Unit 5 past indefinite and past progressive Past Indefinite

Past Indefinite is the tense most often used to talk about the past happening which is related to a definite time in the past, which we may call ‘then’. A definite time in the past may be identified by

1. a past time adverbial in the same sentence;

2. the preceding language context;

3. the context outside language.

Haydn was born in 1732.

Joan has become engaged; it took us completely by surprise.

Did the postman bring any letters?

It is used to express:

1. a single action completed in the past

The time of the action is often given (usually it is an indication of the past time, but also this morning, today, tonight) or implied in the situation through the mention of the place or other circumstances.

I met her six months ago.

Did you belong to any society at the University?

Sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you.

2. an action performed within a period of time which is already over

The period of time is usually indicated by means of adverbial phrases with prepositions for, during.

We stayed in the garden for a long time.

Throughout 1954 he studied industrial law.

3. in past time contexts it is used in narration to express a succession of actions

They can be either single accomplished or actions of some duration.

We went to the park and I sat down on a chair and took the baby out of the pram and a big dog came along and put its head on my knee.

4. repeated actions in the past

It is generally supported by the use of adverbial modifiers of frequency such as often, never, again.

You often mentioned her in your letters.

We walked a great deal in my boyhood.

5. permanent actions or situations

They indicate continuous uninterrupted processes in the past, giving a general characteristic to the person or thing. You can do this whether or not the situations still exist.

The drive sloped downward to where the house stood.

All the streets in this part of Watford looked alike.

She was fond of him but I didn’t believe that she loved him.

There are special means of expressing repeated or permanent actions in the past.

• used to + infinitive

• would + infinitive

We would normally spend the winter in Miami.

She used to get quite cross with Larry.

Used to is also used to speak about situations that no longer exist. Would is not used like this.

People used to believe that the earth was flat.

6. an action going on at a given past moment with verbs that don’t admit of continuous forms and with certain durative verbs (sit, stand, lie, hang, shine, gleam, talk, walk, wear, carry) when the attention is focused not on its progress but it is the fact as such or the manner in which the action is presented that matters. When we speak of inanimate things the Past Indefinite is the norm with the verbs mentioned above.

She sipped her coffee and pulled a face. She thought it tasted horrible.

Barbara and Basil sat in the garden after lunch. The smoke from Basil’s cigar hung in the humid air.

He talked with acute intensity.