1. ELL Grammar Key 3 – Past
- Difficult for some ELLs, as some languages do not have
verb tenses.
- We need to help ELLs to figure out which verb form is
most appropriate for the situation.
Typical ELL Errors
- According to the report, dozens of people did not received
their tax information.
- When I ate dinner last night, my uncle called me.
- How many people did you talked to at the party?
- By the time I was old enough to vote, I participated in two
local campaigns.
- Do you have ever flown on a 747 jumbo jet?

2. Verb Tense / Expression Example Meaning
Simple Past I ate dinner at 8 PM. A single past event.
Past Progressive I was eating dinner when you A past action that was
(Continuous) called. happening (when it was
interrupted by another)
Present Perfect I have eaten at that restaurant. A past action (indefinite time
that could happen again)
Past Perfect I had eaten dinner before you A past action that was
called. completed before a second
past action
Past Perfect Progressive I had been eating dinner before An action that began in the past
you called before a second past action
(with emphasis on duration of
the action)
Used to and Would When I was still single, I used to Used to: an action that
eat dinner in front of the TV. I happened many times in the
would put my food on a plate past but is no longer true.
and then take it to the small Frequently opens a past
table in front of the TV. Then I’d narrative.
eat dinner while I was watching
TV. Now that I’m married, Would: smaller actions that
things have changed and we happened repeatedly in a past
eat at the dining room table. narrative but are no longer true

3. Simple Past Tense
An action that was completed in the past.
Form: VERB+ed
Problematic spelling; For verbs:
- that end in -e already, just add the -d (live – lived)
- that end in consonant +y, you change the -y to -i and add -ed (study – studied)
- that end in vowel +y, just add -ed (play – played)
- CVC
- for verbs of one syllable that end in consonant + vowel + consonant, you
double the last consonant and then add -ed.
- for verbs of two syllables, double the last consonant before adding –ed, if the
stress is on the second syllable (commit – commited) .
- if the stress is on the first syllable we DO NOT double the final consonant
(visit – visited)
Singular Plural
Past Now Future
I walked we walked
you walked you walked
he/she/it walked they walked

4. Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.
1- Don’t use VERB or VERB + -s in the past tense. Don’t forget to use –ed.
Wrong: Laura cooks scrambled eggs for breakfast yesterday.
Correct: Laura cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast yesterday.
2- Do not use was/were with verbs (other than to be) in simple past tense.
Wrong: I was walk to school yesterday.
Correct: I walked to school yesterday.
3- Don’t forget to change –y to –i and add –ed
Wrong: My baby sister cryed last night.
Correct: My baby sister cried last night.
4- If a verb ends in consonant – vowel – consonant (C-V-C) (in its stressed syllable),
don’t forget to double the consonant before adding –ed.
Wrong: She stoped the car to answer her cell phone.
Correct: She stopped the car to answer her cell phone.

5. Past Progressive Tense
An action that was happening when another action interrupted it.
Form: was/were + VERB + -ing.
The –ing form is called the present participle .
Use was or were according to the subject
Past Now Future
Singular Plural
I was walking we were walking
you were walking you were walking
he/she/it was walking they were walking

6. Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.
1-Do not use was/were and a verb without –ing. The –ing to indicate past
progressive tense.
Wrong: When I got my first job I was live in Los Angeles.
Correct: When I got my first job I was living in Los Angeles.
2- Don’t mix up past progressive tense and simple past tense.
Wrong: I cut the onions. Then I was putting them in the soup.
Correct: I cut the onions. Then I put them in the soup.
3- Be careful with the spelling of the present participle.
Wrong: cuting, siting, planing, eatting, helpping, openning.
Correct: cutting, sitting, planning, eating, helping, opening
4-Do not use past progressive if the verb does not show an action (as opposed to a
state of being). Examples of verbs that are rarely in progressive tenses are: own,
possess, like, loved, need, want, have, seem, feel, be, prefer, remember, forget and
believe.
Wrong: From 2000 to 2007, I was owning two cars
Correct: From 2000 to 2007, I owned two cars.

7. Present Perfect Tense
Past action that is important to the present situation.
Form: have/has + PAST PARTICIPLE. (auxiliary verb according to subject)
Past Participle for regular verbs: Same as past tense form. Add –ed to the base form
of the verb according to the spelling rules.
Past Participle for irregular verbs:
- Common endings include –en, -ne or –n (chosen, done, and torn) but there are
other possibilities:
- Some are the same for present, past and past participles (cut-cut-cut, put-put-put)
- Another pattern is different internal vowels (sing-sang-sung, ring-rang-rung)
- Students must memorize the irregular forms that are most commonly used.
Singular Plural
I have walked we have walked
you have walked you have walked
he/she/it has walked they have walked

8. Present Perfect – Usage #1
Past action or situation that continues now. (affirmative or negative)
Example Key Words
Jose: How long have you worked at Carpet World? How Long
Sara: I’ve been there for 18 years. In fact, I’ve worked there for + time
longer than any of my supervisors!
Jose: What do you do there?
Sara: I used to work on the assembly line, but since 1995, since + time
I’ve been with the sales force in the front office.
Past Now Future

9. Present Perfect – Usage #2
Recent past action that is important to the situation.
Example Key Words
Amber: It’s hot in here. Why don’t you turn on the air
conditioner?
James: Actually, I’ve jut turned it on. We have to give it a Just
few minutes to feel it. Can I help you with the reports?
Amber: Thanks, but I’ve already finished them. Here they already
are.
Past Now Future

10. Present Perfect – Usage #3
Past Experience, Indefinite Past Time
Example Key Words
Katie: Susan’s just gotten back from China. She told me she
had a great time.
Sean: That’s wonderful news. She must be tired. That was a
really long trip.
Katie: I wonder how many hours it is from here to China. Ever
Have you even gone there?
Sean : No I’ve never gone there, but my uncle had traveled Never
there many times. In fact, he went there last month. He had Many times
to go there on business.
Past Now Future

11. Present Perfect – Usage #4
With yet.
Example Key Words
Mike: We don’t have much time. Are you almost ready?
Kent: Give me a few more minutes, Mike.
Mike: What about the travel report and the salary sheets? Yet (in a
Have you finished them yet? question)
Kent: I’ve already finished the salary sheets, but I haven’t Yet (in a
finished the travel report yet. I only need a few more negative)
minutes, okay?
Past Now Future

12. Present Perfect – Usage #5
With a superlative (Indicates Past Indefinite Action).
Example Key Words
Saleh: How was the movie you went to see last night?
Marcos: Don’t waste your money! That was the worst The worst ever
movie that I have ever seen in my life.
Saleh: Wow, I’m surprised. You know its the most expensive The most
movie that anyone in Hollywood has ever made. expensive ever
Past Now Future
Past Now Future
Past Now Future

13. Present Perfect – Usage #6
The First…The Third…. (Refers to a past indefinite time)
Connects the past event and the present time or a present event.
Example Key Words
Mother: Is that the third paper that you have had to write The third...
for that class this semester?
Bernadette: Yes, but it’s the first paper that the teacher has The first...
asked for
Past Now Future

14. Present Perfect – Usage #7
Repetition of an action before now. (Exact time is not important)
Example Key Words
Weiping: Can you believe it? There’s another test next
Monday!
Paolo: It’s crazy! We’ve had six tests so far this month. Six so far
Weiping: You know, my biology teacher has given only one One this
test this semester. semester
Paolo: I know the feeling I’ve had a lot of classes like that A lot
here.
Past Now Future

15. Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.
1-Do not forget to use have or has with the past participle.
Wrong: I was born here and will die here. I been here my whole life.
Correct: I was born here and will die here. I have been here my whole life.
2- Don’t use have or has with the wrong subject
Wrong: Sarah have already completed all the homework.
Correct: Sarah has already completed all the homework.
3- Do not use be here with present perfect tense.
Wrong: Sarah is already completed all the homework.
Correct: Sarah has already completed all the homework.
4-Do not use present perfect with any specific past tense time words.
Wrong: I have gone to Mexico several times when I was in college.
Correct: I went to Mexico several times when I was in college.
5-Do not use simple past tense with actions that are still continuing.
Wrong: I lived in this same apartment since 1996.
Correct: I’ve lived in this same apartment since 1996.

16. Past Perfect Tense
Past actions that occurred before another past event, action or time.
Form: had + PAST PARTICIPLE
Ex: I had walked along the beach before the sun set.
Past Now Future
Singular Plural
I had walked we had walked
you had walked you hadwalked
he/she/it had walked they had walked

17. Common ELLs Mistakes: What your ELLs should know.
1-Do not forget to use the past participle after had.
Wrong: I had work for the bus for almost 20 years.
Correct: I had worked for the bus for almost 20 years.
2- Do not use past tense when past perfect is required.
Wrong: When the company went bankrupt, I worked there 20 years.
Correct: When the company went bankrupt, I had worked there for 20 years.

18. Past Perfect Progressive Tense
An action that began in the past and continued until another time in the past.
Form: had + been + VERB+ - ing
Example: I had been walking on the trail for almost an hour when the rain started.
Past Now Future
Singular Plural
I walked we walked
you walked you walked
he/she/it walked they walked

19. Used to and Would
Used to express certain actions in the past..
Used to:
The idea that a past action happened repeatedly but is no longer (usually) done
now.
A past fact that is no longer true.
Would:
A past action that happened repeatedly but it is no longer (usually) done now.
Used to Used to Would Would
Singular Plural Singular Plural
I used to walk We used to walk I would walk We would walk
You used to walk You used to walk You would walk You would walk
He/she/it used to They used to walk He/she/it would walk They would walk
walk

20. Tense Example
Simple Past SUBJ +did+not+VERB
Present Perfect I/you/we/they + have +not +PAST PARTICIPLE
He/she/it + has + not+ PAST PARTICIPLE
Past Progressive I/he/she/it + was +not+ VERB + –ing
You/we/they + were + not+ VERB + -ing
Past Perfect SUBJ + had + not + been + VERB + -ing
Past Perfect Progressive SUBJ + had + not + been + VERB + -ing
Used to SUBJ + did + not + use to + VERB
Would SUBJ + would + not + VERB

21. Past Continuous – Lesson Plan
Objective - Have students recognize when the use of the the Past Continuous is
needed, and be able to use it correctly.
Steps
1. The students will be given strips of paper with actions written in the
past continuous. They will be asked to mimic and act out the actions
they have been given. Teacher will walk over to the door, let them act it
out for a few seconds and then turn off the light. When T turns on the
light SS will be asked to complete the following sentence
“I was ______ when the teacher turned off the lights”
Class will go over it orally. Students will be asked to say what theywere
doing when the Teacher turned off the light.
2. Then, the class will go over orally what their classmates were doing.
“ ’Fulan@’ was ______ when the teacher turned off the light”
3. Students will be paired off and asked to ask each other questions
about what they were doing and what their classmates were doing
when the teacher turned off the light.
4. They will then be asked to write sentences individually, on what they
were doing and what their classmates were doing.