The past

5.26 When talking about the past, an adjunct of time or other time expression is necessary to specify the particular time in the past you are referring to. The time reference can be established in a previous clause, and the verbs in the following clauses are therefore put in the past tense.

It was very cold that night. Over my head was a gap in the reed matting of the roof.

I was talking to one of them yesterday. She said she got roast and Yorkshire pudding.

Stating a definite time in the past: the simple past

5.27 If you want to say that an event occurred or that something was the case at a particular time in the past, you use the simple past.

The Israeli Prime Minister flew into New York yesterday to start his visit to the US.

Our regular window cleaner went off to Canada last year.

On 1 February 1968 he introduced the Industrial Expansion Bill.

I remember the time when Bill Tilden, about fifty years ago, threw his racquet at Wimbledon.

5.28 If you want to say that a situation existed over a period of time in the past, you also use the simple past.

He lived in Paris during his last years.

Throughout 1954 he assiduously studied peerage law.

5.29 If you are talking about something that happened in the past, and you mention a situation that existed at that time, you use the simple past. You can do this whether or not the situation still exists.

All the streets in this part of Watford looked alike.

About fifty miles from the university there was one of India's most famous and ancient Hindu temples.

5.30 If you want to talk about an activity that took place regularly or repeatedly in the past, but which no longer occurs, you use the simple past.

We walked a great deal in my boyhood.

Each week we trekked to the big house.

'Would' and 'used to' can also be used to say that something happened regularly in the past but no longer does so. See paragraphs 4.115 and 4.259 for more information.

Accent on the past: the past continuous

5.31 If you want to talk about continued states or repeated actions which occurred in the past, you use the past continuous.

Her tooth was aching, her burnt finger was hurting.

He was looking ill.

Everyone was begging the captain to surrender.

I was meeting thousands of people and getting to know no one.

contrasting events 5.32 If you want to contrast a situation with an event which happened just after that situation existed, you use the past continuous to describe the first situation. You then use the sample past to describe and draw attention to the event which occurred after it.

We were all sitting round the fire waiting for my soldier brother to come home. He arrived about six in the evening.

I was waiting angrily on Monday morning when I saw Mrs. Miller.

The past in relation to the present: the present perfect

5.33 If you want to mention something that happened in the past but you do not want to state a specific time, you use the present perfect tense.

They have raised £180 for a swimming pool.

I have noticed this trait in many photographers.

WARNING 5.34 You cannot use adjuncts which place the action at a definite time in the past with the present perfect. You cannot say 'I have done it yesterday'.

You can, however, use an adjunct of duration.

The settlers have left the bay forever.

I have often criticized the standards of cleanliness and punctuality on the trains.

Adjuncts of duration are explained and listed in paragraphs 5.123 to 5.142.

You can also use 'since' and 'for' with the present perfect because when they are used in this way they refer to a definite time.

They have been back every year since then.

It was the only record to have stayed in the American charts for a full six weeks.

For more information on 'since' see paragraph 5.137. Other uses of 'for' are explained in paragraphs 5.125 to 5.128.

situations that still exist 5.35 If you want to talk about an activity or situation that started at some time in the past, continued, and is still happening now, you use the present perfect or the present perfect continuous.

All my adult life I have waited for the emergence of a strong centre party.

She's always felt that films should be entertaining.

National productivity has been declining.

Caroline Johnstone is 26 and has been cooking for a bank for five years.

emphasizing duration of event 5.36 If you want to emphasize the duration of a recent event, you use the duration present perfect continuous.

She's been crying.

It will no doubt be argued by some that I have been describing is not a crisis of industry.

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has recently been conducting a survey of Australian Aborigines.