User:Robbiemuffin/Using English Grammar Graphics/Past tense

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  thePast Simple
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  the During sense of the Past Simple
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  the habitual sense of the Past Simple
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  the Past Continuous
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  the Past Perfect
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  the Present Perfect
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  the During sense of the Present Perfect

Past Simple

the Past Simple	English's preterite — usually called its simple past or, somewhat loosely, its past-tense form — is generally formed by adding -ed or -d to the verb's plain form (bare infinitive), sometimes with some spelling modifications: He planted corn and oats. They studied grammar. (as a single event in the past)
the During sense of the Past Simple	I ate breakfast late this morning. How long did you wait for them?
the Habitual sense of the Past Simple	People were much more musically inclined before television. Did you play the piano when you were young? I used to play guitar. (compare with "They studied grammar" above)

Past Continuous

the Past Continuous

The construction of a past continuous is similar to the present continuous tense, be it that it has a past simple form of 'to be' instead of a present simple form preceding the present participle. An example of a past continuous inside a sentence would be 'I was painting the house.' There's the past simple form of 'to be' in the finite position (was), with the present participle of 'to paint' (painting) following it.

the Habitual sense of the Past Continuous

She was always a pretty girl. I didn't like them because they were always picking fights. note this is the same Image:EGG_Past_simpleHabitual.svg see the Habitual sense of the Past simple v. the Habitual sense of the Past Continuous

Past Perfect

the Past Perfect	There are generally two types of pluperfect, corresponding to the two types of perfect: He saw that the door had opened, and children were running through it. He had risen early that morning and had drunk coffee earlier than usual.
the Past Perfect Continuous	How long have you been in line? They had talked for an hour before they knew each other's names. note this is the same Image:EGG_Past_continuous.svg see the Past continuous v. the Past Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect

transcluded from User:Robbiemuffin/Using English Grammar Graphics/Present Perfect

This is a Present Tense which is wholly in the past.

When presenting this information to language learners, it is presented as a present tense. Many people logically categorize this in the past tense however. In the lens of grammar in general (and not english grammar in particular), English has only two tenses: past and non-past. Present Perfect is clearly not non-past tense.

the Present Perfect	The boy has seen the car. (Emphasis is on the present state of the boy, resulting from the fact that he saw the car.)
the During sense of the Present Perfect	I have left Argentina for now. I have had a cold for two weeks. The earth has had humans on it for four million years.