How to Talk About the Past in English
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- In this lesson, you can learn how to talk about the past in English.
Talking about the past includes many things. Do you want to talk about interesting experiences you’ve had, tell a funny story, or talk about something you regret in the past? If you have a good example, be sure to share it in the comments!
In this lesson, you’ll see the words, phrases and structures you need to talk about the past in clear, fluent English. The best way to improve your English conversation and grammar skills is to practice! Choose from many certified English teachers on our website and start practicing today: bit.ly/ooe-teac....
See the full lesson with text on our website: www.oxfordonli....
This lesson will help you:
- Understand how to describe experiences when you talk about the past in English.
- Use good phrases to compare the past to the present in English.
- Learn how to begin a story when you talk about the past in English.
- Understand words and phrases to use when talking about a sequence of events in the past.
- Talk about things you regret in the past.
Contents:
1. How to Talk About Your Past Experiences 0:41
2. How to Compare the Past and Present 3:16
3. How to Set the Scene of a Story 6:36
4. How to Show the Sequence of Events in a Story 8:36
5. How to Talk About Past Regrets 12:14
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See more free English lessons like this on our website: www.oxfordonli....
oxford online english is the best thing i have ever seen in my whole life. you people change the dimension of learning for me. best and respect for you guys
Thank you for the kind comment, Obaid! Glad you enjoy the lessons!
why this tow guys have not eye contact with each other looks they are bland.
Because they aren't in the same place
@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 س
Oxford online English thé better
This is best way to learn english. Tnx Oxford
Telling a story was always difficult for me specifically how to use past tenses. By this lesson I have got some ideas. Very good presentation, really appreciative. 👍
I really like Martin, his face is so kind and friendly.
I wish I’d found this fantastic RUclips channel earlier in my English learning journey because there’s a lot of informative free content for learners at different levels which is like an all-in-one package for me to enhance my English knowledge with. If I’d spent more of my time looking for good learning materials, I would’ve been more fluent in English by now. Anyway, thank you so much for making these amazing videos! Best wishes
This is really cool. Way better than my Teacher hahah
Thanks a lot, my teacher
Thank you for the explanation. The use of all the verb forms is clear because it is illustrated with examples from everyday life.
A story
I am a school teacher, and last year my students and I had to participate in a contest of plays between schools of our district. I had already taken part in such a contest with "The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse" a year before but then my students didn't win. I've chosen "Three Little Pigs" for the last year contest. The preparation was full of adventures. To start with, we had been looking for a piece of theatrical scenery in the school costume room and found it in another place. Then some children just didn't learn the lines. They did it the day before the performance. Finally, some actors were forgetting to do their movements to the music. But we received a lot of help. The mother of one of the students has sewn the costumes. My colleague helped with the choreography. In the result we have won the first prize.
... one of the best lessons...
Sir this lesson very useful for me I have cleared so many doubts. Thanks
I am learning English by myself and I see this videos very interesting to learn either grammar or entonation
I wish I hadn't been born in this world
If only I had talked to her when I had a chance
I could have passed my entrance exam at my favorite university if I had studied harder
I love all of your videos, I feel so grateful, I will major in English language teacher education next year, your videos help me a lot, I mostly learn things on your channel. Thank you for all of your devotion.
ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਭੈਣੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਵਧੀਆ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ਤੂੰ
Oxford online English is the best
i can't stop repeating this lesson. i love it
Acho que finalmente estou aprendendo a usar o "past"... Aula bem clara, objetiva e ao mesmo tempo, leve. Adorei!
It was a great lesson. I had never seen a complete lesson before. I wish I had seen a lesson like this before.
Thanks for watching, Wilson! Glad you enjoyed the lesson.
thank for lessons
Thanks
it's so useful online English class for me
A while back I went with my family and some close friends to attend concert that took place in digalbang,india.on the way to travel we saw an big status and we came to know it was made by one the great architect name Subedi after 20 minutes of travelling we eventually approach at the concert ,crowds were enomorous all the streets were filled by crowds and we enjoyed the programme so much and finally we tunned and wish each other a happy new year.....
Excellent. Thanks for watching the lesson and sharing your response. Here are some corrections for you:
1) '...to attend a concert,' not, '....to attend concert.'
2) 'On the way, we saw a big statue...' not, '...on the way to travel we saw an big status...'
3) '...by a great architect named...' not, '...by one the great architect name...'
Hope this helps you!
If only I had known you guys before, my English would have been better now.
I found this video useful.❤ Thank you so much!🙏😊
Thank you so much for your English lessons. I have learned many things about English by watching your videos. Kindly upload videos regarding past continuous tense if it is possible for you. 👍👍
We're happy you enjoy the lessons, Rubul! We might be able to do that in the future. We have a few other lessons you might enjoy as well, like this one: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/english-verb-tenses.
thanks for all teachers ❤
very good ways to teach us.
but I hat grammar. 😥
mohamed from Egypt 👍
when i was in high school I would go to the cinema with my friends, but now we don´t go the cinema any more. when i was kis i used to dance ballet in home every day after coming back from school.
Great, Veronica! Thanks for sharing. Here are some tips:
1) '...we don't go to the cinema...' not, '...we don´t go the cinema...'
2) 'When I was a kid I...' not, 'when i was kis i...'
3) '...ballet at home...' not, 'in.'
Hope this is useful for you!
I think would is difficult to use. Could, you explain the concept of 'If only' in your next video, plz.
Thanks for watching, Harry. We have a lesson on conditionals which might also help you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/5-levels-conditional-sentences.
I waited for this lessons thanks a lot gusy keep going
Thanks for watching!
Great video!... Thank you! I'm learning a lot from you guys!!
Please could you clarify the grammar of sentence Have you ever been skydiving at the time 1:53? Is it Present perfect? Is there expression (to be skydiving)? As I know with all kinds of activities we use GO, DO or PLAY.
Hi Arman, yes, that is present perfect! This lesson has a lot of useful information about the present perfect: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/present-perfect-verb-tense.
Sir,could you please give the meaning of this sentence."corruption is rampant in every segment and every section of society,barring the social status attached to it".I could not understand the meaning from the word barring.does it mean some importance is given to corruption.p Siva Rao,India.
Hii
Turns out many different ways to talk about the past and I now know :) thanks!!
Would you answer my question ?
My question is :
If we are not studying anymore , is it correct to say " I have been studying a lot this week" if we are not studying anymore ?
In other words, the action of studying has finished but I say "this week"
Is it correct ?? If it's correct what does it mean ?
Or am I wrong ?
Thank you.
Hi San. Thanks for sharing your wonderful questions! We have another lesson to help you, which I believe you have seen (www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/present-perfect-present-perfect-continuous). Also, we have teachers who would be happy to answer all of your questions in a lesson. You can learn more here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/about-our-online-english-teachers. Good luck and we look forward to seeing you in a lesson and hearing more of your excellent questions!
Hi, you've helped me with many of these grammar points and ways of telling something happening in the past.
I would like to know the truth because I was told that to talk about habits in the past we CAN'T use the past continuous e.g "I was playing chess with him every week, when my brother was here". But instead we use the past simple e.g "i played chess with him every week, when my brother was with me"
Could you explain ? Is that right ?
I also would like to know the difference between using the past simple and using the past continuous if the past continuous is unexpectedly possible to use for habits in the past.
I really am thankful, thank you 😊
Hi there. When we are setting the scene of a story, and expressing the idea that something happened while something else was happening in the past, we can use the past continuous. You can use it to describe situations that only happened once (I was walking home from school when she called) or situations that temporarily happened repeatedly (I was walking home from school every day while my car was in the shop). Hope this helps you!
I wish I hadn't met her.
I wish I had started earlier.
I wish I had accepted the offer.
Dope Video! Sending blessing your way, Keep inspiring!🎒🙌🏻
I watch these videos now , but I didn't watch them in past.
I would think it difficult .
Plz read and point out my mistakes
Nice answer. If you're talking about the past, you want to say 'I thought it was difficult' or 'I used to think it was difficult,' not, 'I would think it difficult'.
When I was a kid, I used to take a flower off of the ground on the road from my school to my home.
When I was at primary school, my grandmother would pick me up from school and when we arrived house, She would prepare me my lunch while I would dropping my legos on my room floor, and making a disorder.
Hi Juan. Thanks for watching and sharing your response. Here are some corrections for you:
1) Do you mean, 'I used to pick flowers on my way home from school,' instead of, 'I used to take a flower off of the ground on the road from my school to my home'?
2) '...when we arrived home...' not, 'arrived house'.
3) '...while I would drop my Legos...' not, '...while I would dropping my legos...'
Hope this helps you!
I'm an English teacher in a small village and l'd LIKE to improve my English. Your lessons are very helpful for me and l recommend them to my pupils. Thanks a lot to all of your teachers. They are amazing positive persons.
Thanks for the support, Dimas! Glad you enjoy the lessons.
Tareh.3
It's a little bit strange but English don't use the word PUPILS. They prefer STUDENTS.
I wish u had studied English from ooe before you started teaching.
@@ridwanfarah3262 lol
This is the best and the most realistic lesson I have ever had about the past. My humble gratefulness to both the teachers.
Thanks for the kind comment, Kabir!
Stephanie’s accent is very clear and easy to understand. I like Stephanie.
it's really !
Is she american ?
When I was 7 years old, I broke my right arm. I never had broken a bone. My parents, my brothers and I went to a river beach in Amazon forest, more specifically at "Pajuçara", a place knowed by its ravines. My brother and two of my cousins slipped for play at one ravine and I followed them. The rest of story is with your imagination.
Thanks for sharing, Alan. Here are a few suggestions:
1) '...in the Amazon forest,' not, '...in Amazon forest'.
2) '...more specifically, Pajuçara, a place...' not, '......'.more specifically at "Pajuçara", a place
3) '...a place known for its ravines,' not, '...a place knowed by its ravines'.
Hope this is useful for you!
@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 what is tge difference between by its and for its?😶
@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 do you have certificate in English sir
If only. , I had join earlier OOE i had bttr Eng.😉
If only i joined earlier..
I could have found this awesome channel earlier 🙂
My phrase for today: "I wish I had discovered you sooner" 😊 Great job, I love you ALL ! 👍
You two are amazing teachers. Everything is crystal clear now! Thanks for all the videos!
This must be the most useful channel for people who want to improve their English skills on RUclips. I wish I had started watching your lessons years ago, but it's never too late.
Thanks a lot.
Wow great, "If only and Past perfect" was new for me. What a magnificent explanation. Keep it up, great job
When i was a kid i used to go to school and after that i would play Cricket with John.
Comparing Past and Present
1. [Tina]: You used to have short hair, didn't you?
[Me]: Yes, I did. But now, I prefer long hair.
2. [Mark]: Did you use to live in this old house?
[Me]: Not anymore!
3. [Gabriela]: How many great memories did you remember from your old neighborhood?
[Me]: Oh, My mother used to make bean sandwiches for me and my cousins. While we were
watching cartoon shows, we'd eat the bean sandwiches and drink a lot of soda!
[Gabriela]: Wow, you had so many great memories!
The Scary Story (Using Past Simple, Past Continuous and Past Perfect)
Three years ago, Me and Julia were driving home from a cinema late at night. While we were driving, an old man came out of nowhere and we almost hit him. We had to stop the car immediately and helped the old man cross the street. When we came back home, My mom was cooking some food in the kitchen. As soon as she saw me and Julia, she froze in terror. I asked, "Mom, what happened?". She replied, "There... is... blood... on... your... blouse!". I looked down with confusion and saw that my hands were bloody. Julia said, "Madam, we just came back from the cinema. And we saw this old man with a long white beard, thick green jacket and a wooden cane. He seemed a little difficult to cross the road. He was also holding his back while he was walking.". My mom's tears suddenly dropped. I asked, "Mom, why are you crying?". She replied, "That's your dead grandfather, coming to see you from heaven! He disguised as himself so that you would recognize him". I also froze in terror!
Talking about past regrets
1. [Me]: I could have kept it much better this time!
[Vivian]: What happened and why?
[Me]: I had lost my office key today! I couldn't find it anywhere!
[Vivian]: Had you checked it in the upper most drawer?
[Me]: Yes, I had checked it! But, It wasn't there!
2. [Mom]: I wish I didn't say that to Mrs. Williams!
[Me]: What happened?
[Mom]: I didn't pass my car license test! And, I argued with Mrs. Williams!
[Me]: What did you say to her?
[Mom]: I said, "You peasant, I could have passed this without you! You are one of the most
biggest disappointment of my life!". After I said that, she started to weep and she got
out of the car immediately!
3. [Me]: I told my mom about my Spanish test!
[Hailey]: So, what did she say back? Did you pass or fail?
[Me]: I passed but she wasn't really happy when I showed her my results!
[Hailey]: Maybe, she is a little disappointed for what she said to Mrs. Williams!
I wish I hadn't got married
If only I had played Cricket
I could have started my own bussiness
Great examples.
great explanation,useful video,thx btw
When I was a child, me and my friends would always play on a basketball court
My parents used to live in my house but now they don't
I don't have time anymore to play
Great examples!
I used to believe in people easily. Before the pandemic, I would go to a restaurant every end of the month after my payment. Because of the virus I can't go to the beach any more.
Nice examples. Here are a few suggestions for you:
1) '...go to a restaurant at the end of every month,' not, 'every end of the month'.
2) 'anymore,' not, 'any more'.
Hope this helps you!
Its amazing
Sir , what is the diffrence between these two sentences given below.
I played.
I used to play.
Hi Debu. 'I played' is referring to one finished activity in the past. For example: 'I played football yesterday with my friends.' 'I used to play' is referring to a past habit. For example: 'I used to play football every Friday with my friends when I was in high school.' Hope this helps you!
Thanks teachers !!! For this video that make me to improve English grammar. Thank you so much.
Thanks for watching, and glad you liked the lesson!
Have you ever been skydiving ?
Does this sentence mean " have you ever done skydiving " ?
Yes, although 'do skydiving' is not a correct collocation, so 'have you ever done skydiving?' would not be correct. 'Been' is the past participle of 'go' in certain circumstances.
Sir , can we use 'if i had...' instead of 'if i only had' ??? Plz reply soon
Good question. When we add 'only' we are emphasizing regret. For example: 'If only I had invested five years ago!' When we use 'If I had' it is simply stating the possibility of a different outcome in the past, but not necessarily expressing regret. Hope this helps you!
Your lessons are the most complete one on RUclips. You've done a really good job.
Could you make a video about the past perfect continuous and its diffrences with the past continuous, please ?
We're so glad you enjoy the lessons. We might be able to have a live stream lesson on this topic in the future. For now, we do have a lesson on tenses which might help you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/english-verb-tenses.
If I hadn't listened to peace of advice from my classmate, I could have more chances
Nice, Alexey! One tip: '...listened to a piece of advice...' not, '...listened to peace of advice...' Hope this helps you!
could you please explain how to connect sentence while writing a story in past I hope you will answer me
Hi Akshit. We have a few lessons which might help you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/tell-a-story, www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/sentence-structure.
I wish if I'd seen this video before, I could able to speak English fluently.
... so useful, so we'll explained...
I am very interested your class.
Extremely helpful!! Thank you Martin, Stephanie and all the people of OOE.
I wish,i had learned english seriusly 3 years ago. Is it correct?
It is correct, Alinaqi! Just be careful with punctuation: 'I wish I had learned English...' not, 'I wish,i had learned English...'.
I love these lessons a lot . I like Stephanie's lessons a lot too.....thanks oxford online English......
Kindly make a video of simple past tense..your videos are awosome
Thanks, Jawad! We might be able to do a lesson on the past simple in the future. For now, you can find a lesson including this tense on our website: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/english-verb-tenses.
I wish I had seen this video before
I used to live in Urmia when I was a student. At that time, I would stick to junk food that causes several health problems for me. So, I changed my lifestyle, and I don't eat unhealthy food anymore.
Nice, Raziye! One suggestion, use the past tense here:
'...food that caused several health problems...' not, 'causes'.
Hope this is useful for you!
@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 thank you
OOE is really helpful 😊thanks
a lot but we need more and more.keep doing it.
I wish I would learned English when I was in school.
I could've watched this video before .
Good! One tip: 'I wish I would have learned,' not, 'would learned'.
I used to swim for a kilometer.
I didn't use to paint
I would conduct advanced meditation courses once in a month
Good! One tip: It's better to say 'once a month,' not, 'once in a month'. Hope this helps you!
@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 Thank you
I used to wash clothes by my hands but I dont do anymore, because my wash machine works again!!!! Yeah😀
Good, and congratulations! A few tips:
1) '...wash clothes by hand,' not, 'by my hands'.
2) '...but I don't anymore,' not, 'do anymore'.
3) 'washing machine,' not, 'wash machine'.
Hope this helps you!
That"s agreat work you're doing. Very useful and helpful. Thanks a lot.1000like
1. I used to watch news on television, but due to fake news I do not watch tv anymore.
2. I miss my grandmother badly. I used to visit her house during my summer vacation. As soon as i used to step in her house, i would go to the kitchen, to eat delicious food which she used to cook for me. But as i have moved to foreign country, I can't go to her place anymore
May you please help me how to talk be confident
Hi there. Yes, we would be happy to help. We have some lessons which you might enjoy: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/speak-english-with-confidence, www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/feel-less-shy-speaking-english.
One day, my uncle asked me...HAVE you ever EXPERIENCED any bitter thought.
I replied....i EXPERIENCED two years ago. When i USED TO play cricket match, although i dont play it ANYMORE. It was a sunny day, when i WAS PLAYING my match then suddenly a ball stuck into my mouth and i FELL down on the ground unconsciously. My mother HAD DENIED me to go outside on that day but i avoided her that day. Although i did not use to play the game without any precaution but that day i missed it. IF ONLY, I HAD TAKEN some precautionary measures.
Please correct me, if made any mistake. Thanks a lot to both of you.
Nice, Umesh! Bear in mind that 'used to' can only be used for repeated actions or situations in the past, not for single actions (like a cricket match).
Thanks for watching!
I used to watch english videos online on RUclips but now I got your channel link and I'm very feeling very glad to connect with Oxford online english channel. Thankyou so much for Concept about past and to be honest this technique will really help me a lot and I did mistakes to speak about past activities or past story but now I'm pretty sure I'll not make any mistakes while speaking about past. Thankyou so much for this informative information. LOVE FROM INDIA. 🇮🇳🇮🇳 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I love to listen Martin. I found myself Martin's fan. Does he use any social media? I want to follow him. Please! Help me 😘
I wish I had been learning English with your channel instead of school teacher)
Thank you so much my dear teachers. i want to speak English better and better! and i will. i'm sure!
I was 8 years old and my mom gave me 10 dollars for buying some vegetables but when I arrived at the shop I had forgotten the money in my home
Most students do not know or learn Present Perfect before Past Simple! You should change it!
I used to go my school on my foot
I wish I would continued my job
If only I could driven a car
If I had worked, I could have earned more money
Nice, Sathya! A few corrections:
1) 'I wish I would have continued my job,' not, 'I wish I would continued my job'.
2) 'If only I could have driven a car,' not, '...I could driven...'.
Hope this is useful for you!
I appreciate to you for your best explanation of tenses
We have got allot of advantage of your well explanations
I wish I hadn't wasted much time. I wish I hadn't been shy or timid. I wish I had been fearless.
Three years ago I was learning a car. because I had tried to drive a car. so it was not difficult for me to drive a car. I tried so many times to drive my car one year before.
I used to be Skinny, Now I can't stop thinking about food, I often make decisions for my Dinner after My lunch.
The most difficult was using '' would '' to express past habits
👍👍👍
I could have seen this video before
Excellent, Radha!
🙏☺️
I don't play the guitar anymore, but I used to play it on university campus
I didn't use to watch your videos until I came across your channel. I have seen many videos on the channel lately.
I wish I'd have found you earlier.Thanks for the lessons.
Hello, thank you so much. I've been figuring out this whole my life.
Can I give suggestion? I watched a lot of videos from ooe. Its really give many knowledge. But actions and background look dull. Can you make in a classroom and sitting face to face or facing to camera? You can put title on the background. Especially Olivia need to look in front not above. When you want to show script, either full screen PowerPoint or put annotations with an announcer to cover background. It will look more natural.
Thanks for the suggestions, Tommy! Video production is complex, and it involves certain compromises. Also, much of what you see has been shaped by viewer feedback over 5 years of building our channel. However, we always appreciate constructive feedback, so feel free to share your ideas in future :)
..
amazing😘
I could have watched oxford online English learning lecture earlier.