[h=3]USE 4 Habits in the Past[/h]
The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to" To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc. Examples:
- I studied French when I was a child.
- He played the violin.
- He didn't play the piano.
- Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
- She worked at the movie theater after school.
- They never went to school, they always skipped class.
[h=3]USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations[/h]
The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to"Examples:
- She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.
- He didn't like tomatoes before.
- Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
- People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.
[h=3]
IMPORTANT When-Clauses Happen First[/h]
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when I dropped my pen..." or "when class began..." These clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important. The examples below contain when-clauses.Examples:
- When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.
- She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.
When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the Simple Past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and then, she answered my question. It is not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence. However, the example below has a different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.Example:
- I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.
[h=3]ADVERB PLACEMENT[/h]
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.Examples:
- You just called Debbie.
- Did you just call Debbie?
[h=3]ACTIVE / PASSIVE[/h]
Examples:
- Tom repaired the car. Active
- The car was repaired by Tom. Passive