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Thomas Kerjean

Marion Poulain

I. PRETERITE

Generally speaking, the preterite is used to describe an action which occurred in the past and which is clearly defined and separate from the present.

A. The preterit expresses a clear opposition to the present :

For a long time, Thomas wanted to be a fireman.

the action is over now.

B. The preterit is used to relate, to describe an action in the past :

Fairy tales : Once upon a time, there was a king....

C. The preterit is used to talk about a precise action in the past :

I bought this book in Germany.

D. The preterit is used to talk about a dated action.

I was born in 1865.

When I was a child I was afraid of the dark.

II. PRESENT PERFECT

Generally speaking, the present perfect is used to describe an action which is not finished, which is not dated.

Action occurred in the past, but it is not specified when

Oh my God, you have killed Kenny !
Dated, it would be : you killed Kenny at 4 pm

Repetition

They have seen this movie many times

Yes or no question

Have you (ever) seen this film ?

Result of an action not finished

He has been sick for a week

Recent action

I have just seen it

III. PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

With verbs such as TO WORK, TO LIVE, TO TEACH, no difference between present perfect ans present perfect progressive

I have lived / have been living here for two years

It emphasizes an action that started in the past and continues in the present

I have been waiting for an hour

IV. PAST PERFECT

The past perfect describes an action which occurred before another action in the past.

After I had finished the report, I realized it was too late to post it.

The past perfect describes an action in progress when another one occurred

I had been listening to the radio for half an hour when you arrived.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME EXERCISES ABOUT THIS GRAMMAR POINT,

CLOSE THIS APPLICATION, GO TO "DEMARRER", "PROGRAMMES", "GRAMSTER"