The choice of the Tense depends on how much information you give: 1 action in the past: I walked to work yesterday. The same action, but interrupted: I was walking to work when I realized something. The same action + the duration of that action + an interruption: I had been walking to work for 15 minutes when I realized something.
You are welcome, Max. I really enjoy teaching English, and it makes me happy to assist others to learn this wonderful language. Judging by what I have read from you so far, your English is fantastic.
I think the order of three of the sentences is pretty clear: It had been an awful day. He had supper. Then he went to sit in his living room. The sentence 'He felt miserable.' is not part of the sequence of events and can really go anywhere except between 'he had supper.' and 'Then he went ...', as these two have to stay together.
i have seen many videos over youtube teaching about tenses, but i am not saying other are not good, i am saying you are excellent in explaining the tenses very well..thank you i am sure now i am going to crack the grammar interview test............thank you very very very very very much .....................unlimited times
Words cannot express how thankful I am for you grammar lesson. I've struggled for years trying to figure out how to use tenses. You provided us excellent explanation. Well done. Thank you so much. I'm subscribing to your channel.
mymy You're welcome. I'm really glad that this lesson has been helpful to you. You can also find all my video lessons and other learning resources on my website www.anglo-link.com.
Nothing I could expect more than this. You are teaching us 100% along with your replies to the questions which are so much helpful to learn English. Thank you very much Minoo..
Yes, 'hadn't eaten' is the correct answer. The tendency (rather than the rule) is not to use the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous in the negative form when we want to denote a lack of action. I suppose it makes sense not to insist on the 'continuity of an action that didn't take place'! Therefore: 'They were hungry because they HAD BEEN WALKING for hours.' BUT 'They were hungry because they HAD NOT EATEN since breakfast.
splendid video Madam, you had done it in a very great level. this is a pretty confusion for me to segregate them in a part, I will have remember it for my future acts. thank you so much for sharing such a nice information
Strictly grammatically speaking, the first sentence is correct: I left as soon as we HAD finished. In spoken English, when the two actions are almost simultaneous, it is o.k. to use the Past Simple for both actions.
Yes, you can. It is similar to 'We were playing cards when she arrived. with the added meaning that her arrival definitely stopped the activity. However, in an exam, it is not the Tense they would expect. It is better to say: 'We were playing cards when she arrived.' or 'We had played cards before she arrived.' or 'We had been playing cards for a while before she arrived.'
1. You can drop 'for' or keep it. 2. The context should tell you which action was before the other. Here the walking was before the 'realisation'. Therefore, 'walk' takes the Past Perfect Continuous and 'realise' takes the Past Simple. 3. Yes, in American English you can spell 'realise' with a 'z'.
Thank you so much. Now I understand everything much better. I always watch your videos before my English exams and it helps me so much. Super explanation ❤
Mary Griebel You're welcome, Mary. I'm glad you've enjoyed this lesson. The easiest place to find my lessons and other practice materials is on my website www.anglo-link.com under 'Video Lessons' and 'Exercises'.
Dear Minoo! I'd just like to say that the content of your classes is TERRIFIC, BRILLIANT!!! Your material has helped me a lot! It has clarified doubts that had haunted me until I bumped into your youtube channel! You've been doing an awesome job with this channel! Thanks a lot!!!
what kind of reply this.Before that,what kind of heinous,mannerless and vulgar man you are.just because of people like you,womens are objectified.Is this what we call as being human.At your death bed,is this what all you will carry along? just try to be a man of worth.
Respected Ma'am,does Past Perfect Continuous tense stand alone, or does it take another action like Past Perfect? For example,he had been living in this town for ten years.Is it correct?or does the sentence require another sentence?
You have to use your feeling whether you can replace the Past Perfect with the Past Simple without compromising the message. When you do this, it should be obvious which action took place first. You can say: 'As usual, they discussed everything and made their decision before I arrived.' However, as you are using expressions like 'by the time I arrived' and 'already', it indicates that this is an unexpected and unusual event. If you remove the Past Perfect, you compromise this message.
'Since' is usually used with the PRESENT Perfect Continuous Tense. On rare occasions when it is used with PAST Perfect (Continuous), it will be followed by Past Perfect: I had been sitting / I had sat in a corner since I had arrived.
A useful lesson about past tenses. Thank you so much! However im still having a small problems with those. But im doing my best! I swear!! Thank you again! You made this very clear :-)
I was watching your videos to learn, I had listened to practiced it, I had been fallowing you since 20012, and I will thank you for teaching me English.
In my lessons, I give guidelines on common usage. I do not cover all the possibilities and exceptions to avoid overloading the Intermediate learners with too much information. You are clearly an Advanced learner, and ask good questions. In your example 'beforehand' + the implicit idea that the feeling continued is enough to imply continuity, and removes the necessity to mention the time period.
As Masterbott01 says, the Past Perfect Continuous would require an additional time frame: 'I had been sleeping for an hour when you called me.' This also indicates that the call woke you up. 'I was sleeping when you called.' does not say whether the call woke you up or not. The same applies to your other example: We had been friends for a long time before that happened. We were friends when that happened.
Hi Minoo, In one of your previous video, you’ve said that there’s no difference between “I have lived...” and “I have been living...” They both can be used to show a duration. So I believe that it must be the same for the past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses: “I had lived in England for five years when I moved to Italy.” VS “I had been living in England for five years when I moved to Italy.” Please confirm. Thanks so much for your lessons Minoo. They’re always so interesting and engaging to watch.
I was playing table tennis when she called me. I was sleeping when the cellphone rang. It was raining when I went to school. I had slept 1 hour before he called me. I was sure that I had seen him before. We had been playing tennis for 1 hours when she called us. I had been sleeping for a while when the phone rang. It had been raining for several days by last night. I had been studying German for 3 months when I took the test. I saw a bird when I was biking. I was taking a nap when he called me. I was late because I had missed the bus. I did not know that he had sent me an e-mail. I had turn off my cellphone before I went to bed.
Thanks. This was helpful, but I have a small note in the last example the verb "Turn" must be in the past participle ( The third form ) so it will be I had turned off my phone before I went to bed.
'Was' doesn't need an auxiliary to make a question. The verb 'go' ('went' in the past) needs an auxiliary, and this auxiliary is 'did'. As 'did' is already in the past, there is no need to put the verb go in the past again. The general rule is: 'NO PAST TENSE AFTER DID, JUST THE INFINITIVE.'
The first one is correct. To use the second one (Past Perfect Continuous), you need to have a second time reference: By 10 o'clock yesterday, I had been playing cards for two hours.
Anglo-Link Thank you so much:)! I couldn't find the answer anywhere. You are a great teacher. Shubham wrote a question. Which one is correct? 1. I was walking to work for 15 minutes when I realised that I had forgotten or is it 2. I had been walking to work for 15 minutes when I realised that I had forgotten... After your reply I would guess the first one is correct. If you could help with this one I would appreciate it a lot.
Mlecyq You have to be aware of past progressive and past perfect progressive differences. The first one focus in the "interruption" of the action that you "were doing" for another action (use when). In this tense you shouldn't use " for # hours". On the other hand, past perfect progressive mainly focus in the "time " (or how much time had passed) that the action you had been doing, was interrupted for the another action. That's why in this tense we make use of " for or since" expressions.
Unfortunately, not yet, I got 6s and I need 7s. By the way, do you have a lesson about the Sentence Types, if there is no one, may you kindly teach us about it, where it is considered one of the very important topics in writing an essay in the IELTS, and even other certifications like TOFEL. Sincerely, Ahmad,
Hello Ahmad, I haven't got a specific lesson on sentence types. Having said that, my three latest lessons have been on 'linking words' and cover compound and complex sentences in this context. You may find them useful. If you do a search on YT for linking words of condition, cause & effect and contrast & concession, you will find them. I hope you can get 7 on your next try.
If you refer to one situation beforehand in which you did not like something, you can use the Past Perfect: I decided not to enroll in that school because I had not liked the behavior of the Principle during the interview. If the 'not liking' was a general feeling, rather than one specific situation, then it is better not to put it in the Past Perfect Tense.
2 is correct, because of the indicators of Past Perfect Continuous 'for two hours' and 'before'. A correct sentence with the Past Continuous will be: I was waiting for you WHEN she arrived.
Dear Minoo at Anglo-Link, your TH-cam lessons are one of the best ones. I can not thank you enough for providing them for free, God bless you. I have a question though, when using the Past Perfect Tense before a very precise moment in the past, what are the time expressions other than (by this time...) out there to use with this tense in this situation? Also why this point is always undermined by other teachers who insist that the sentence should contains two actions at the minimum in the past in order for us to use one of them in the past perfect. Highly appreciate your input in this regard. Many thanks.
Thank you! I'm glad you've enjoyed my lessons. As far as I know, 'by + time' is the only time expression that commonly requires the Past Perfect tense. Although 'before + time' conveys the same idea, it's not common with Past Perfect. I cannot tell you why others insist on two actions. I cannot think of anyone who wouldn't say 'By 10 o'clock, everyone HAD left.
Hi name is Fritzner I write just to thank you for all the videos thank you so much, you're one of the best teachers in youtube that I know keep it like this and we love you so much, may God bless you.
This can be considered a case of 'reported speech' while talking to yourself: As you are approaching the station, you may be saying to yourself: The train 'I AM hoping to get IS the 7.15 train.' As you watch the 7.15 train pull out of the station, you report what WAS your intention: 'That WAS the train I WAS hoping to get.'
By watching films, TV programmes and TH-cam clips on familiar and easy topics, where the speakers have clear and easy accents. You can use English subtitles the first time you watch something, and then watch it several more times without subtitles.
We use this Tense (Past Perfect Continuous) to insist on two things: that the action happened before another one, and that it continued for some time. As you do not have another action in your sentence, Past Simple is enough: My family and I stayed in the USA for three months in 2008. My family and I had been staying in the USA for three months before we went to Canada.
The 'shorter action or precise moment' may not be in the same sentence but in the context or another sentence. On it own, the Past Perfect Continuous, is a better option.
The most enlightening explanations about verb tenses are yours! Thank you Ms Minno! And don't worry .. I'm going to watch all of your other lessons! :D
The message is perfectly clear. However, if you want to be perfectly grammatically correct, you should say: I was walking to work when ..... (not giving the length of time) I had been walking for 15 minutes when ....... (giving the length of time)
If you give the length of time the action was in progress, it is better to use the Past Perfect continuous: I had been walking for 15 minutes when .... If you don't give the length of time, then use the Past Continuous: I was walking when ....
Personally, I would have said: 'Within a few weeks he HAD learnt ... and he HAD seen ...' He KNEW ... and he KNEW ... , because 'learn' and 'see' are 'action verbs that had been completed, and 'know' is a state verbs describing the results.
Hey, Minoo, thanks a lot for your vids! They're hands down helpful and inspiring to keep on learning the language. However there're always missing pieces need to be put together. I'd be really greatful if you shed some light on the troubling question as a native. I've recently came across this exercise and I'd like to know your thoughts on that: Ann: How (to be) your holiday at the seaside? Ben: Oh, it (to be) wonderful, thank you! We (to have) great fun! Ann: What you (do) there? Ben: In the mornings, while my parents still (have breakfast) , I (play) tennis with my friend Harry. After that, at about 10 o’clock we (swim) in the sea and (play) football on the beach. Ann: Yes, that sounds good! And what (do) in the afternoons after your lunch? Ben: After lunch we (go) on some interesting excursions around the place where we (stay) that week. In the evenings after dinner (we films on TV or we (play) chess with my dad. Ann: I see, and what you (do) between 5 pm and dinner time? Ben: Well, when the weather was nice and warm, my friend and I (have fun) at the seaside. We (swim) or (play) volleyball on the beach. Ann: Fantastic! Next time I’ll go with you. I do apologize for so much text in here, Minoo, but it's really crucial to see the whole picture, I guess. So I find a bit confusing sentences containing "I (play) tennis", "we (swim) in the sea and (play) football", "my friend and I (have fun)" and "We (swim) or (play) volleybal". On the one hand we got tense markers laying stress on the action duration such as AT, FROM...TILL..., BETWEEN... AND.... Thus we need to use Past Progressive here. BUT! On the other hand it feels like all these things were a kinda daily routine for Ben and his friend as they played football and swam in the sea IN THE AFTERNOONS - on a regular basis. With that said we got Simple Past charateristics here. Does it mean that both tenses are possible here or there must be chosen only one? Thanks in advance and sorry for this war and peace stuff 😂
Hello Roman, I agree with you. It would be unnatural to use the Past Progressive for all the actions. I would only use it if there's a 'longer/background' action coinciding with a shorter one. I can only see two places where we need the progressive form: While my parents were still having breakfast, I played ... ..... went on excursions ... where we were staying ...
'by' means 'before', and it is more common to use 'by' in Perfect Tenses than 'before': I had been done by 10:00 a.m. It will have been done by 10:00 p.m. He should have arrived by now.
It is an action completed either before another past action or before a specific time in the past. If you watch the video again, you will notice that I mention this point.
@@AngloLinkEnglish Yes madam, I did it. Some confusion faced in the perfect continuous tenses is clear after having gone through your classes. I'm thanking you from heart.
It is related to another action, which has probably come before this sentence. This is implicit in the use of 'I WAS sure'. He TOLD me that he was new in town. I WAS sure that I HAD SEEN him before.
Dear teacher I want to tell you that I'm really happy to watch your lessons. They have a really good structure And are really Clear and understandable. I'm a beginner handmade a lot of mistakes but with your Help I'm improving well my knowledge. Thank you very much for your lessons because there are really useful for me. Bye
you were explaining when i peeked this video. you had taught very well for few minute. You had been clarifying tense when i found this video after i had searched so many sites.
Thank you for helping and English is our mother language in Zimbabwe we always speaking in English everywhere we are even here in Turkey we are doing our best of all
Hi Ms Minno, I am refreshing myself with the tenses. Your videos have been of great help to me. If you don't mind, I would like to clarify as per below: 1) Can you further explain the difference between the Past Perfect and Present Perfect Tenses? 2) What tips can you suggest that i can truly master the verb tenses? Thank you so much.
Thank you for these very useful lessons. Just to mention something regarding your example (I had been walking to work 15 minutes ..... ) what I know is that I have to put for before the number 15, and it was easy to listen to you in your speaking saying for 15. any feedback please?
The choice of the Tense depends on how much information you give:
1 action in the past: I walked to work yesterday.
The same action, but interrupted: I was walking to work when I realized something.
The same action + the duration of that action + an interruption: I had been walking to work for 15 minutes when I realized something.
You are welcome, Max. I really enjoy teaching English, and it makes me happy to assist others to learn this wonderful language. Judging by what I have read from you so far, your English is fantastic.
Wow, this channel is great! I immediately recommended it to my speech audience! Great work, please keep it up!!
Thank you very much for your support!
no problem... they nearly all wrote down the site when i mentioned this. (luv from Taiwan)
@@AngloLinkEnglish i need learning English LANGUAGE
I think the order of three of the sentences is pretty clear: It had been an awful day. He had supper. Then he went to sit in his living room. The sentence 'He felt miserable.' is not part of the sequence of events and can really go anywhere except between 'he had supper.' and 'Then he went ...', as these two have to stay together.
i have seen many videos over youtube teaching about tenses, but i am not saying other are not good, i am saying you are excellent in explaining the tenses very well..thank you i am sure now i am going to crack the grammar interview test............thank you very very very very very much .....................unlimited times
balaji shinde
You're welcome. I'm glad I've helped you to understand the Tenses better. Good luck with your test.
You're welcome, Loui. I must say I am impressed with your flawless English in your comments.
In the morning, you will say: 'It rained all night.'
In the middle of the night, you will say: 'It has been raining all night.'
If it didn't stop raining in the morning, then??
@@keertankohli9158 IT HAS BEEN RAINING SINCE NIGHT
Words cannot express how thankful I am for you grammar lesson. I've struggled for years trying to figure out how to use tenses. You provided us excellent explanation. Well done. Thank you so much. I'm subscribing to your channel.
mymy
You're welcome. I'm really glad that this lesson has been helpful to you.
You can also find all my video lessons and other learning resources on my website www.anglo-link.com.
I had been listening to Anglo-Link when I realised my English had Improved.
+Raghavendra Prasanna
Very good example of the three tenses. You could also add a length of time: I'd been listening ..... for a few months when ....
Thank you mam.
prodigy!
I had been listening to Anglo-Link for 12 minutes when I realised my English hay improved.
Anglo-Link can we say I'd been listing to Anglo link until I realized my English improved
Nothing I could expect more than this. You are teaching us 100% along with your replies to the questions which are so much helpful to learn English. Thank you very much Minoo..
Thank you so much, this video is just the best on this matter!
I've learned a lot!
Yes, 'hadn't eaten' is the correct answer. The tendency (rather than the rule) is not to use the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous in the negative form when we want to denote a lack of action. I suppose it makes sense not to insist on the 'continuity of an action that didn't take place'! Therefore:
'They were hungry because they HAD BEEN WALKING for hours.' BUT 'They were hungry because they HAD NOT EATEN since breakfast.
splendid video Madam,
you had done it in a very great level.
this is a pretty confusion for me to segregate them in a part, I will have remember it for my future acts. thank you so much for sharing such a nice information
+Sajid Shah
You're welcome, Sajid. I'm glad this lesson has been helpful to you.
Strictly grammatically speaking, the first sentence is correct: I left as soon as we HAD finished. In spoken English, when the two actions are almost simultaneous, it is o.k. to use the Past Simple for both actions.
Thank you for your useful English ^^ It can help me so much.
Yes, you can. It is similar to 'We were playing cards when she arrived. with the added meaning that her arrival definitely stopped the activity. However, in an exam, it is not the Tense they would expect. It is better to say: 'We were playing cards when she arrived.' or 'We had played cards before she arrived.' or 'We had been playing cards for a while before she arrived.'
your explainations are very clear... thanks a lot
1. You can drop 'for' or keep it.
2. The context should tell you which action was before the other. Here the walking was before the 'realisation'. Therefore, 'walk' takes the Past Perfect Continuous and 'realise' takes the Past Simple.
3. Yes, in American English you can spell 'realise' with a 'z'.
Thank you so much. Now I understand everything much better. I always watch your videos before my English exams and it helps me so much.
Super explanation ❤
Mary Griebel
You're welcome, Mary. I'm glad you've enjoyed this lesson.
The easiest place to find my lessons and other practice materials is on my website www.anglo-link.com under 'Video Lessons' and 'Exercises'.
Dear Minoo! I'd just like to say that the content of your classes is TERRIFIC, BRILLIANT!!! Your material has helped me a lot! It has clarified doubts that had haunted me until I bumped into your youtube channel!
You've been doing an awesome job with this channel!
Thanks a lot!!!
I was studying for my English test next Saturday when I found this video.
what kind of reply this.Before that,what kind of heinous,mannerless and vulgar man you are.just because of people like you,womens are objectified.Is this what we call as being human.At your death bed,is this what all you will carry along?
just try to be a man of worth.
@The Article *interrupted
@@abihazainab2257 women not womems
Next saturday? Then past continuous? There is some kind of logic mistake you know
As a native English teacher now living in Buenos Aires, this is an extremely good revision video for students. Well done!
Thank you, Patrick!
I was laying down on my bed when I watched this video is awesome I love it thanks for sharing this video appreciate
You're very welcome.
Respected Ma'am,does Past Perfect Continuous tense stand alone, or does it take another action like Past Perfect? For example,he had been living in this town for ten years.Is it correct?or does the sentence require another sentence?
You have to use your feeling whether you can replace the Past Perfect with the Past Simple without compromising the message. When you do this, it should be obvious which action took place first. You can say:
'As usual, they discussed everything and made their decision before I arrived.' However, as you are using expressions like 'by the time I arrived' and 'already', it indicates that this is an unexpected and unusual event. If you remove the Past Perfect, you compromise this message.
My english teacher made us watch this video today and now ım studying thank you so much
Beren Yıldırım yapma yaww
Thanks Anglo-Link very much. your lession is very useful for me. I am trying to improve my English skill.
Thank you for such a clear explanation between past continuous and past perfect continuous!
'Since' is usually used with the PRESENT Perfect Continuous Tense. On rare occasions when it is used with PAST Perfect (Continuous), it will be followed by Past Perfect: I had been sitting / I had sat in a corner since I had arrived.
A useful lesson about past tenses. Thank you so much! However im still having a small problems with those. But im doing my best! I swear!!
Thank you again! You made this very clear :-)
I was watching your videos to learn, I had listened to practiced it, I had been fallowing you since 20012, and I will thank you for teaching me English.
The lesson was so useful
Thanks a lot 👍👍
My pleasure!
I have done a video on 'All Tenses'. You might find that useful. There are also explanations and exercises on the Anglo-Link website.
Thanks Minoo ! You're the best !
In my lessons, I give guidelines on common usage. I do not cover all the possibilities and exceptions to avoid overloading the Intermediate learners with too much information. You are clearly an Advanced learner, and ask good questions.
In your example 'beforehand' + the implicit idea that the feeling continued is enough to imply continuity, and removes the necessity to mention the time period.
This is absolutely tremendous keep it up Ta.
Will do!
As Masterbott01 says, the Past Perfect Continuous would require an additional time frame: 'I had been sleeping for an hour when you called me.' This also indicates that the call woke you up. 'I was sleeping when you called.' does not say whether the call woke you up or not.
The same applies to your other example:
We had been friends for a long time before that happened.
We were friends when that happened.
I was studying english, at anglo-link video, when I fell in love with Minoo.
+Tarcisio English Learner
Great example!
Hi Minno! I've watched this vídeo and then I've noticed that after that I know how to use it. I became more confident about this matter.
I was learning, I had learned, I had been learning and I follow learning through of your videos.
Thank you for posting... ! :-D
Greetings, Minoo.
This is simply the best and more didactic video I've ever seen about these time tenses. Congratulations!
My friend had sent me a message , so I was texting him when my mother asked me to help her .
Is this sentence correct ? Thank you in advance .🌷
Yes, good use of the three tenses in one sentence!
Hi Minoo,
In one of your previous video, you’ve said that there’s no difference between “I have lived...” and “I have been living...” They both can be used to show a duration. So I believe that it must be the same for the past perfect and past perfect continuous tenses: “I had lived in England for five years when I moved to Italy.” VS “I had been living in England for five years when I moved to Italy.” Please confirm. Thanks so much for your lessons Minoo. They’re always so interesting and engaging to watch.
You're most welcome, Lily.
Yes, that's absolutely correct!
I was playing table tennis when she called me.
I was sleeping when the cellphone rang.
It was raining when I went to school.
I had slept 1 hour before he called me.
I was sure that I had seen him before.
We had been playing tennis for 1 hours when she called us.
I had been sleeping for a while when the phone rang.
It had been raining for several days by last night.
I had been studying German for 3 months when I took the test.
I saw a bird when I was biking.
I was taking a nap when he called me.
I was late because I had missed the bus.
I did not know that he had sent me an e-mail.
I had turn off my cellphone before I went to bed.
Thanks. This was helpful, but I have a small note in the last example the verb "Turn" must be in the past participle ( The third form ) so it will be
I had turned off my phone before I went to bed.
It is the verb 'to realise' that interrupts 'to walk', not the verb 'to forget'. That is why 'realised' is in the Past Simple.
Thanks so much!!!
My pleasure!
Hlo
be honest this is the best explanation I've ever heard,thank you for spending your time for this lesson and sharing it for free
You're most welcome, Vahid! I'm really glad that this lesson has been helpful to you.
cok tesekkür ederim cok iyi anladım
'Was' doesn't need an auxiliary to make a question. The verb 'go' ('went' in the past) needs an auxiliary, and this auxiliary is 'did'. As 'did' is already in the past, there is no need to put the verb go in the past again. The general rule is: 'NO PAST TENSE AFTER DID, JUST THE INFINITIVE.'
Why nobody explains the following:
I was playing cards for 2 hours yesterday OR?
I had been playing cards for 2 hours yesteday
Which is correct?
The first one is correct.
To use the second one (Past Perfect Continuous), you need to have a second time reference:
By 10 o'clock yesterday, I had been playing cards for two hours.
The correct tense is 'HAD forgotten'. (Past Perfect)
Anglo-Link
Thank you so much:)! I couldn't find the answer anywhere. You are a great teacher. Shubham wrote a question. Which one is correct? 1. I was walking to work for 15 minutes when I realised that I had forgotten or is it 2. I had been walking to work for 15 minutes when I realised that I had forgotten... After your reply I would guess the first one is correct. If you could help with this one I would appreciate it a lot.
Mlecyq You have to be aware of past progressive and past perfect progressive differences. The first one focus in the "interruption" of the action that you "were doing" for another action (use when). In this tense you shouldn't use " for # hours".
On the other hand, past perfect progressive mainly focus in the "time " (or how much time had passed) that the action you had been doing, was interrupted for the another action. That's why in this tense we make use of " for or since" expressions.
@@AngloLinkEnglish so se use perfect contínuos when we want to show interruption and perfect/past perfect contínuos to complete actions?
Your videos is the most complete on youtube. Thank you so much!
+Sairus S
My pleasure.
The Queen of English :)
The best lesson I had heard before I took my IELTS exam.
Sincerely,
Ahmad,
Thank you, Ahmad!
I hope you did really well on your test.
Unfortunately, not yet, I got 6s and I need 7s.
By the way, do you have a lesson about the Sentence Types, if there is no one, may you kindly teach us about it, where it is considered one of the very important topics in writing an essay in the IELTS, and even other certifications like TOFEL.
Sincerely,
Ahmad,
Hello Ahmad,
I haven't got a specific lesson on sentence types. Having said that, my three latest lessons have been on 'linking words' and cover compound and complex sentences in this context. You may find them useful. If you do a search on YT for linking words of condition, cause & effect and contrast & concession, you will find them.
I hope you can get 7 on your next try.
Many thanks Mino, I have just downloaded the three videos and shall study them this week end ISA.
Thanks a lot for your kind support,
Ahmad,
If you refer to one situation beforehand in which you did not like something, you can use the Past Perfect:
I decided not to enroll in that school because I had not liked the behavior of the Principle during the interview.
If the 'not liking' was a general feeling, rather than one specific situation, then it is better not to put it in the Past Perfect Tense.
Yes, if the person was still in the process of leaving when you uttered this sentence, then 'was leaving' is the correct tense.
Never in my life I had a opportunity like this. Thanks.
i am a peruvian boy that i didnt understand english in grammar mynotes were bad,but when you put this videos for me is easily.thank gracias
2 is correct, because of the indicators of Past Perfect Continuous 'for two hours' and 'before'.
A correct sentence with the Past Continuous will be: I was waiting for you WHEN she arrived.
Dear Minoo at Anglo-Link, your TH-cam lessons are one of the best ones. I can not thank you enough for providing them for free, God bless you. I have a question though, when using the Past Perfect Tense before a very precise moment in the past, what are the time expressions other than (by this time...) out there to use with this tense in this situation? Also why this point is always undermined by other teachers who insist that the sentence should contains two actions at the minimum in the past in order for us to use one of them in the past perfect. Highly appreciate your input in this regard. Many thanks.
Thank you! I'm glad you've enjoyed my lessons.
As far as I know, 'by + time' is the only time expression that commonly requires the Past Perfect tense. Although 'before + time' conveys the same idea, it's not common with Past Perfect. I cannot tell you why others insist on two actions. I cannot think of anyone who wouldn't say 'By 10 o'clock, everyone HAD left.
Ma'am i love you so much...you have changed my life...you have cleared all of my doubts.
That's great to read.
you're a good teacher we all love you,your place is in our heart ,your all videos helpful,i really appreciate thank you so much.
As I have answered before, after the auxiliary 'did', there is no need to put your verb in the past tense (went). The infinitive (go) is enough.
Hi name is Fritzner
I write just to thank you for all the videos
thank you so much, you're one of the best teachers in youtube that I know keep it like this and we love you so much, may God bless you.
Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Fritzner!
This can be considered a case of 'reported speech' while talking to yourself:
As you are approaching the station, you may be saying to yourself: The train 'I AM hoping to get IS the 7.15 train.'
As you watch the 7.15 train pull out of the station, you report what WAS your intention: 'That WAS the train I WAS hoping to get.'
By watching films, TV programmes and TH-cam clips on familiar and easy topics, where the speakers have clear and easy accents. You can use English subtitles the first time you watch something, and then watch it several more times without subtitles.
Wonderfull lesson. I am better understanding. Thank you so much. God bless you !
You're very wrelcome.
We use this Tense (Past Perfect Continuous) to insist on two things: that the action happened before another one, and that it continued for some time. As you do not have another action in your sentence, Past Simple is enough: My family and I stayed in the USA for three months in 2008.
My family and I had been staying in the USA for three months before we went to Canada.
💐💐💐
Respected Ma'am,does Past Perfect Continuous tense stand alone,or does it take another sentence (action) along with it?
As a teacher of English these videos are superb and fabulously useful for my students.
I'm glad they've been helpful to you.
One of the best English teachers I have ever seen
Thank you very much for this lovely comment!
The 'shorter action or precise moment' may not be in the same sentence but in the context or another sentence. On it own, the Past Perfect Continuous, is a better option.
The most enlightening explanations about verb tenses are yours! Thank you Ms Minno! And don't worry .. I'm going to watch all of your other lessons! :D
Jorge Heleno
Thank you, Jorge. I appreciate your positive feed-back.
I try to learn English again. Very good videos, very good teaching. Thank YouMinoo.
أسأل الله لنا ولكِ الهداية والثبات على دينه وطاعته والعمل بما يحب ويرضاه.
Thanks
The message is perfectly clear. However, if you want to be perfectly grammatically correct, you should say:
I was walking to work when ..... (not giving the length of time)
I had been walking for 15 minutes when ....... (giving the length of time)
If you give the length of time the action was in progress, it is better to use the Past Perfect continuous: I had been walking for 15 minutes when .... If you don't give the length of time, then use the Past Continuous: I was walking when ....
Personally, I would have said: 'Within a few weeks he HAD learnt ... and he HAD seen ...' He KNEW ... and he KNEW ... , because 'learn' and 'see' are 'action verbs that had been completed, and 'know' is a state verbs describing the results.
Yes, your sentence is grammatically correct. Note that 'dinner', 'lunch' and 'breakfast' dos not take the definite article 'the'.
Thanks again! You're simply great;!
Thanks again!
Hey, Minoo, thanks a lot for your vids! They're hands down helpful and inspiring to keep on learning the language. However there're always missing pieces need to be put together. I'd be really greatful if you shed some light on the troubling question as a native. I've recently came across this exercise and I'd like to know your thoughts on that:
Ann: How (to be) your holiday at the seaside?
Ben: Oh, it (to be) wonderful, thank you! We (to have) great fun!
Ann: What you (do) there?
Ben: In the mornings, while my parents still (have breakfast) , I (play) tennis with my friend Harry. After that, at about 10 o’clock we (swim) in the sea and (play) football on the beach.
Ann: Yes, that sounds good! And what (do) in the afternoons after your lunch?
Ben: After lunch we (go) on some interesting excursions around the place where we (stay) that week. In the evenings after dinner (we films on TV or we (play) chess with my dad.
Ann: I see, and what you (do) between 5 pm and dinner time?
Ben: Well, when the weather was nice and warm, my friend and I (have fun) at the seaside. We (swim) or (play) volleyball on the beach.
Ann: Fantastic! Next time I’ll go with you.
I do apologize for so much text in here, Minoo, but it's really crucial to see the whole picture, I guess. So I find a bit confusing sentences containing "I (play) tennis", "we (swim) in the sea and (play) football", "my friend and I (have fun)" and "We (swim) or (play) volleybal". On the one hand we got tense markers laying stress on the action duration such as AT, FROM...TILL..., BETWEEN... AND.... Thus we need to use Past Progressive here. BUT! On the other hand it feels like all these things were a kinda daily routine for Ben and his friend as they played football and swam in the sea IN THE AFTERNOONS - on a regular basis. With that said we got Simple Past charateristics here. Does it mean that both tenses are possible here or there must be chosen only one? Thanks in advance and sorry for this war and peace stuff 😂
Hello Roman,
I agree with you. It would be unnatural to use the Past Progressive for all the actions. I would only use it if there's a 'longer/background' action coinciding with a shorter one. I can only see two places where we need the progressive form:
While my parents were still having breakfast, I played ...
..... went on excursions ... where we were staying ...
@@AngloLinkEnglish Thanks a lot, Minoo!
A wonderful teaching method even if it is a little difficult subject.
Glad you think so!
Thank you for teaching. my best wishes to your enterprise of enlightning us.
greetings from Brazil.
You are excellent teacher. Fantastic videos. Thanks.
As the combination of 'steadily' and 'since' indicates that the action continues, the second sentence is correct.
Best English teacher I ever had...!!
Thank you very much!
'by' means 'before', and it is more common to use 'by' in Perfect Tenses than 'before':
I had been done by 10:00 a.m.
It will have been done by 10:00 p.m.
He should have arrived by now.
It is an action completed either before another past action or before a specific time in the past. If you watch the video again, you will notice that I mention this point.
There's no website, where you can easily understand English, better than Anglo-Link.
Thank you !
+Damiano 2389
You're welcome, Damiano. I'm glad you're enjoying my lessons.
I really enjoyed this episode specially the way she give the examples and executions.
Thank you very much!
Thanks this clarified my confusion about past tenses.
You're very welcome, Richard!
Thank you for reinforcing my knowledge of these 3 tenses. I enjoyed so much while watching it.
You're most welcome.
Best english grammar channel for all learners. I'm waiting for other tenses.
Thank you, Nyamar! I have covered all the tenses. You will find them on my channel Anglo-Link.
@@AngloLinkEnglish Yes madam, I did it. Some confusion faced in the perfect continuous tenses is clear after having gone through your classes. I'm thanking you from heart.
Correction please; .... tenses is cleared......
Excellent!
It is related to another action, which has probably come before this sentence. This is implicit in the use of 'I WAS sure'.
He TOLD me that he was new in town. I WAS sure that I HAD SEEN him before.
Dear teacher I want to tell you that I'm really happy to watch your lessons. They have a really good structure And are really Clear and understandable. I'm a beginner handmade a lot of mistakes but with your Help I'm improving well my knowledge. Thank you very much for your lessons because there are really useful for me.
Bye
You're most welcome. Happy studies!
Yes, it is in progress or has just finished. It is has the same concept as the Present Perfect Continuous.
'decided' here is a participial adjective.
You can also use the Present Perfect, but in the Passive Voice: 'has not been decided yet'.
you were explaining when i peeked this video.
you had taught very well for few minute.
You had been clarifying tense when i found this video after i had searched so many sites.
Thank you so much, this is the first time I really understand those grammer very well, thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️
You're very welcome!
Amazing explanation... Perfect video...Finally I understood the difference... Thanks a lot...Kudos to you😍
Thank you! I'm glad it's been helpful.
Thank you for helping and English is our mother language in Zimbabwe we always speaking in English everywhere we are even here in Turkey we are doing our best of all
I have a test in a couple of hours and now I can understand how to use them. I'm ready now, thank you ♥
You're welcome, Melissa! I hope you did well on your test.
Hi Ms Minno, I am refreshing myself with the tenses. Your videos have been of great help to me. If you don't mind, I would like to clarify as per below:
1) Can you further explain the difference between the Past Perfect and Present Perfect Tenses?
2) What tips can you suggest that i can truly master the verb tenses?
Thank you so much.
Thank you for these very useful lessons. Just to mention something regarding your example (I had been walking to work 15 minutes ..... ) what I know is that I have to put for before the number 15, and it was easy to listen to you in your speaking saying for 15. any feedback please?
Salem Salem
Hello Salem,
Yes, it is 'for' 15 minutes'. Like all prepositions in a sentence, 'for' is a weak form, and not always easy to hear clearly.