Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verbs › Past › Past Series

Past — Series

Report a sequence of past events

Young man thinking about speeding ticket

Placing Importance on What versus When

PAST – ACTIVITY CONTRAST
The past tense is used to narrate a series of events. That is to say, we talk about one activity that happens after another. The focus is on what happened, not when.
SERIES OF EVENTS
1. Jack dozed off and started dreaming. (fell asleep)
2. Two "babes" (young women) in a Corvette waved at Jack.
3. They pulled up next to his car and one winked, which he understood as an offer to a race.
4. He raced them down the highway.
5. He heard a police siren.
6. A highway patrol officer chased after him.
7. He woke up from his nap (daydream).

PAST PERFECT – TIME CONTRAST
The past perfect tense contrasts the timing of two events in the past: earlier past from later past. It clarifies which activity occurred before the other. We use it when we place importance on the different timing of the activities.
EARLIER	LATER

Jack had noticed the women in their Corvette	before they pulled along side of his car and challenged him to race.

Jack had passed them at 120 mph	when he noticed the highway patrol behind him.


Jack woke up and realized	that he had been dreaming.

babes – very informal word for young women

Practice

Jack's Day Dream

Select the verb tenses.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.

1-9.

I an average guy, so you can imagine my delight when two gorgeous babes at me. Was I going to ignore them? Not me! Especially since my new, red Porsche the the hottest set of wheels on the road. The brunette at me. I a kiss back to her. Then, I on the gas pedal. My Porsche in an awesome display of power. I across a desert road at the speed of light, like a meteor in the sky. Suddenly, the sound of a siren my attention.

I an average guy, so you can imagine my delight when two gorgeous babes at me. Was I going to ignore them? Not me! Especially since my new, red Porsche the hottest set of wheels on the road. The brunette at me. I a kiss back Then, I on the gas pedal. My Porsche in an awesome display of power. I across a desert road at the speed of light, like a meteor in the sky. Suddenly, the sound of a siren my attention.

10-17.

I behind me and saw a highway patrol car instead of a Corvette. I to get away. But the highway patrol officer close behind. I in big trouble. What with me? Would he take me to jail? "Nooo!" I . Suddenly, I off my desk chair. Whew! As I woke up from my nap, I realized I everything.

I behind me and saw a highway patrol car instead of the Corvette. I to get away. But the highway patrol officer close behind. I in big trouble. What he do with me? Would he take me to jail? "Nooo!" I . Suddenly, I off my desk chair ." Whew! As I woke up from my nap, I realized I everything.

Select an option as your response.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the check button.

18.

What tense was used to tell the sequence of events in the story above?

past

past perfect

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19.

Why was the past perfect used in the last sentence? # 17

to tell the last event in the series.

to contrast the difference in timing of the events

to emphasize that the earlier event affected the later event

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20.

Can both these tenses be used?
As I woke up, I realized I everything.

had dreamed / had dreamt

had been dreaming

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