The past tense in English is used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to talk about the past
to talk about hypotheses \u2013 things that are imagined rather than true.
for politeness.
There are four past tense forms in English:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tense Form
Past simple: I worked
Past continuous: I was working
Past perfect: I had worked
Past perfect continuous: I had been working
We use these forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to talk about the past:
He worked at McDonald\u2019s. He had worked there since July..
He was working at McDonald\u2019s. He had been working since July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
to refer to the present or future in conditions:
He could get a new job if he really tried.
If Jack was playing they would probably win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and hypotheses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might be dangerous. Suppose they got lost.
I would always help someone who really needed help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and wishes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish it wasn\u2019t so cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conditions, hypotheses and wishes, if we want to talk about the past, we always use the past perfect:
I would have helped him if he had asked.
It was very dangerous, What if you had got lost?
I wish I hadn\u2019t spent so much money last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can use the past forms to talk about the present in a few polite expressions:
Excuse me, I was wondering if this was the train for York.
I just hoped you would be able to help me.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The past tense in English is used: to talk about the pastto talk about hypotheses \u2013 things that are imagined rather than true.for politeness.There are four past tense forms in English: Tense FormPast simple: I workedPast continuous: I was workingPast perfect: I had workedPast perfect continuous: I had been workingWe use these forms: to talk […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dicas"],"yoast_head":"\n