VOCABULARY 1
to take a week off
Available for someone to use whenever needed.
at one’s disposal –
Explain use of PAST SIMPLE
Function: A completed past action or event (usually at a specific time)
A sequence of past actions
I was exhausted because I worked / had been working for twelve hours straight.
had been working
I locked the door before / as soon as I arrived home
as soon as
Used to introduce the final (often worst or best) event in a series.
to top it off
To accidentally hear something not meant for you.
overhear
Explain use of PAST CONTINUOUS
Function: An action in progress at a particular past point.
An action that was in progress when another action happened
A temporary past state or situation.
When we arrived at the station, the train left / had already left.
had already left
They hadn’t eaten anything by the time / while the meeting finally started.
by the time
when you feel better after getting hurt
to recover from an injury
Used to tell someone not to worry because something is certain or guaranteed.
rest assured
Explain use of PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Function:
A past action that happened before another past action
Life experience up to a past point.
A past action/event with a result/influence at a past point.
He ran / was running down the stairs when he slipped and fell.
was running
We finished the project early, and by the time/afterwards , we went out for dinner to celebrate.
afterwards
To become very friendly with someone very quickly.
get along like a house on fire
Cheerful, not serious, or meant to be funny.
light-hearted
Explain use of PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The same 3 functions for Past Perfect apply to Past Perfect Continuous but we use continuous to focus on the long and repeated action or duration.
I didn’t recognise him at first because he had grown / grew a beard.
had grown
She was still sleeping when / by the time I left the house.
when
To be in trouble or a difficult situation.
find yourself in hot water
a remark or action in a social situation that is a mistake and causes embarrassment or offense.
faux pas
Fill in the text with the correct narrative tense
Last summer, my sister 1. ____________ (decide) to surprise our parents with a family trip. We 2. ____________ (plan) everything for months before the big day finally arrived. On the morning of our departure, I 3. ____________ (help) pack the suitcases while my sister 4. ____________ (check) the flight times again. By the time we 5. ____________ (get) to the airport, the queue at the check-in was already very long.
decided
had been planning
was helping
was checking
got
She was always talking / had always talked during class, which annoyed the teacher.
was always talking
Before/As soon as the meeting finished, everyone started packing up their things. They were angry at their boss
as soon as