Past Simple Tense

I.    Concept: Past finished events

II.   Structure:

      a) Affirmative sentences

                  Subject + verb in past + Compl.

          Ex.: Mr. Jones came to Chile

      b) Interrogative sentences

                  Aux + subjects + verb in present + compl.?

          Ex.: Did you get up early?

      c) Negative sentences

                  Subject + didn't + verb in present + past complement

          Ex.: Judy didn't start her classes

      d) Short answer

                  yes/no + subject + did/didn't

          Ex.: Yes I did

                 No I didn't

Note:  The questions could include question words such as why, when, what, etc.

I.   Far future predictions

     Ex.: By year 2090 man will live in Mars

II.  Predictions based on what we think, or suppose

     Ex.: I think it will rain

III. Future offer

     Ex.: I will bring you a cup of tea

IV. Future instant decisions

     Ex.: It's cold here. I will turn the stove on

     I will go to U.S.A

     Will I go to U.S.A.?

     I won't go to U.S.A.

     Yes, I will

     No, I won't                                                                            

I.   Future personal plans

     Ex.: I'm going to prepare my suitcase

II.  Future predictions based on what we know, or can see

     Ex.: She is going to fall down. Look!

     He is going to come

     Is he going to come?

     He isn't going to come

     Yes, he is

     No, he isn't                                                                           

The Present Perfect

a)  Close past events

     Ex.: I have just eaten a sandwich

b)  Past events which continue or have present consecuences

     Ex.: She has studied at Scuola Italiana for ten years (since 1991)

     Structure: have (I, you, we, they) + past participle (third row)

                          has (he, she, it)

     I have been in England

     Have you been in England?

     They haven't been in England (yet)

     Yes, they have

     No, she hasn't                                                                         

Past Continuous

II.  Elements: Was (I, he, she, it) + Infinitive + ing

                     Were (You, we, they) + infinitive + ing

III. It can be used with the past simple or individually

     Ex.: I was taking a shower when... (you called me)

     I was running

     Were you running?

     I wasn't running

     Yes, I was

     No, we weren't