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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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'.
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.
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?
'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.'
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 :-)
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.
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'.
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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 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.
'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.
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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)
'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.
'She has been washing the car a lot lately.' suggests that she has been doing it on regular basis, like a habit, and is likely to continue to do so. 'She has washed the car a lot lately.' suggests that she has done it many times, but doesn't suggest that it has been regular and / or likely to continue.
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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you put the verb 'to be' in the Past Simple Tense, you have: I / He / She / It WAS & You / We / They WERE But, in Conditional sentences (like your example), we use WERE for all the pronouns.
I think there is more than one possibility, but to me the most logical would be: 1. It had been an awful day. 2. He had supper. 3. He went to sit in his living room. 4. He felt miserable.
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
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 ....
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.
Remember that the choice of any Tense always depends on context and how you interpret the information given. Your teacher's answer is the most logical because he probably felt miserable because it had been awful day. But, without any other information, we can assume that he still felt miserable after dinner, and when he went to his living room, because 'feeling miserable is a state that can continue, rather than an event that happens in a clear sequence.
@@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.
If you are using the Past Continuous for both actions, use 'while': We were working while they were playing. If you are using the Past Simple for both actions, use 'when': He ran away when he saw me.
As all your three questions are about the differences between Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous and Past Simple, and the special case of State Verbs, I suggest you watch lessons 3,4 and 5 in my series 'Learn the Tenses'.
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.
thanks Miss! But what i'm very confused of, at 5:05, "it had started to snow by 10 a.m yesterday" "They had left for Tokyo by this time yesterday." Where is the second event? Can't "past perfect tense" be used when there is only 1 event ?
great and helpful video indeed !! but i d rather opt for simple past in "" it started to snow at 10 am yesterday ." or " it had already started to rain by 10 am yesterday" using by all alone as an adverbial is not appropriate, i think !!
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.
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
In your example, the correct Tense is: A thief broke ...' If you include a Past Simple, then you might be able to use the Past Continuous and Past Perfect together, e.g. I was picking up a Pizza when I heard that someone had broken into my house.
The three tenses covered in this lesson are all contrasted with the Past Simple Tense. Therefore, you should be able to find what you need in this video.
I have another question, I noticed that in the description of the past perfect continuous you used the past perfect twice, ("action that HAD STARTED, HAD CONTINUED for some time and was (past simple i guess) still in progress either), so it means that if you want to express something happened before the past perfect, will you use the past perfect again?
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.
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
I have done a video on 'All Tenses'. You might find that useful. There are also explanations and exercises on the Anglo-Link website.
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.
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
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.
Thank you for your useful English ^^ It can help me so much.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You're welcome, Loui. I must say I am impressed with your flawless English in your comments.
your explainations are very clear... thanks a lot
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.'
Thanks Minoo ! You're the best !
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'.
The lesson was so useful
Thanks a lot 👍👍
My pleasure!
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.
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?
'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.'
Thank you for such a clear explanation between past continuous and past perfect continuous!
It is the verb 'to realise' that interrupts 'to walk', not the verb 'to forget'. That is why 'realised' is in the Past Simple.
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 :-)
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.
My english teacher made us watch this video today and now ım studying thank you so much
Beren Yıldırım yapma yaww
As a native English teacher now living in Buenos Aires, this is an extremely good revision video for students. Well done!
Thank you, Patrick!
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'.
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 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
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.
This is absolutely tremendous keep it up Ta.
Will do!
Yes, if the person was still in the process of leaving when you uttered this sentence, then 'was leaving' is the correct tense.
I was studying english, at anglo-link video, when I fell in love with Minoo.
+Tarcisio English Learner
Great example!
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..
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.
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?
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.
Thanks Anglo-Link very much. your lession is very useful for me. I am trying to improve my English skill.
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!
Yes, your sentence is grammatically correct. Note that 'dinner', 'lunch' and 'breakfast' dos not take the definite article 'the'.
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?
'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.
Thanks so much!!!
My pleasure!
Hlo
Yes, it is in progress or has just finished. It is has the same concept as the Present Perfect Continuous.
cok tesekkür ederim cok iyi anladım
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.
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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,
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)
As the combination of 'steadily' and 'since' indicates that the action continues, the second sentence is correct.
'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.
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.
'She has been washing the car a lot lately.' suggests that she has been doing it on regular basis, like a habit, and is likely to continue to do so.
'She has washed the car a lot lately.' suggests that she has done it many times, but doesn't suggest that it has been regular and / or likely to continue.
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!!!
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.
'decided' here is a participial adjective.
You can also use the Present Perfect, but in the Passive Voice: 'has not been decided yet'.
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!
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.
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.
When you put the verb 'to be' in the Past Simple Tense, you have:
I / He / She / It WAS & You / We / They WERE
But, in Conditional sentences (like your example), we use WERE for all the pronouns.
🥰🥰🥰🥰
I think there is more than one possibility, but to me the most logical would be:
1. It had been an awful day. 2. He had supper. 3. He went to sit in his living room. 4. He felt miserable.
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.
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 ....
This is simply the best and more didactic video I've ever seen about these time tenses. Congratulations!
Wonderfull lesson. I am better understanding. Thank you so much. God bless you !
You're very wrelcome.
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 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 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
أسأل الله لنا ولكِ الهداية والثبات على دينه وطاعته والعمل بما يحب ويرضاه.
Thanks
Remember that the choice of any Tense always depends on context and how you interpret the information given. Your teacher's answer is the most logical because he probably felt miserable because it had been awful day. But, without any other information, we can assume that he still felt miserable after dinner, and when he went to his living room, because 'feeling miserable is a state that can continue, rather than an event that happens in a clear sequence.
Ma'am i love you so much...you have changed my life...you have cleared all of my doubts.
That's great to read.
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.
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!
If you are using the Past Continuous for both actions, use 'while': We were working while they were playing.
If you are using the Past Simple for both actions, use 'when': He ran away when he saw me.
Thank you for reinforcing my knowledge of these 3 tenses. I enjoyed so much while watching it.
You're most welcome.
Never in my life I had a opportunity like this. Thanks.
One of the best English teachers I have ever seen
Thank you very much for this lovely comment!
As all your three questions are about the differences between Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous and Past Simple, and the special case of State Verbs, I suggest you watch lessons 3,4 and 5 in my series 'Learn the Tenses'.
Yes, that is right. You have just forgotten the word 'when' in the first sentence: ... for two hours WHEN she arrived.
I try to learn English again. Very good videos, very good teaching. Thank YouMinoo.
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!
thanks Miss! But what i'm very confused of, at 5:05,
"it had started to snow by 10 a.m yesterday"
"They had left for Tokyo by this time yesterday."
Where is the second event?
Can't "past perfect tense" be used when there is only 1 event ?
It can be before a second event, or a precise time in the past.
great and helpful video indeed !! but i d rather opt for simple past in "" it started to snow at 10 am yesterday ." or " it had already started to rain by 10 am yesterday" using by all alone as an adverbial is not appropriate, i think !!
I really enjoyed this episode specially the way she give the examples and executions.
Thank you very much!
A wonderful teaching method even if it is a little difficult subject.
Glad you think so!
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.
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, you can have two actions running at the same time without interrupting each other: He was sleeping WHILE I was watching television.
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.
Best English teacher I ever had...!!
Thank you very much!
In your example, the correct Tense is: A thief broke ...' If you include a Past Simple, then you might be able to use the Past Continuous and Past Perfect together, e.g. I was picking up a Pizza when I heard that someone had broken into my house.
The three tenses covered in this lesson are all contrasted with the Past Simple Tense. Therefore, you should be able to find what you need in this video.
I have another question, I noticed that in the description of the past perfect continuous you used the past perfect twice, ("action that HAD STARTED, HAD CONTINUED for some time and was (past simple i guess) still in progress either), so it means that if you want to express something happened before the past perfect, will you use the past perfect again?
Yes, that's correct.