Englez: Gramatic: Verbe noionale Timpul trecut

Cele patru timpuri ale trecutului sunt:

Trecutul simplu (Past Tense Simple)

Trecutul continuu (Past Continuous)
Trecutul perfect (Past Perfect Simple)
Trecutul perfect continuu (Past Perfect Continuous)
Past Simple este echivalentul Perfectului Compus sau al Perfectului Simplu din romn:

I lived there for six years. Am trit acolo timp de ase ani.
Then he sighed and looked at me. Apoi suspin i m privi.
Past Continuous este echivalentul imperfectului:

I was crossing the street when I saw you. Traversam strada cnd te-am vzut.
I was having lunch, when she phoned. Mncam de prnz cnd m-a sunat.
Diferena dintre cele dou timpuri const n faptul c PS descrie o aciune trecut terminat, pe cnd PC descrie o aciune trecut n
desfurare.

Past Perfect Simple este echivalentul mai-mult-ca-perfectului, dar n romn nu exist MMCP continuu. Astfel, trebuie avute n
vedere urmtoarele:

I. Att Past Perfect Simple, ct i Past Perfect Continuous descriu un eveniment care a avut loc naintea altei aciuni sau a altui
moment din trecut, ns n cazul lui PPC, aciunea este n plin desfurare, deci nu s-a ncheiat nc, accentul cznd pe durata ei:

When he entered the room, she had been typing for one hour. (= aciunea nu s-a ncheiat nc)
Yesterday at 20 I had already typed 10 articles. (= aciunea este ncheiat)
II. PPS se refer la o serie de evenimente individuale sau repetate, pe cnd PPC se refer la un singur eveniment nentrerupt:

Before the end of the week they had given four tests (patru activiti individuale ncheiate).
It was exhausting. They had been giving tests since the beginning of the week (o singur activitate nentrerupt i
neterminat).
III. n vorbirea indirect, dup un timp trecut, PPS preia funciile lui Present Perfect Simple i ale lui Past Simple, iar PPC, pe ale lui
Present Perfect Continuous i ale lui Past Continuous:

I have lived here for a year.

She said she had lived there for a year.
I saw the film yesterday.
He said he had seen the film the day before.
I have been watching that movie for two hours.
He said he had been watching that movie for two hours.
I was reading a book when he phoned me.
She said she had been reading a book when he phoned her.