The Communicative Grammar of English Workbook - Edward Woods, Rudy Coppieters 2002

5.7. Past time 2
Unit five. Time, tense and aspect

Sections 128-131

The difference between past tense and perfect aspect cannot be expressed by infinitives or -ing constructions. Instead, the perfect expresses general past meaning: It seems that John (has) missed the point ^ John seems to have missed the point.

Adverbials referring to a point or period of time which finished in the past go with the past tense, while those referring to a period leading up to present or recent past time go with the present perfect. Adverbials such as this morning, today and recently can go with either verb form.

The auxiliary used to can express state or habit in the past as contrasted with the present, while would stresses the idea of characteristic behaviour in the past.

Task one ***

Rephrase the following sentences, replacing the finite verb phrase of the subclause by the perfect infinitive or perfect -ing form as in the example above.

1. It is suspected that Harry Trotter killed his aunt.

2. It appears that 60 per cent of viewers watched the Cup Final yesterday.

3. Edith is very pleased that she has been given a second chance.

4. It is rumoured that millions of euros were stolen from a local bank last night.

5. It is unlikely that the police have identified the culprits.

6. I’m so sorry I drew everyone’s attention to the flaws in your project.

7. We are very much aware that the authorities were forced to accept this questionable deal.

8. It is certain that all three candidates have been screened.

9. Some people are worried about the fact that they have not been informed at all.

10. Mr Bunker is the first man who swam across the lake in winter.

11. It is alleged that some politicians accepted bribes from lobbyists in the early 90s.

12. Dozens of drivers were fined because they had exceeded the speed limit.

Task two **

Complete the following sentences, using the simple past or present perfect form.

1. A small number of tourists (catch) ... malaria in Africa last summer.

2. Humphrey (lie) ... in bed until a quarter to nine.

3. (you teach) ... any of the third formers lately?

4. The mugger apparently (creep) ... up from behind before attacking his victim.

5. I (spend) ... two hours marking exams up until now.

6. The number of people below the poverty line (not rise) ... any more since 1998.

7. The town council (choose) ... to renovate the opera house half a decade ago.

8. I (tear up) ... the receipt after leaving the shop.

9. A major earthquake (strike) ... eastern Iran on Monday.

10. The main waterpipe (burst) ... early this morning but we (have) ... a regular supply for about half an hour now.

11. - (you feed) ... the parrot yet? - Oh, (it already eat) ... more than its daily ration!

12. Arthur (bear) ... me a grudge ever since I (beat) ... him at chess.

Task three **

Replace the underlined verb phrases, using either used to or would in order to express the idea of past state or habit.

1. Bouncy castles were an attraction at fair grounds, pubs and school fetes - now you can hire one for your own back garden.

2. As I entered Grandma’s shop, a brass bell tinkled and the smell of putty filled my nostrils. Then I opened the door marked Private, leading to the dining room where Grandma was sitting. She always had a welcoming smile and I kissed her soft cheek.

3. The chief child-eating troll in Iceland, Gryla, sent her 13 sons out every year to catch bad children for her table. But the violent figure has softened and now gives children presents when they come back to her home.

(1,2 and 3: adapted from various articles in Woman’s Weekly)

4. Kate Simpson hated exercise, but when Mom took it up, she did, too, and slimmed down.

(Newsweek, 3 July 2000, p. 58)

5. When I went into the studio as a young boy, 5 or 6, my father did not stop as he was working. I did not ask for the attention. Later on, when I was a little older, sometimes I worked side by side with my father, with my sister present, too. We were working at the same table, we were doing something, he was doing something else. Sometimes he asked me to help prop something up or hold something. He worked with plaster, and the plaster had to set. I could see he was always trying to do something a little bit different.

(Newsweek, 19 July 1999, p. 58)