How to use past tenses to talk about past events?
Talking about the past in English may seem complicated at first, but with practice and an understanding of the basic rules, it becomes manageable. In English, the use of past tenses helps us to express different situations or events that have already happened. Here we show you how to use these tenses with temporal expressions to accurately describe periods, single events or sequences in the past.
How to talk about a period of time in the past?
Often we want to describe how things were in a specific earlier period. For example, when talking about the rise of a product, you might say, "Walkmans were popular in the 1980s," which suggests that we are referring to an entire decade, from 1980 to 1989. Using broad periods helps us contextualize historical and social times, essential for telling a more detailed story.
How do you refer to a single past event?
Sometimes, we need to mention a single event in time, such as an exciting concert you attended. You might say, "That day was so memorable," referring specifically to the day of the concert. This usage focuses on the uniqueness of an event and often highlights significant experiences.
How do you describe a sequence of events in the past?
Describing events in chronological order helps listeners or readers follow what happened. An example would be, "I went hiking in the morning and then saw the sunrise." Here, we are showing two sequential acts. You can modify the sequence with phrases like "before that" or "after that" for additional clarity about the order of events.
How to apply this in job interviews?
With Emma's example, we see how language is used to show past work experience during a job interview. Emma shared that she worked for an American company before the pandemic and continued to work remotely afterwards. This temporal context is crucial to highlight her adaptability and relevant experience.
Important details of a successful interview.
- Experience and context: Emma mentioned that she joined the American company before the pandemic began, suggesting that she already had considerable experience when everything changed.
- Flexibility: Despite the challenges during the pandemic, Emma continued her work remotely, indicating her adaptability and competence in changing environments.
- Availability: Emma also showed availability to work with the company's flexible office policy, which is a plus in today's work culture.
How to practice using the past tense in English?
To keep improving, try using expressions such as "at that time," "after that," "before that," "that day," and "that week" in your sentences to provide more context. These practices will help you gain confidence in your English communication skills, so be encouraged to practice as much as you can!
Remember that English proficiency is an ongoing process, and each step brings you closer to fluency - keep practicing and don't get discouraged!
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