{"id":6888,"date":"2020-10-25T11:39:35","date_gmt":"2020-10-25T11:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltweekly.com\/?p=6888"},"modified":"2020-10-25T11:39:35","modified_gmt":"2020-10-25T11:39:35","slug":"past-simple-and-progressive-by-nick-shepherd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/?p=6888","title":{"rendered":"Past simple and progressive by Nick Shepherd"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Basics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve said this before: don\u2019t confuse verb tense names with real time. They sometimes coincide, but not always. Today I checked ten languages, more or less randomly: six of them used the same word to translate \u2018time\u2019 and \u2018tense\u2019. But they are <strong>not<\/strong> the same. Think about any languages you know. Do they use different words for <em>(verb<\/em>) <em>tense<\/em> and <em>(real) time<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I won\u2019t go into that today; just remember that <em>time<\/em> and <em>tense<\/em> are <strong>not<\/strong> the same, although they often coincide.&nbsp; But we do need to think seriously about how we describe language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today we\u2019re looking at the difference between past simple and past progressive, and the basic difference is straightforward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Past simple = FINISHED<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Past progressive = UNFINISHED, INTERRUPTED<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I say, as always, \u201cit\u2019s more complicated than that, but that\u2019s enough for now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some languages use different tense forms to distinguish between a single past event and a repetitive past event. I talk about that later, in the <strong>\u201cmore complicated\u201d<\/strong> <strong>stuff<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The English past simple only says it\u2019s finished, not whether it was a single event, a repetitive series or a state. I can say, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I texted Marine last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (single event)<\/li><li>I played football every Saturday at one time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (repetitive series)<\/li><li>I lived in Mexico City for years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (state)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first one is a single event, the second a repetitive series, the third a state, but they all share two characteristics: they were in the past and they are finished. And they all use the simple past tense of the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now imagine those sentences in past progressive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I was texting Marine . . .<\/li><li>I was playing football . . .<\/li><li>I was living in Mexico City . . .<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immediately, we want to ask: \u2018then what happened?\u2019 Something happened to interrupt those events, or happened at the same time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I was texting Marine . . . when James came into the room.<\/li><li>I was playing football . . . when it started to rain heavily.<\/li><li>I was living in Mexico City . . . when I got a job at the Anglo.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second part completes the idea; without it, the idea feels incomplete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look at this couple:<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"316\" height=\"166\" src=\"\/\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"170\" src=\"http:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-6.png 320w, https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/image-6-300x159.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey were having lunch when the phone rang\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that\u2019s the basic difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s more complicated than that . . .\u201d OK, we know the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I made a video on this basic distinction: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p class=\"responsive-video-wrap clr\"><iframe title=\"Learn English - past simple &amp; progressive use (&quot;he had lunch, he was having lunch&quot;)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ooT2DZMvSdI?list=PLCA656BF01EAE64D8\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Notes on the \u201cmore complicated\u201d stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are four of the \u2018more complicated\u2019 areas. New ones appear from time to time as speakers pursue their anarchic way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1 Repetitive past<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are three ways we talk about repeated past events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1a We often use the simple past for this, adding <em>adverbs<\/em> to clarify what we mean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I went swimming <em>every day for years.<\/em><\/li><li>I <em>always<\/em> spent summers in the country. (or <em>often, sometimes<\/em> . . .)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think about this in any other languages you know, including your own. I know two other European languages, Spanish and French, and they both use different verb tenses to describe single and repetitive events in the past. In English we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1b We can use the auxiliary verb <em>used to<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>She used to play tennis when she was younger, but she\u2019s given it up.<\/li><li>I used to do the washing up, but now I have a dishwasher.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We mostly use <em>used to<\/em> when it\u2019s different from what we do now, so it\u2019s not usually about ancient history!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1c We can use <em>would<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>He would play the piano for hours.<\/li><li>They would go out every day for a walk.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Would<\/em> carries an overtone, a hint of extra meaning: it sounds as if the person wanted to do whatever it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2 Unreal in present time<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is often called the unreal past, but the word <em>past<\/em> refers to the verb tense, not the time, which is present. It is used after a few expressions, and these are the most common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I wish I <strong>spoke<\/strong> French.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (now)<\/li><li>It\u2019s time I <strong>went<\/strong> home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (now, or soon)<\/li><li>I\u2019d rather you <strong>didn\u2019t speak<\/strong> to her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (now, or any time)<\/li><li>I <strong>had better<\/strong> get going.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (now, or soon)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These all share the same idea: they are desires; they are not reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3 Hypothetical present time<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is used in type 2 conditional sentences, and is similar to \u2018Unreal\u2019, above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You would pass the exam if you <strong>studied<\/strong> harder!<\/li><li>She would do better if she <strong>took<\/strong> more care.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, the speaker thinks it could, or should, be true, but it seems not to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4 Polite form<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using past tenses can make the language sound more tentative, and therefore more polite:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Could<\/em> I possibly speak to Mr Smith?<\/li><li>What <em>did <\/em>you <em>want<\/em> to see him about?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To use the simple present, \u2018What do you want to see him about?\u2019 seems too direct, too blunt, and invites a curt answer: \u2018It\u2019s none of your business\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We can also use the past progressive form to be polite, especially if we want to ask a favour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>I <strong>was hoping<\/strong> you might be able to give me a lift into town.<\/li><li>Hello, I <strong>was wondering<\/strong> whether you had any free time today?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s all for now!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 Shepherd School of English<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Basics I\u2019ve said this before: don\u2019t confuse verb tense names with real time. They sometimes coincide, but not always. Today I checked ten languages, more or less randomly: six of them used the same word to translate \u2018time\u2019 and \u2018tense\u2019. But they are not the same. Think about any languages you know. Do they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,263,274],"tags":[851,921],"class_list":["post-6888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-eltweekly","category-eltweekly-volume-11","category-eltweekly-volume-11-issue-19","tag-elt-newsletter","tag-eltweekly","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6888\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}