Explanations Describing events ■ Main events in the past The past simple is used to describe finished actions and events in the past. Susan went into the station and bought a ticket. ■ Background description The past continuous is used to describe actions in progress in the past. It gives information about the background situation. There were a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were sleeping on the benches, and others were walking up and down. Susan was looking for Graham, so she didn't sit down. ■ Past before past Thcpast perfect is used to make it clear that one past event happens before another past event. We use the past perfect for the earlier event. By the time the train arrived, Susan had managed to push her way to the front of the crowd. It is not always necessary to use the past perfect if a time expression makes the order of events clear. Before the train arrived, Susan managed to push her way to the front of the crowd. ■ Past continuous used with past simple We often use the past continuous first to set the scene, and then the past simple for the separate, completed actions that happen. Susan was looking for Graham, so she didn't sit down. Instead, she tried calling him on her mobile phone. We often contrast an action in progress with a sudden event which interrupts it. While Susan was trying to get onto the platform, a man grabbed her handbag. u Participle clauses Participle clauses are introduced by the time expressions before, after and while. They have the same subject as the following clause. After struggling with him, Susan pulled the bag from his hands. Habits in the past ■ Past simple The past simple is used to describe past habits or states. A time expression is usually necessary. / always got up at six in those days, (habit) / lived in Austria for several years. (state) 1 FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE ■ Used to Used to is used to describe past habits or states. A time expression is not necessary. J used to get up at six, but now I get up at eight. I used to own a horse. (I owned a horse once.) With negatives and questions used to becomes use to. I didn't use to like beer. Did you use to swim every day? When we use used to we suggest that the action is no longer true and so make a strong contrast with the present. ■ Would Would is used to describe a person's typical activities in the past. It can only be used to describe repeated actions, not states. It is mainly used in writing, and in personal reminiscences. Every evening was the same. Jack would turn on the radio, light his pipe and fall asleep. ■ Past continuous The past continuous can be used to describe a repeated action in the past, often an annoying habit. A frequency adverb is necessary. When Peter was younger, he was always getting into trouble. Politeness and We can use the past continuous with think, hope and wonder to give a polite or uncertainty uncertain meaning. I was thinking of having a party next week. I was hoping you would join us at the cafe tonight. I was wondering if you could help me. 2 GRAMMAR 1 PAST TIME Practice Choose a suitable description for each picture. a) When he left the house, Peter forgot that he had put his passport and wallet in his other jacket. b) After phoning the airport, Peter packed his suitcase. cj) When he returned from Portugal in March, Peter put his passport and wallet in his jacket pocket. d) A few days before leaving for his summer holiday, Peter phoned the airport to check his flight. e) While Peter was packing his suitcase, he realised that he hadn't checked his flight. f) While Peter was packing his suitcase, the phone rang. FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 2 Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence. The first one is done for you. a) I suddenly remembered that I forgot/had forgotten my keys. b) While Diana watched/was watching her favourite television programme, there was a power-cut. c) Tom used to live/would live in the house at the end of the street. d) Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident? e) By the time Sheila got back, Chris went/had gone. f) David ate/had eaten Japanese food before, so he knew what to order. g) I did/was doing some shopping yesterday, when I saw that Dutch friend of yours. h) I used to like/was liking sweets much more than I do now. i) ,What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday? j) Laura missed the party because no-one was telling/had told her about it. k) Tanya would/used to be a doctor. 3 Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. Only use the past perfect where this is absolutely necessary. a) While I (try).....^^..tfY^d-.........to get my car started, a passing car (stop) ...................................and the driver (offer)...................................to help me. b) The police (pay)...................................no attention to Clare's complaint because she (phone)...................................them so many times before. c) Mary (not wear)..............................her glasses at the time, so she (not notice) ...................................what kind of car the man (drive)................................... d) Nick (lie)...................................down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who (feed)...................................the ducks. e) Tony (admit)...................................that he (hit)...................................the other car, but said that he (not damage)...................................it. f) Sorry, I (not listen)...................................to you. I (think) ...................................about something else. g) Helen (feel)...................................very tired, and when she (finish) ...................................her work, she (fall)...................................asleep. h) The police (get)................................... to Clare's house as fast as they could, but the burglars (disappear).................................... i) I (phone)...................................you last night but you (not answer) ....................................What (you do) ...................................? j) We (not go)...................................out yesterday because it (rain) 4 GRAMMAR 1 PAST TIME 4 Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable. a) While I had a bath, someone knocked on the door.....itWHltqblt^^ b) Sally didn't go to a boxing match before...................... c) Harry tried to repair the car, but he didn't really know what he was doing. d) What did yon wear to the Ponsonby's party?..................... e) Were yon eating spaghetti every day when you lived in Italy?....... f) I didn't know you had bought a new car...................... g) They all wanted to believe her, but suspected she was lying......... h) As Peggy walked home, she tried to remember what happened. ... i) y 'What a terrible day!' thought Lucy. Everything had gone wrong! j) Although it rained a lot, I was enjoying my holiday last year. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. When Professor Mallory, the famous archaeologist, (1) ...ItyQPtM............. (invite) me to take part in his expedition to find the Lost City of the Himalayas, I (2).............................. (not hesitate) to accept his invitation. Mallory (3)..............................(discover) an ancient map showing the position of the city, although no European (4)..............................(ever go) to the area before. In fact, most of Mallory's colleagues either (5)..............................(believe) that the city (6)..............................(never exist) or (7).............................. (feel) that it (8).............................. (vanish) long ago and (9).............................. (become) simply a legend. According to the Professor, the builders of the city (10)..............................(hide) it among the mountains in order to protect its immense riches. He (11).............................. (believe) that the descendants of these ancient people (12)..............................(still keep) themselves apart from the rest of mankind for the very same reasons. So when we (13)..............................(set off) on a cool May morning towards the distant mountains, each of us (14).............................. (look forward) to exciting discoveries. For a week or more we (15)..............................(climb) higher and higher, following the map, which Mallory (16).............................. (study) from time to time. Then one afternoon, while we (17)..............................(rest) at the top of a valley, we (18)..............................(notice) that a rider on a horse (19)..............................(wave) at us from the other side of the valley. A rider whose clothes (20)..............................(shine) like gold! 5 FIRST CERTIFICATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 6 Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown. Use a participle clause. a) Norman collected the parcel, but then he realised it was the wrong one. After .^fH^-..^^[.'T'r.^/.'. .^/.