Session 1

The past tense is used to talk about the past, right? There's more to it than that, as Sian explains in this Masterclass.

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    Activity 1

Activity 1

BBC Masterclass

Using the past to talk about the present and future

Everybody knows that in order to talk about the past, we need to use past tenses. But did you know you can also talk about the present or the future using past forms? Sian has more.

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Sian
Hi, Sian here for BBC Learning English. Today we're going to look at past forms - easy right? We use past forms to talk about things that happened in the past?

Well, it's not that simple! We also use past forms when we're not talking about past. Here a few ways we do this.

Number 1 
Listen to these two examples. Which one do you think my plan sounds less definite?

Number 1: I'm thinking of going to that party later. Or, number 2: I was thinking of going to that party later.

That's right. The second one is less definite. We use past here – I was thinking - to show that the plan isn't certain yet. I haven't made up my mind.

Number 2
Listen to these two examples. Which one sounds more polite? 1. Is your report ready yet? Or 2, I was wondering if your report was ready yet.

The second one, of course, is much more polite. We use past forms here – was wondering/was – to make the request less direct and more formal. You'll be surprised how often British people use this structure – we like being polite!

Number 3 
Which of these two examples sound more urgent? It's time to leave. Or It's time we left.

That's right – the second one sounds more urgent. The first example just means 'we should leave now': It's time to leave – the party starts in 20 minutes!

The second example, we use the past form. This conveys the idea that we should have already left! It's time we left – the party started hours ago.

Number 4
Which of these do you think sounds correct? I wish I have more time. Or, I wish I had more time.

That's right. The first one is not possible. To make wishes about the present we use the past form – I wish I had more time. We're not talking about the past here, we're talking about an unreal present situation. You could also use if only. If only I had more time.

Number 5
Which of these two examples sound less likely to happen? Suppose you lose your job. Or, Suppose you lost your job.

That's right. The second one sounds less likely to happen. We use the past after suppose or what if when we don't think something is likely to happen in the future.

That's it for this Masterclass. For more help with using past forms when you're not talking about the past, go to our website bbclearningenglish.com. Goodbye!

 

Summary

Past forms of verbs in English aren't only for talking about things that happens in the past. Here are 5 ways you can use past forms to talk about times other than the past.

1. When a plan isn't certain

  • I was thinking of going to that party later.

In this example, the use of the past continuous makes the plan less definite in the speaker's mind than if she had used a present continuous sentence I am thinking of going to the party later.  

2. To be polite

  • I was wondering if your report was ready.

In this example, the use of the past continous and past simple make the speaker sound more polite than if he had used present tenses I am wondering if your report is ready. This is because the past sounds less direct.

3. To sound more urgent

  • It's time we left.

In this example, the use of the past tense makes the speaker sound more urgent than if she had used the present tense It's time to leave. By using the past, the speaker gives the idea that we should have left already.

4. With 'wish' and 'if only'

  • I wish I had more time.
  • If only I had more time.

After wish and if only, we have to use the past tense. Present tenses are not correct. However, these sentences have a hypothetical present of future meaning.

5. With 'suppose' and 'what if'

  • Suppose we went on holiday to Thailand.
  • What if we finished before the deadline?

When we use past tenses after suppose and what if, the situation sounds less likely than if we had used present tenses Suppose we go on holiday to Thailand.

To do

It's time you did a quiz to see how much you've learnt about using the past to talk about the present and future.

Choose the correct answer

5 Questions

I was wondering if you could do this quiz

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End of Session 1

That's it for this session. We were hoping that you've learnt a lot in this session.

Next

In News Review we discuss a major story in the news, and the language you need to understand it.

Session Grammar

  • 5 ways to use past for present or future 

    1. When a plan isn't certain

    • was thinking of going to that party later.

    2. To be polite

    • was wondering if your report was ready.

    3. To sound more urgent

    • It's time we left.

    4. With 'wish' and 'if only'

    • I wish I had more time.
    • If only I had more time.

    5. With 'suppose' and 'what if'

    • Suppose we went on holiday to Thailand.
    • What if we finished before the deadline?

Session Vocabulary