PAST TENSES. I. How Do We Form Them?

PAST TENSES I. How Do We Form Them? There are two types of past tense according to some grammars and three, according to others. That is, we may study only Past Tense Simple and Past Tense Continuous at this section, or we may also study the Past Perfect here. The present manual will deal with all three types under this section. Past Tense Simple is formed with the short infinitive of the verbs plus -ed for the regular verbs, and the second for in a string of three, in the case of irregular verbs. *Affirmative: The verb to work (a munci) this is the long infinitive (as previously said) work this is the short infinitive this is a regular verb: - work + ed = worked I, you, he, she, it, we, they worked yesterday. If the verb ends in vowel + consonant ( = it, op), then the final consonant doubles. If the verb ends in consonant (= r) + y, then the final y turns into ie : fit (a se potrivi) fitted stop (a [se] opri) stopped cry (a plânge) cried try (a încerca) tried If the verb has two syllables, then we need to double the final consonant IF the stress is on the SECOND syllable, and we do NOT need to double it, if the stress is on the FIRST syllable. admit admitted (stress on the 2 nd syllable) answer answered (stress on the 1 st syllable) 1

Other regular verbs: answer (a răspunde) answered arrive (a ajunge) arrived decide (a hotărî) decided like (a-i plăcea) liked listen (a asculta) listened live (a trăi, a locui) lived marry (a se căsători) married open (a deschide) opened start (a începe) started turn (a întoarce) turned watch (a se uita la) watched Examples of irregular verbs: - each of them has its own form and you need to learn them (by heart if possible) go (a merge) went eat (a mânca) ate come (a veni) came do (a face) did have (a avea) had get (a obţine) got take (a lua) took bring (a aduce) - brought *Questions: In order to form questions in the English language, for the Past Tense Simple, we need to reverse the order of subject and verb and begin with the auxiliary verb did, the past tense of do, as you can see above. Did I, you, he/she/it, we, they work? did = past of do auxiliary verb I, you, he/she/it, we, they subject work short infinitive Please note that we do not put the past tense simple of the main verb here, but only that of the auxiliary!!!!!!!!!!! We CANNOT have Did you worked? *Negatives: In order to form negatives in the English language, for the Past Tense Simple, we need to use the same scheme as we use with the affirmative, that is, subject + verb, to which we need to add the auxiliary did and the negation mark not : 2

Example I, you, he/she/it, we, they did not work. I, you, he/she/it, we, they = subject did = the auxiliary verb not = the negation mark Please note that, as in the case of the questions, we do not put the past tense simple of the main verb here, but only that of the auxiliary!!!!!!!!!!! We CANNOT have I did not worked! English language prefers to use the short form for the negative aspect of the verb. I, you, he/she/it we, they DIDN T work. Please also note that we don t have here that problem with the third person singular that we had with the Present Tense Simple! The same is valid for the negative questions: DIDN T I, you, he/she/it, we, they work? Past Tense Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb to be at his past/second form, plus the short infinitive of the main verb, to which we need to add an -ing : *Affirmative: I was working. I = subject was to be past tense auxiliary working verb + ing You, we, they were working. He, she, it was working. As with the Present Tense Continous, you CANNOT say I working without the AUXILIARY to be! 3

*Questions In order to form questions in the English language, for the Past Tense Continuous, we need to reverse the order of subject and verb and begin with the auxiliary verb to be : Was I working? was = auxiliary I = subject working = verb Were you, we, they working? Was he, she, it working? *Negatives In order to form negatives in the English language, for the Past Tense Continuous, we need to use the same scheme as we use with the affirmative, that is, subject + auxiliary+ verb+ -ing, to which we need to add the negation mark not. I was NOT working. I = subject was = auxiliary not = negation mark working = the main verb You, we, they were NOT working. He, she, it was NOT working. *Negative questions: The same order as for the affirmative questions, but with a NOT inserted to it. Was I NOT working? was = auxiliary I = subject 4

not = the negation mark working = verb Wetre you, we, they NOT working? Was he, she, it NOT working? As in the case of the Past Tense Simple, the English language prefers to use the short form: I was not working. I wasn t working. You, we, they were not working. - You, we, they weren t working. He, she, it was not working. - He, she, it wasn t working. Weren t you, we, they working? Wasn t he, she, it working? II. When Do We Use Them? * Past Tense Simple We use the Past Tense Simple when we talk about finished events in the past. I worked a lot yesterday. We also use Past Tense Simple when we talk about longer, more permanent situations in the past and about past habits. Explorers believed that the river ran into the Atlantic. (permanent) I skated a lot when I was a teenager.(habit) The Past Tense Simple is also used for polite requests, questions and suggestions. Would, could and might are often used in this way. I wondered if you were free this evening. Could I ask you to review this paper? 5

* Past Tense Continuous We use the Past Tense Continuous to talk about continuing actions in the past, which are often interrupted by a sudden event. My brother texted me at 9.30. I was writing a paper. was writing = continuing situation texted = the event that interrupts the continuing action I was writing a paper when my brother texted me. We use Past Tense Continuous to talk about actions which were unfinished, not complete at a past time. What were you doing at 11.00 last night? I was speaking on Facebook. At 7.00 pm, when my mother called, I was watching TV. We use Past Tense Continuous to talk about a longer action or situation. As I was crossing the street, I saw a cat. longer action at one moment We use Past Tense Continuous for temporary actions and situations. When I walked in I found that water was running down the walls. We use Past Tense Continuous to describe several situations in progress, happening at the same time: While I was watching TV, my father was reading the newspaper. The ballroom was crowded. Some were dancing, some were talking, others were eating. Everyone was waiting to see the Prince. 6

As in the case of Past Tense Simple, Past Tense Continuous can also be used for polite requests, questions and suggestions: I was wondering if you were free this evening. *Time expressions #When/While - when + past tense simple = at the time that He was very happy when he saw his first article published. - when/while+ past continuous = during the time that While we were watching streed dancing, it started to snow. - I dropped my glasses when I was reading your email. # ago, last week, in December, at 4.00, for three years - past simple + [ ] I visited Paris two years ago/in December/last week/at 4.00. - Paul lived in Basel for three years. *The Past Perfect Tenses = Mai-mult-ca-perfectul (fusesem) I. How Do We Form Them? The Past Perfect Tense Simple is formed with the past/second form of the auxiliary verb to have, plus the past participle/third form of the main verb: *Affirmative: I had written a lot. I = subiect had - past to have written = to write 3 rd past-3 rd form/ past participle 7

*Questions: In order to form questions in the English language, for the Past Perfect Tense Simple, we need to reverse the order in the affirmative, that is to start with the auxiliary had, and then to continue with the subject and the same 3 rd form/past participle form of the main verb. Had he written a lot? *Negatives: In order to form negatives in the English language, for the Past Perfect Tense Simple, we keep the order from the Affirmative, to which we add the negation mark not : subject + had+ not + vb 3 rd past 3 rd form/past participle. I had not written a lot. The Past Perfect Tense Continuous is formed with the past form of to have, plus the 3 rd form of the verb to be, plus the ing form of the main verb: *Affirmative: I had been writing/working a lot. I = subject been = to be 3 rd form writing/working = ing form of write, work *Questions: In order to form questions in the English language, for the Past Perfect Tense Continuous, we need to reverse the order in the affirmative, that is to start with the auxiliary had, and then to continue with the subject, the 3 rd form/past participle of to be been, and ing form of the main verb. 8

Had you been working/writing a lot? *Negatives In order to form negatives in the English language, for the Past Perfect Tense Continuous, we keep the order from the Affirmative, to which we add the negation mark not : subject + had + not + been + vb ing I had not been working a lot. *Negative questions Had you not been working a lot? As with the other tenses and forms, the English language prefers the short for of the Past Perfect Tenses: I had not written = I hadn t written I had done = I d done Had I not written? = Hadn t I written? I had not been working = I hadn t been working. II. How Do We Use Them? We use Past Perfect Simple when we are talking about an action in the past, which took place before another action in the past: I phoned Gabrielle, but she had already left. had left = before I phoned her # when, before, after We use [ ] to show that something was completely finished, before something else happened: 9

When he had written all the letters, he decided to read something funny. After I had printed all copies, students told me I was free. Mary had installed the program before the teacher arrived. We need Past Perfect Simple when we are using this/ it/ that was the first/ second/ third/ only/ best/ worst time It was the second time he had lost his keys that year. We use Past Perfect Simple with verbs like: think, know, be sure, realize, remember, suspect, understand (which are in their past simple form) I thought I d read that book, but I hadn t. I knew I had told that story before. I was sure I had forgotten something, I just didn t know what. I soon realized that I had made a huge mistake. We use Past Perfect Continuous for earlier situations which had continued up to that time: The garden was all wet: it had been raining all night long. *Past Perfect and Past Simple Situation 1: the meeting starts at 2.00, I arrive at 1.30. a) I arrived at 1.30, thirty minutes before the meeting started. b) When the meeting started, I had already arrived. Situation 2: the meeting starts at 2.00, I arrive at 2.30. a) The meeting started at 2.00, but I arrived thirty minutes late. b) I arrived at 2.30, but the meeting had already started. 10

Comments: 1 a more simple and much more likely than 1b we don t need to emphasize that we arrived before the meeting started, because this was the normal thing to do. 2b better the emphasis on the first event (the meeting starting) helps the meaning *Used to and Would We use used to when we are talking about a habit or state in the past. It has NO present form. It means that action or situation is no longer true. #Affirmative I used to play golf when I was a child. We use it for repeated actions, not for single events. I used to play golf, but now I play tennis. #Questions and Negatives: used to = use to Did you use to play golf when you were a child? I didn t use to play tennis, but now I play every day. We use would when we are talking about repeated actions in the past, NOT states. We usually meet it in descriptive writing, not in speech. On summer days, we would/used to swim in the sea. I used to own a bicycle. NOT I would own 11

VOCABULARY GENERAL GLOSSARY MONEY AND SHOPPING afford something = a-şi permite să cumpere ceva annual income = venit/câştiguri anuale a bar of chocolate = o bucată de ciocolată be well-off = a o duce bine financiar bill = factură bookshop = magazin de cărţi a box of tissues = o cutie de şerveţele de hârtie a bunch of bananas = un manunchi (buchet) de banane buy = a cumpăra carrier bag = sacoşă de cărat a carton of milk = o cutie de lapte cash = bani gheaţă, numerar, monedă cash desk = masa de la casierie change = restul (de bani) cheap = ieftin cheque = cec coin = monedă cost = a costa credit card = carte de credit cut price = magazin cu preţuri reduse department store = raion earnings = câştiguri exchange = a face schimb goods = bunuri in debt = datornic lend = a da cu împrumut a loaf of bread = o franzelă 12

money = bani note = bancnotă out of stock = s-a terminat respectivul produs owe = a datora own = a deţine a packet of biscuits = un pachet de biscuiţi pay someone back = a-i da cuiva banii înapoi pocket money = bani de buzunar poor = sărac price label = eticheta put money aside = a pune bani deoparte receipt = chitanţă save up = a economisi second hand = la mâna a doua shop assistant = vânzător shopping = cumpărături short of money = lipsit de bani spend = a cheltui store = magazin a tin of tomatoes = a conservă de roşii a tube of toothpaste = un tub de pastă de dinţi wages = salarii wallet = portofel VOCABULARY SPECIFIC- GLOSSARY 3. TYPES OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS battery packs = acumulatori, pachete cu baterii desktop PC = calculatorul de pe birou, cu procesor, monitor si tastatură hand-held devices = dispozitive ce pot fi ţinute în mână 13

handwriting recognition = program pentru recunoaşterea literelor scrise de mână pe un PDA mainframe = cel mai puternic tip de computer notebook PC = laptop PDA = Personal Digital Assistant = un computer mic ce poate fi ţinut într-o mână stylus = un stilou special pentru selectarea iconiţelor de pe un ecran sensibil, sau pentru a desena pe acesta tablet PC = tabletă = un computer ca o carte, cu ecran LCD, pe care se poate scrie cu un stilou digital special TFT screen = (Thin Film Transistor) screen = ecran cu tranzistor din film subţire touchpad = o zona sensibilă la atingere, în loc de mouse touch screen = ecran sensibil la atingere USB ports = (Universal Serial Bus) ports = prize/porturi cu magistrală serială universală pentru conectat perifericele la computer voice recognition software = program pentru recunoaşterea vocii în cazul PDA wearable computer = computer portabil/brăţară (pe baterii, purtat pe corp: pe o curea, pe braţ, pe rucsac, pe o vestă) wireless = fără cablu 4. INPUT DEVICES: TYPE, CLICK AND TALK! alphanumeric keys = partea din tastatură care reprezintă litere si cifre barcode reader = cititor de coduri de bare click = apeşi şi eliberezi butonul stâng (la mouse) cursor keys = partea din tastatură care reprezintă săgeţile, plus Home End, Page Up, Page Down cordless (= wireless) mouse = mouse fără cablu/fir dedicated keys = partea din tastatură cu care dăm comenzi sau producem litere alternative: Ctrl, Caps Lock, Enter (sau Return), Backspace digital camera = aparat foto digital double-click = apeşi şi eliberezi butonul stâng de două ori (la mouse) 14

drag = (la mouse) ţii apăsat butonul, mişti săgetuţa într-un loc nou şi apoi eliberezi butonul function keys = partea din tastatură care reprezintă funcţii (F1, F2, etc) graphics tablet = tabletă pentru desenat pe ea joystick = manşă keyboard = tastatură lightpen = stilou special pentru scris pe ecran microphone = microfon numeric keypad = partea din tastatură care reprezintă doar cifrele, plus Num Lock optical mouse = mouse optic = sensor optic în loc de biluţă pointer ( = cursor) = săgetuţa de la mouse right-click = (la mouse) = apeşi şi eliberezi butonul drept; astfel se afişază o listă de comenzi scanner = aparat de copiat scroll wheel = rotiţa de la mouse trackball = bila de la laptop din zona mouse-ului (în loc de mouse sau touchpad) webcam = cameră de luat vederi pentru web 5. INPUT DEVICES: THE EYES OF YOUR PC barcode scanner = scanner pt codurile de bare film scanner = scanner pentru negative flash memory card = card de memorie pentru poze (la aparatul foto digital) flatbed = tip de scanner gen xerox frames = cadre, poze (la webcam) hand-held scanner = scanner mic în formă de T (pentru poze mici) headset = un set de microfon şi căşti (pentru webcam) input devices = dispozitive ce capturează şi copiază imagini într-un computer megapixels = 1 milion de pixeli = rezoluţia unui webcam Optical Character Recognition = OCR = permite scanarea paginilor text şi salvarea lor în procesor; ele pot fi apoi editate 15

pen scanner = scannerul stilou (pentru texte, grafice, coduri de bare şi cifre scrise manual) resolution = rezoluţia = dpi = dots per inch (puncte per inch) scanner = un periferic care citeşte imaginile şi le converteşte în coduri electronice (=aparat de copiat) video conferences = dialog video prin webcam 6. OUTPUT DEVICES: PRINTERS cartridge = cartuşul folosit la imprimanta cu cerneală dot-matrix printer = imprimanta cu ace (cu care creează puncte) imagesetter = imprimanta care generează poze de foarte înalţă rezoluţie impact printing technology = tehnologia imprimantei cu ace ink-jet printer = imprimanta cu cerneală laser printer = imprimanta cu laser multi-function printers = multi-funcţionale = scanner+fax+xerox page description language = PDL = un program care descrie cum să printezi textul şi să desenezi imagini pe pagină (Adope PostScript, HP Printer Control Language) pins = acele utilizate de imprimantă pentru a crea punctele plotter = o imprimantă care foloseşte cerneală si stilouri într-un car (= suport) desene detaliate în pagină, hărţi, ilustraţii tehnice 3-D) ppm = pages per minute = pagini pe minut = viteza de printare printer = imprimantă printer driver = programul pentru printat print server = un computer care stochează fişierele care aşteapţă sa fie printate printer spooler = program pentru administrarea printatului printout = foaia printată toner = praful folosit la imprimanta cu laser 16