The Past Tense
The Past Tense differentiates, just like other English tenses, between a simple and progressive form. One has to be careful to use the correct verb form, as several verbs are conjugated in an irregular form in the English Grammar.
(1)Attention:
(1)
| simple form | progressive form | |
|---|---|---|
| regular verbs | irregular verbs | no difference between regular und irregular form |
| viewed | wrote | was viewing / were writing |
| explained | came | was explaining / were coming |
| cooked | began | was cooking/ were beginning |
| base form + (e)d | past form / 2nd form | was / were + ing-form |
Question and Negation in the Past Tense
When dealing with questions and negations in the Past Tense one operates just like in other tenses: Formation by use of an auxiliary verb (exception: question asking for a subject).
(2)A question asking for a subject always demands a 3rd person singular'.
Therefore, a question in past progressive always starts with "Who was ...?"(2)
| past simple | past progressive |
|---|---|
| Mary lost her cell phone in the subway. | They were rock climbing in France. |
| Did Mary lose her cell phone in the subway? | Were they rock climbing in France? |
| Mary did not lose her cell phone in the subway. | They were not rock climbing in France. |
| Who lost the cell phone in the subway? | Who was rock climbing in France? |
| What did Mary lose in the subway? | What were they doing in France? |
| Where did Mary lose her cell phone? | Where were they rock climbing? |
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