Focus On GrammarBook 2, 5th edition

Lesson 7: Time Words and ClausesPast Continuous Tense

7.1 – When, Until, While

• When– Clause* When class is over, Jasvir will eat rice.• At that time, or starting then

• Until – Clause or Phrase: before that time– Until we studied, we couldn’t speak English.

• While – Clause* : at the same time– While Berto ate lunch, Latifa studied Grammar.

* Also can use reduced clause gerund phrase

7.2 – When and Whenever

• When = At that time, or starting at that time• Whenever = anytime or every time.

7.3 – Time Words

• AT = a specific time• ON = a specific day or date• IN – During a specific month, year, decade, century,

etc.– After a period of time ( a minute, a month, 2

months, etc.)– (use AFTER with nouns and clauses)

7.3 – Time WordsIn, During, For

• In and During are sometimes the same– You could use in twice, but during only once

• In, During, For– Now it is November 1. My brother will come here

on January 1, and leave on January 31.– He will arrive here _____ two months.– He will stay here _____ one month.– I will be alone _____ December.

7.3 – Time Words Before, By, Ago

• Before, By, – Both are very similar with a stated specific time.• Before August 3… By August 3…

– With a clause:• Before she arrived, the music was over.• By the time she arrived, the music was over.

• Ago– Used with a PERIOD of time. (5 seconds, 10 years)

7.3 – Time Words From… until/to/till

• With specific times– From 9 until/to/till 5– FROM the time that [+clause]

• UNTIL +[clause]– From 9AM till everybody leaves– (can’t use to)

7.4 Past ContinuousForm

• BE + verbING

• Negatives? BE is you helping verb.• Questions? BE is your helping verb.

Singular Plural

1st I was talking. We were talking.

2nd You were talking. You were talking.

3rd He, She, It was talking. They were talking.

7.5 Past Continuouswith specific times

• Pretty much the same as simple past• Consider the difference between simple

present and present continuous.– The past continuous implies a short-term activity

• The same is true with SOME time clauses– Before, After,– NOT with WHEN, WHILE (see next)

7.6 Past Continouus with a When clause

• This is the most important part of past progressive. Time is stretched out around the WHEN clause event.

• Consider the difference between these two…– She ate when he came home.– She was eating when he came home.

7.7 – With a WHILE clause• Makes the action in the WHILE clause longer.• Implies that the shorter action (not in the

WHILE clause) is also “stretchable” or repeated.– While he lived here (was living here), he died.– While he lived here (was living here), he was dying.• (pg 225 #3 [no #2] You cannot use…

• WHILE with the Simple Past = stretch it out (7.10)

7.8 – Was/Were Going To

• For a plan that didn’t happen• It was in the future, but not anymore

7.9 Simp Past vs. Past Prog. With WHEN

• When + Simple Past = – “started at that time”– And continued after that time– She ate when he came home.

• When + Past Prog. = – “both at the same time”– The Past Progresssive is the longer action.– She was eating when he came home.

7.10 Simple Past and Past Prog.

• Use WHILE for A PERIOD OF TIME– You can stretch out time with simple past and

WHILE• WHEN is best for a specific time.

7.11 – Gerund Phrase (-ing form)

• IF the subject in both clauses is THE SAME, you can delete the subject in the dependent clause and use a gerund instead.– After he studied, Louis went to bed.– After studying, Louis went to bed.

– Omima put on her glasses before she got up.– Omima put on her glasses before getting up.