ELL Grammar Key 3 – Past - Difficult for some ELLs, as some languages do not have

verb tenses.

- We need to help ELLs to figure out which verb form is most appropriate for the situation.

Typical ELL Errors- According to the report, dozens of people did not received

their tax information.- When I ate dinner last night, my uncle called me.- How many people did you talked to at the party?- By the time I was old enough to vote, I participated in two

local campaigns.- Do you have ever flown on a 747 jumbo jet?

Verb Tense / Expression Example Meaning

Simple Past I ate dinner at 8 PM. A single past event.

Past Progressive (Continuous)

I was eating dinner when you called.

A past action that was happening (when it was interrupted by another)

Present Perfect I have eaten at that restaurant. A past action (indefinite time that could happen again)

Past Perfect I had eaten dinner before you called.

A past action that was completed before a second past

action

Past Perfect Progressive I had been eating dinner before you called

An action that began in the past before a second past action

(with emphasis on duration of the action)

Used to and Would When I was still single, I used to eat dinner in front of the TV. I would put my food on a plate and then take it to the small

table in front of the TV. Then I’d eat dinner while I was watching

TV. Now that I’m married, things have changed and we eat at the dining room table.

Used to: an action that happened many times in the

past but is no longer true. Frequently opens a past

narrative.

Would: smaller actions that happened repeatedly in a past

narrative but are no longer true

Singular Plural

I walked we walked

you walked you walked

he/she/it walked they walked

Simple Past TenseAn action that was completed in the past.

Form: VERB+ed

Problematic spelling; For verbs: - that end in -e already, just add the -d (live – lived)- that end in consonant +y, you change the -y to -i and add -ed (study – studied)- that end in vowel +y, just add -ed (play – played)- CVC - for verbs of one syllable that end in consonant + vowel + consonant, you double the last consonant and then add -ed. - for verbs of two syllables, double the last consonant before adding –ed, if the stress is on the second syllable (commit – commited) . - if the stress is on the first syllable we DO NOT double the final consonant (visit – visited)

Past Now Future

Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.1- Don’t use VERB or VERB + -s in the past tense. Don’t forget to use –ed.Wrong: Laura cooks scrambled eggs for breakfast yesterday.Correct: Laura cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast yesterday.

2- Do not use was/were with verbs (other than to be) in simple past tense.Wrong: I was walk to school yesterday.Correct: I walked to school yesterday.

3- Don’t forget to change –y to –i and add –ed Wrong: My baby sister cryed last night.Correct: My baby sister cried last night.

4- If a verb ends in consonant – vowel – consonant (C-V-C) (in its stressed syllable), don’t forget to double the consonant before adding –ed.Wrong: She stoped the car to answer her cell phone.Correct: She stopped the car to answer her cell phone.

Singular Plural

I was walking we were walking

you were walking you were walking

he/she/it was walking they were walking

Past Progressive TenseAn action that was happening when another action interrupted it.

Form: was/were + VERB + -ing.

The –ing form is called the present participle .

Use was or were according to the subject

Past Now Future

Interruption

Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.1-Do not use was/were and a verb without –ing. The –ing to indicate past progressive tense.Wrong: When I got my first job I was live in Los Angeles.Correct: When I got my first job I was living in Los Angeles.

2- Don’t mix up past progressive tense and simple past tense.Wrong: I cut the onions. Then I was putting them in the soup. Correct: I cut the onions. Then I put them in the soup.

3- Be careful with the spelling of the present participle.Wrong: cuting, siting, planing, eatting, helpping, openning.Correct: cutting, sitting, planning, eating, helping, opening

4-Do not use past progressive if the verb does not show an action (as opposed to a state of being). Examples of verbs that are rarely in progressive tenses are: own, possess, like, loved, need, want, have, seem, feel, be, prefer, remember, forget and believe.Wrong: From 2000 to 2007, I was owning two carsCorrect: From 2000 to 2007, I owned two cars.

Singular Plural

I have walked we have walked

you have walked you have walked

he/she/it has walked they have walked

Present Perfect TensePast action that is important to the present situation.

Form: have/has + PAST PARTICIPLE. (auxiliary verb according to subject)

Past Participle for regular verbs: Same as past tense form. Add –ed to the base form of the verb according to the spelling rules.

Past Participle for irregular verbs: - Common endings include –en, -ne or –n (chosen, done, and torn) but there are

other possibilities:- Some are the same for present, past and past participles (cut-cut-cut, put-put-put)- Another pattern is different internal vowels (sing-sang-sung, ring-rang-rung)- Students must memorize the irregular forms that are most commonly used.

Example Key WordsJose: How long have you worked at Carpet World?

Sara: I’ve been there for 18 years. In fact, I’ve worked there longer than any of my supervisors!

Jose: What do you do there?

Sara: I used to work on the assembly line, but since 1995, I’ve been with the sales force in the front office.

How Long

for + time

since + time

Present Perfect – Usage #1Past action or situation that continues now. (affirmative or negative)

Past Now Future

Example Key WordsAmber: It’s hot in here. Why don’t you turn on the air conditioner?

James: Actually, I’ve jut turned it on. We have to give it a few minutes to feel it. Can I help you with the reports?

Amber: Thanks, but I’ve already finished them. Here they are.

Just

already

Present Perfect – Usage #2Recent past action that is important to the situation.

Past Now Future

Example Key WordsKatie: Susan’s just gotten back from China. She told me she had a great time.

Sean: That’s wonderful news. She must be tired. That was a really long trip.

Katie: I wonder how many hours it is from here to China. Have you even gone there?

Sean : No I’ve never gone there, but my uncle had traveled there many times. In fact, he went there last month. He had to go there on business.

Ever

NeverMany times

Present Perfect – Usage #3Past Experience, Indefinite Past Time

Past Now Future

?

Example Key WordsMike: We don’t have much time. Are you almost ready?

Kent: Give me a few more minutes, Mike.

Mike: What about the travel report and the salary sheets? Have you finished them yet?

Kent: I’ve already finished the salary sheets, but I haven’t finished the travel report yet. I only need a few more minutes, okay?

Yet (in a question)

Yet (in a negative)

Present Perfect – Usage #4With yet.

Past Now Future

?

Example Key WordsSaleh: How was the movie you went to see last night?

Marcos: Don’t waste your money! That was the worst movie that I have ever seen in my life.

Saleh: Wow, I’m surprised. You know its the most expensive movie that anyone in Hollywood has ever made.

The worst ever

The most expensive ever

Present Perfect – Usage #5With a superlative (Indicates Past Indefinite Action).

Past Now Future

Past Now Future

Past Now Future

Example Key WordsMother: Is that the third paper that you have had to write for that class this semester?

Bernadette: Yes, but it’s the first paper that the teacher has asked for

The third...

The first...

Present Perfect – Usage #6The First…The Third…. (Refers to a past indefinite time)Connects the past event and the present time or a present event.

Past Now Future

Example Key WordsWeiping: Can you believe it? There’s another test next Monday!

Paolo: It’s crazy! We’ve had six tests so far this month.

Weiping: You know, my biology teacher has given only one test this semester.

Paolo: I know the feeling I’ve had a lot of classes like that here.

Six so far

One this semester

A lot

Present Perfect – Usage #7Repetition of an action before now. (Exact time is not important)

Past Now Future

Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.1-Do not forget to use have or has with the past participle.Wrong: I was born here and will die here. I been here my whole life.Correct: I was born here and will die here. I have been here my whole life.

2- Don’t use have or has with the wrong subjectWrong: Sarah have already completed all the homework.Correct: Sarah has already completed all the homework.

3- Do not use be here with present perfect tense.Wrong: Sarah is already completed all the homework. Correct: Sarah has already completed all the homework.

4-Do not use present perfect with any specific past tense time words.Wrong: I have gone to Mexico several times when I was in college. Correct: I went to Mexico several times when I was in college.

5-Do not use simple past tense with actions that are still continuing.Wrong: I lived in this same apartment since 1996. Correct: I’ve lived in this same apartment since 1996.

Singular Plural

I had walked we had walked

you had walked you hadwalked

he/she/it had walked they had walked

Past Perfect TensePast actions that occurred before another past event, action or time.

Form: had + PAST PARTICIPLE

Ex: I had walked along the beach before the sun set.

Past Now Future21

setHad walked

Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.

1-Do not forget to use the past participle after had.Wrong: I had work for the bus for almost 20 years.Correct: I had worked for the bus for almost 20 years.

2- Do not use past tense when past perfect is required.Wrong: When the company went bankrupt, I worked there 20 years.Correct: When the company went bankrupt, I had worked there for 20 years.

Singular Plural

I walked we walked

you walked you walked

he/she/it walked they walked

Past Perfect Progressive TenseAn action that began in the past and continued until another time in the past.

Form: had + been + VERB+ - ing

Example: I had been walking on the trail for almost an hour when the rain started.

Past Now Future

startedHad beenwalking

21

Used to and WouldUsed to express certain actions in the past..

Used to:The idea that a past action happened repeatedly but is no longer (usually) done now.

A past fact that is no longer true.

Would:A past action that happened repeatedly but it is no longer (usually) done now.

Used to Used to Would Would

Singular Plural Singular Plural

I used to walk We used to walk I would walk We would walk

You used to walk You used to walk You would walk You would walk

He/she/it used to walk

They used to walk He/she/it would walk They would walk

Tense Example

Simple Past SUBJ +did+not+VERB

Present Perfect I/you/we/they + have +not +PAST PARTICIPLEHe/she/it + has + not+ PAST PARTICIPLE

Past Progressive I/he/she/it + was +not+ VERB + –ingYou/we/they + were + not+ VERB + -ing

Past Perfect SUBJ + had + not + been + VERB + -ing

Past Perfect Progressive SUBJ + had + not + been + VERB + -ing

Used to SUBJ + did + not + use to + VERB

Would SUBJ + would + not + VERB

Past Continuous – Lesson PlanObjective - Have students recognize when the use of the the Past Continuous is needed, and be able to use it correctly.

Steps

1. The students will be given strips of paper with actions written in the past continuous. They will be asked to mimic and act out the actions they have been given. Teacher will walk over to the door, let them act it out for a few seconds and then turn off the light. When T turns on the light SS will be asked to complete the following sentence

“I was ______ when the teacher turned off the lights” Class will go over it orally. Students will be asked to say what theywere doing when the Teacher turned off the light. 2. Then, the class will go over orally what their classmates were doing.

“ ’Fulan@’ was ______ when the teacher turned off the light”3. Students will be paired off and asked to ask each other questions about what they were doing and what their classmates were doing when the teacher turned off the light.4. They will then be asked to write sentences individually, on what they were doing and what their classmates were doing.