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Unit 6 is about past tenses, and the way to teach these tenses. Simple Past Form: Take the base verb and change the word form to the past tense form. Usually this means adding /ed/ to the end of the word. However, much like simple present tense, there are a lot of irregular verbs with different past tense forms. Uses: Use 1: Actions completed in the past: EXAMPLES: The scientists conducted an experiment. They thought the experiment would prove their theory. Past Continuous Form: The past form of “to be” (was, were) + verb + ing Uses: Use 1: Describing a past action that hasn’t been completed yet EXAMPLES: I was trying to fix the car this morning, but I’m not done with the repairs yet. At 11pm, I was still working on my homework. Use 2:Describing a past action that was interrupted by another action EXAMPLES: The radio station was broadcasting music when the music was interrupted by an important announcement. I was trying to sleep when I heard a knock at my door. Use 3: When describing two past events that took place at the same time, this tense is used to describe the longer of the two events. EXAMPLES: Marco Polo contacted Chinese merchants and leaders while he was travelling the world. She burned herself while she was cooking dinner. Use 4: Describing a past action that took place in a specific time period and may have continued afterward EXAMPLES: The science team was conducting research as recently as last month. Many students were feeling depressed in in February. Past Perfect Form: had+ past form of a verb Uses: Use 1: When describing a series of actions, use past perfect to describe the action that happened first EXAMPLES: I had gone home; then I read a book and fell asleep. The lawyers had slowly worked toward an agreement that was acceptable for everyone; then they printed the agreement and gave it to their clients. Use 2: When you are describing two past actions that take place at the same time, you can use past perfect tense to describe the shorter action. The longer action can be described using simple past tense or past continuous tense. EXAMPLES: Marco Polo had contacted Chinese merchants and leaders while he traveled the world. She had burned herself while she was cooking dinner. Use 3: Describing a past action that was finished in a specific time period: EXAMPLES: The science team had conducted research as recently as last month. Many students had felt depressed in in February Past Perfect Continuous Form: had + been + verb + ing Uses: Use 1: Describing an action that began further in the past than other actions, but overlaps with actions that began later. EXAMPLES: Chiang Kai Shek had been leading his political followers for many years when he and his followers fled from China to Taiwan. She said she had been working in a hospital when World War II started, and she worked there for many more years. Use 2: Describing an a past action that was interrupted or stopped by another action. EXAMPLES: He had been driving in his car for more than two hours, but then he stopped to rest. She said she had been teaching at Harvard, but she retired. Use 3: Describing an action that caused a later action. EXAMPLES: The water had been running from the faucet, and it got all over the floor. His muscles had become large, because he had been lifting weights.