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

2. Tutorial times and rooms
Tuesday 10:15 – 11:00 VonRoll, Fabrikstrasse 2E, 0002 Friday 9:15 – 10:00 Unitobler, Lerchenweg, f007
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3. Let’s check Exploration 2 on page 106
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. Do Activity 2a on page 105 and Activity 2b on page 107
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7. 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.
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8. 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 suggests that she prefers to stay in a hotel.
backshift in reported speech
Mary’s suggested that she preferred to stay in a hotel.
polite request
I hoped I could speak to you about this.
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9. Do
Activity 3 on
page 107
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. Do
Exploration 3 on
page 108
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. Do
Activity 4 on
page 109
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16. 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.
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17. 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.
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18. Do
Exploration 4 on
page 108
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19. 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.      
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20. 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.      
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21. Let’s check Activity 5 on page 109
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22. 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.
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23. Home Study
Exploration 1 on page 112
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24. 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
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