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2016
Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
....
The Past Simple
Tense.
The Present Perfect Tense ...
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Exercises
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.
References
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Abstract
In this research, the researcher tackles two tenses
of English grammars, the present perfect tense and
the past simple tense. The topics of the paper
include formation of each tense, tense usage and a
lot of exercises on both tenses. The significance of
this research lies in that it is supposed to help the
reader or the English grammar learner know more
about the present perfect and the past simple. The
research questions are the following: Why does the
speaker use this tense rather than other tenses?
And in what conditions does he/she use the tense?
Introduction
In writing and speaking, the writer/speaker often has
to show when something happens. Is it taking place now?
Later? Did it happen earlier this day, a week ago, a year
ago, or when dinosaurs roamed the earth? In English, tense
is used to show when something happens.
There is no doubt that grammar is very important in
our life and other fields in society as language is a must in
all relations and businesses. Grammar lays the ground
work for effective communication. Improper grammar can
affect the meaning and clarity of on intended message. As
a reason for all mentioned above, this research will talk
about two tenses, present perfect and past simple:
clarifying structure, i.e. how each tense is formed and use,
i.e. why and when we use each tense? After all this, we
Tense Usage:
This tense is used to describe an action in the past. The following is
a detailed handling of the past simple usage.
1. Completed Action in the Past
Examples:
Examples:
Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?
3. Duration in Past
The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and
stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by
expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all
year, etc. (Eastwood, 2002. p. 27)
Examples:
People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.
(Murphy, 2007. p 10)
IMPORTANT: When-Clauses Happen First
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not
complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when"
such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class began..." These
clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important. The
examples below contain when-clauses.
Examples:
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Positive
I waited.
You waited.
We waited.
They waited.
He waited.
She waited.
It waited.
Negative
Question
Did I wait?
You did
not wait.
We did not wait. Did we wait?
They did
not wait.
He did not wait. Did he wait?
She did
not wait.
It did not wait.
Did it wait?
Irregular Verbs
Many verbs, such as "have," take irregular forms in the Simple Past.
Notice that you only use the irregular verbs in statements. In
negative forms and questions, "did" indicates Simple Past.
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Positive
I had.
You had.
We had.
They had.
He had.
She had.
It had.
Negative
Question
Did I have?
have.
We did not
Did we have?
have.
They did not
have.
He did not
Did he have?
have.
She did not
have.
It did not have. Did it have?
http://www.english-area.com/
To Be
The verb "be" is also irregular in the Simple Past. Unlike other
irregular verbs, there are two Simple Past forms: "was" and "were."
It also has different question forms and negative forms. Always
remember that you DO NOT use "did" with the verb "be" in the
Simple Past. (Eastwood, 2002. P. 28)
Positive
Negative
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Question
I was.
I was not.
You were.
We were.
They were.
They were
Was I?
Were they?
not.
He was.
He was not.
Was he?
She was.
It was.
It was not.
Was it?
Time Expressions
1 - a week/ month / year ago
2 - last week/ month/ year
3 - yesterday
4 - suddenly
5 - in 2015
6 - when I was . (Murphy, 2007. pp 10-11)
Negative forms and question
I, he, she, it - was not (wasnt)
I wasnt sick last week.
He wasnt in Eilat last summer.
She wasnt at school on Monday.
we, you, they were not (werent)
We were not at home on Saturday.
You werent happy with your grades.
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uestion :
Was: I, he, she, it
Were: we, you, they
Examples:
I wasnt very well last weak
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(www.cosmickids.gr, Unit3. )
FORM
[Has/have + been + present participle]
Examples:
You have been waiting here for two hours.
29)
Uses Present Perfect Continuous:
USE 1 Duration from the Past until Now
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minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations
which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.
Examples:
They have been talking for the last hour.
Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last
three days?
USE 2 Recently, Lately
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Today and phrases with this are used for a period up to present
Ex: it hasnt rained today
Have you seen this weeks magazine?
But sometimes today and etc
Ex: I havent seen Rachel today (its still day time)
Has the past come this morning? (Its still morning)
Yesterday, last
We use yesterday and phrases with last for a past period.
Ex: it rained yesterday.
Did you see last weeks magazine?
Can mean a past period (compare)
Ex: I didnt see Sarah at work today. (The working day is over)
Did the past come this morning (its later in the day)
Which give meaningful to the sentence the present perfect.
The present perfect tells us about the past and the present.
Ex: the aircraft has landed .means that the aircraft is now on the
ground.
Important Note:
Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the
meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use the Present Perfect
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Not
Correct
Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs
such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
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Active form:
Passive form:
Examples:
ACTIVE
PASSIVE
NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its
passive form.
Auxiliary verb
Past participle
I, You ,We ,
They
He, She ,It
Have
Seen
Has
Played
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Examples: this is the first time weve been to Scotland. (So its all
new to us)
This is the second time jack has forgotten to give me a message.
I like this film, I think its the fourth time Ive seen it
Today, this weak etc.
We also use the present perfect with today and phrases
with this (this week, this morning, this year)
Examples:
We have done quite a lot of work today.
I havent watched any television so for this week.
Have you had a holiday this year?
Exercises:
1- Write these sentences, putting the verbs into the present perfect or
past simple.
2- I (read) that book three times.
3- I've read that book three times.
4- She (go) home three days ago.
5- She went home three days aqo.
6- I (meet) Mr and Mrs Shelley.
7- She (start) school in 1984.
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References
Books:
Eastwood, John. Oxford Practice Grammar, second edition. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2002.
Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use, third edition. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 2008.
Murphy, Raymond. Essential Grammar in Use, third edition. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 2007.
Websites:
http://www.cosmickids.gr/CK3/CK3_GB_Unit3.pdf
http://www.english-area.com/
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