Language practice. Grammar 1. Past (part 2)

4. Decide whether the verb form in italics is suitable or unsuitable.

a) While I had a bath, someone knocked on the door,…. unsuitable…

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 you wear to the Ponsonby’s party? ………………….

e) Were you 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) “What a terrible day!” thought Lucy. Everything had gone wrong!

j) Although it rained a lot, I was enjoying my holiday last year………………………………..

 

5. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

When Professor Mallory, the famous archaeologist, (1) …… invited ………… (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!

6. Rewrite each sentence beginning as shown. Use a participle clause.

a) Norman collected the parcel, but then he realized it was the wrong one.

After collecting the parcel, Norman realized it was the wrong one.

b) Sue left the house but first she checked that she had her keys.

Before …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

c) Mark was parking his car when he noticed the wing-mirror was broken.

While …………………………………………………………………………………….

d) Julia cleaned the house, but then she fell asleep on the sofa.

After, ………………………………………………………………………………….

e) Brian bought a new television, but first he checked all the prices.

Before ……………………………………………………………………………………

f) Alan was skiing in Switzerland and met his old friend, Ken.

While ………………………………………………………………………………………..

g) Kate took two aspirins, and then she felt a lot better.

After ………………………………………………………………..

h) Sheila went out for the evening, but first she washed her hair.

Before ………………………………………………………………….

 

Correct answers:

4. a) unsuitable                                b) unsuitable     c) suitable           d) suitable          e) unsuitable     f) suitable           g) suitable                h) unsuitable                    i) suitable            j) unsuitable     

5. 1) invited        2) did not hesitate          3) had discovered           4) had ever been            5) believed         6) never existed/had never existed   7) felt                   8) vanished/had vanished          9) become/had become                             10) had hidden                 11) believed      12) were still keeping/still kept                13) set off           14) was looking forward              15) climbed                16) studied         17) were resting              18) noticed         19) was waving                20) shone/were shining

6.  a) After collecting the parcel, Norman realized it was the wrong one.

b) Before leaving the house, Sue checked that she had her keys.

c) While parking his car, Mark noticed the wing-mirror was broken.

d) After cleaning the house, Julia fell asleep on the sofa.

e) Before buying a new television, Brian checked all the prices.

f) While skiing in Switzerland, Alan met his old friend, Ke,

g) After taking two aspirins, Kate felt a lot better.

h) Before going out for the evening, Sheila washed her hair.

Key points.

1.      The past simple describes completed events in the past, such as the main events in a narrative. It can also describe habits and routines in the past.

2.      The past continuous is used for:

a)      background description.

b)      actions in progress, often contrasted with a sudden event.

The past continuous cannot be used to describe past routines and habits.

3.      Participle clauses can introduce a clause giving the main event.

The subjects of both clauses must be the same.

4.      The past perfect describes a past event which took place before another past event. If before or after is used, the past perfect is optional.

The past perfect is not used for an event that happened a long time ago in the past.

5.      Used to only refers to past time, and has no present form.

6.      Would can be used to describe habitual actions in the past, usually in writing. It does not make such a strong contrast with the present as used to. Compare:

Jim would always make his mother a cup of tea after lunch.

Jim used to drink tea, but now he prefers coffee.

            Would cannot be used to describe states.

                                   Sally used to be a dancer.

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