Unit 3

Present Perfect, Present Perfect Progressive, and

Simple Past Tense

Notice the contrast in the tenses

Present perfect & present perfect progressive

Things started in the past, continue to present, and may continue to future.

Simple Past

Things happened and completed in the past—not connected to the present.

Again, a clear contrast

Present Perfect

things happened at unspecified time in past

Simple Past

Things happened at specific time in past.

Another contrast

Present perfect

A time period is unfinished.

Simple past

A time period is finished.

Time of day as example of time period.

Morning = time period. asking about breakfast

Use the Present perfect until noon. (morning not finished)

Have you eaten breakfast?

Use Simple past after noon. (Morning finished)

Did you eat breakfast this morning?

Additional Contrast

Present Perfect

An activity or state is finished.

Present Perfect Progressive

An activity is unfinished. (in progress)

Unit 4

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Progressive

Past perfect

• Past perfect describes an event that happened before another past event.

(There are two events. Both are in the past.)

He learned that his student film had won an award.

First (earlier) event—the award for his film

Second (later) event—received the information

January 1, 2005

Write sentences about yourself with this date. Use examples with actions that are completed.

By January 1, 2005, I had moved back to the United States.

(Note 1)

Past perfect progressive

Now make true past perfect progressive sentences related to past perfect sentences you created.

Focus on the process, not the end result.

I had been working in Mexico before I started working at IVC.

(Note 2)

Drawing conclusions based on evidence.

• Use past perfect progressive

Evidence:

Cecilia got lost going to Los Angeles.

Conclusion:

She had been driving on the wrong freeway.

Note 3

Order of events

• Past perfect or past perfect progressive is the earlier event.

• Simple past tense is the later event.

Example: I had been driving back to El Centro when I saw the Perseid meteor shower.

Earlier event: driving

Later event: saw the meteors

(Note 4)

Emphasis on first event• My old computer had Windows 98

and there were no more updates from Microsoft for it.

• I had already decided to get a new computer.

First event: my decision emphasized

Later event: no updates for Windows 98

Note 5

Clear relationship between 2 past events

After I received my master’s degree, I got a teaching job.

As soon as I received my master’s degree, I got a teaching job.

Before I got a teaching job, I received my master’s degree.

(Simple past for both events often used)Note 6

Time expression used with past perfect and past perfect continuous.

By 2003, I had bought a house.

Note 7