to stay in a hotel. polite request I hoped I could speak to you about this. MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 3 on page 107 MEG-2 © FAM

13.3. Past Continuous Meanings now an action, activity or event taking place over an extended period of time then I was working on my tax forms all day yesterday. While we were watching the film, the telephone rang. a “backdrop” action or event which is interrupted by something else now the phone rang watching the film then now I was looking over at the other table. Pedro Romero was smiling. to indicate several parallel events or actions MEG-2 © FAM

Past Continuous Secondary Meanings We were always waiting for our youngest brother to catch up with us. Past Continuous expressing a complaint I was hoping to discuss this problem with you today. Past Continuous expressing a polite request MEG-2 © FAM

Do Exploration 3 on page 108 MEG-2 © FAM

13.4. Anteriority: Past Perfect a) 16. I _________________________ (always hate) the idea of taking part in parents’ games at school fetes and _________________________ (so far manage) to avoid having to run the three-legged race. hated / have hated had so far managed 17. The Prime Minister __________________ (return) from Munich earlier today, where he ________________________ (attend) an EU summit conference. returned had attended / had been attending 18. She ______________________ (assume) that someone would meet her at the station. had assumed /had been assuming 19. We __________________________ (hope) that he would pass the entry exam but he ________________________ (fail) miserably. had hoped failed MEG-2 © FAM

13.4. Anteriority: Past Perfect b) 20. I ________________________(tell) everybody for ages that the state of the house _______________ (present) a grave danger for all. had been telling presented / presents 21. By the time we ___________ (arrive) in Grasmere the pub ___________ _____________ (shut). arrived had shut 22. I _________________ (expect) to get a new bicycle since I was tiny. had been expecting 23. The police ________________ (believe) that the murderer _________ ______________ (plan) his attack for some time. believe(d) had been planning MEG-2 © FAM

Do Activity 4 on page 109 MEG-2 © FAM

13.3. Past Perfect Meanings now One event takes place / finishes before the start of a second event in the past then By the time we arrived in Grasmere the pub had shut. The Prime Minister returned from Munich, where he had been attending an EU summit. One event with extended duration precedes an event in the past now then now then I had been telling everybody for ages that the state of the house presented a grave danger for all. A repeated event precedes another event in the past. MEG-2 © FAM

13.3. Secondary Meanings Example Sentences Secondary Meanings She had assumed that someone would meet her at the station. expectation/hope in the past, implied: nobody actually picked her up I had been expecting to get a bicycle since I was tiny. expectation/hope in the past Focus on duration implied: S/he finally got a bicycle. MEG-2 © FAM

Do Exploration 4 on page 108 MEG-2 © FAM

Characteristics of Past and Perfect Present Perfect The completion of the event can lie in the distant past.  The event occurred at some unspecific time in the past. The focus relates to when (fairly) precisely the event occurred. A clear indication when the event occurred is given in an adjunct or in the context. The completion of the event can be in the very recent past or at the moment of speaking. An indication is given as to the period up to the moment of speaking during which the event occurred.       MEG-2 © FAM

Past vs. Present Perfect The event has no direct relation to the moment of speaking.  The time-frame of the utterance considered can include the moment of speaking. The focus is on the fact that the event occurred rather than when it occurred The results of the event do not matter significantly at the moment of speaking The point at which the event or state occurred is specific. The result of the event is relevant to/visible at the moment of speaking.       MEG-2 © FAM

Let’s check Activity 5 on page 109 MEG-2 © FAM

13.5 Past vs. Present Perfect Characteristics of Past Characteristics of Present Perfect unmarked marked The point at which the event or state occurred is specific. The event occurred at some unspecific time in the past. A clear indication when the event occurred is given in an adjunct or in the context. An indication is given as to the period up to the moment of speaking during which the event occurred. The completion of the event can lie in the distant past. The completion of the event can be in the very recent past or at the moment of speaking. The focus relates to when (fairly) precisely the event occurred. The focus is on the fact that an event occurred rather than when it occurred The event has no direct relation to the moment of speaking. The time-frame of the utterance considered can include the moment of speaking. The results of the event do not matter significantly at the moment of speaking The result of the event is relevant to/visible at the moment of speaking. MEG-2 © FAM

Home Study Exploration 1 on page 112 MEG-2 © FAM

Modern English Grammar Bye for now… But it is a comfort to think in seven days’ time you’ll again be sitting in Modern English Grammar MEG-2 © FAM