I have a few questions...

[Pawel]

Hi! Let's consider the following example situation: a teacher asked my class about something, I didn't hear the question, and then the teacher asked me for an answer. Should I use Present Perfect or Past Simple to express that I can't answer now because I don't know what the question is: ("I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question." / "I'm sorry, I haven't hear the question.")?

Which of the following sentences is correct:
a) "On Saturday we were singing and dancing at the party." or "On Saturday we sang and danced at the party."
b) "What he was talking to you about before he left?" or "What he talked to you about before he left?"
c) "I talked to him about it yesterday and he told me everything." or "I was talking to him about it yesterday and he told me everything."

Thanks in advance for your help.Your advices are really helpful. Have a nice day!

I'm sorry for my English :roll:

 

[RonBee]

Hi! Let's consider the following example situation: a teacher asked my class about something, I didn't hear the question, and then the teacher asked me for an answer. Should I use Present Perfect or Past Simple to express that I can't answer now because I don't know what the question is: ("I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question." / "I'm sorry, I haven't hear the question.")?

Say:

• I'm sorry, but I didn't hear the question.

You use the past tense ("didn't") to talk about something in the present.

Which of the following sentences is correct:
a) "On Saturday we were singing and dancing at the party." or "On Saturday we sang and danced at the party."

Both are correct.

b) "What he was talking to you about before he left?" or "What he talked to you about before he left?"

The first is correct.

c) "I talked to him about it yesterday and he told me everything." or "I was talking to him about it yesterday and he told me everything."

Both are correct.

Thanks in advance for your help.Your advices are really helpful. Have a nice day!

I'm sorry for my English :roll:

Say:

• Your advice is really helpful.

The word "advice" is not considered a count noun.

Your English is not bad.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Ron, Take a look at your first set of comments. The second line doesn't make sense to me. :wink:

 

[RonBee]

Mike, you're right. It was in the past that he didn't hear the question. Can I take that back?

 

[henry]

Hi Ronbee and Mike,

I think there are some differences between past - and past continuous tense. Here goes:

The past simple is used when an action is done at a specified point in time in the past.

e.g Where did you go on vacation last year?

The past continuous is used for something that is happening at a precise moment in the past. This form is also often used to express an interrupted action in progress.

e.g He wasn't watching the film when I arrived.

?? :wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

Mike, you're right. It was in the past that he didn't hear the question. Can I take that back?

No you can't, but it isn't clear to what "in the past" refers. :wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hi Ronbee and Mike,

I think there are some differences between past - and past continuous tense. Here goes:

The past simple is used when an action is done at a specified point in time in the past.

e.g Where did you go on vacation last year?

The past continuous is used for something that is happening at a precise moment in the past. This form is also often used to express an interrupted action in progress.

e.g He wasn't watching the film when I arrived.

?? :wink:

That can be true. In the examples posted by the original poster, it is difficult to make much of a meaning difference. In those examples, the continuous focus on an action that occurred over time. The simple past focuses on an action that strated and ended in the past. In many cases, both are true at the same time. :wink:

 

[henry]

That can be true. In the examples posted by the original poster, it is difficult to make much of a meaning difference. In those examples, the continuous focus on an action that occurred over time. The simple past focuses on an action that strated and ended in the past. In many cases, both are true at the same time. :wink:

OK(long). :lol:

You are good.

:cheers: ?

 

[MikeNewYork]

That can be true. In the examples posted by the original poster, it is difficult to make much of a meaning difference. In those examples, the continuous focus on an action that occurred over time. The simple past focuses on an action that strated and ended in the past. In many cases, both are true at the same time. :wink:

OK(long). :lol:

You are good.

:cheers: ?

Thanks, Henry. :wink:

 

[henry]

That can be true. In the examples posted by the original poster, it is difficult to make much of a meaning difference. In those examples, the continuous focus on an action that occurred over time. The simple past focuses on an action that strated and ended in the past. In many cases, both are true at the same time. :wink:

OK(long). :lol:

You are good.

:cheers: ?

Thanks, Henry. :wink:

Big

 

[RonBee]

Mike, you're right. It was in the past that he didn't hear the question. Can I take that back?

No you can't, but it isn't clear to what "in the past" refers. :wink:

I meant can I take back my original comment, thus: "You use the past tense ("didn't") to talk about something in the present."

Hey, that was my only goof, right? :wink:

(What happened to the original poster?)