Explanation

Past simple

When do we use the past simple?

When something started and also ended in the past. Can be recognized by the words:

For example:

He played tennis last week.

She sang at my brother's wedding last year.

 

How do we use the past simple?

With regelmatige werkwoorden it is werkwoord + ed (walk becomes walked).

With onregelmatige werkwoorden the word changes (Buy = Bought, Sing = Sang). Remember the second row you had to learn!

Tabel 3: Past simple

 

Regelmatig werkwoord

Onregelmatig werkwoord

I

played

sang

She/he/it

played

sang

They/we

played

sang

You

played

sang

Opmerking. Aangepast overgenomen uit simple present versus present continuous (uitleg) door B. Trimbos, 2020. Geraadpleegd op 25 oktober 2020, van http://www.bastrimbos.com/grammar/simple_present_versus_present_continuous.htm

 

Past continuous

When do we use the past continuous?

To say that something was going on. Can also happen during something else.

For example:

I was watching TV when she called.

The other part of the sentence is written in the past simple.

 

How do we use the past continuous?

When you have I/he/she/it, you use was + werkwoord + ing

With You/we/they, you use were + werkwoord + ing

Tabel 4: Past continuous

 

To be

Werkwoord

I

was

watching

She/he/it

was

watching

They/we

were

watching

You

were

watching

Opmerking. Aangepast overgenomen uit simple present versus present continuous (uitleg) door B. Trimbos, 2020. Geraadpleegd op 25 oktober 2020, van http://www.bastrimbos.com/grammar/simple_present_versus_present_continuous.htm

 

Present perfect

When do we use the present perfect?

When something happened in the past but you don't know when or when something started in the past and it is still going on.

For example:

He has caught the ball.

She has lived there for 3 years.

 

How do we use the present perfect?

When you have she/he/it, you use has + voltooid deelwoord.

With I/you/we/they, you use have + voltooid deelwoord.

With onregelmatige werkwoorden the word changes (Catch-Caught-Caught). Remember the third row you had to learn!

Tabel 5: present perfect

 

Have/has

Regelmatig werkwoord

I

have

lived

She/he/it

has

lived

They/we

have

lived

You

have

lived

Opmerking. Aangepast overgenomen uit simple present versus present continuous (uitleg) door B. Trimbos, 2020. Geraadpleegd op 25 oktober 2020, van http://www.bastrimbos.com/grammar/simple_present_versus_present_continuous.htm

 

 

Have/has

Onregelmatig werkwoord

I

have

caught

She/he/it

has

caught

They/we

have

caught

You

have

caught

Aangepast overgenomen uit simple present versus present continuous (uitleg) door B. Trimbos, 2020. Geraadpleegd op 25 oktober 2020, van http://www.bastrimbos.com/grammar/simple_present_versus_present_continuous.htm

 

(Swan, M., 2017, pp. 44-49).