Dans le milieu professionnel, la compétence en anglais est cruciale pour ceux qui évoluent dans les secteurs des affaires et du droit. Afin de faciliter la communication et d’assurer une présence internationale, il est indispensable de maîtriser les temps du passé en anglais. Cet article se concentre spécifiquement sur les diverses formes des temps passés en anglais, offrant un outil d’apprentissage précieux pour les professionnels français. En examinant les temps passés tels que le passé simple, le passé continu, le passé antérieur et le passé antérieur continu, ce document pratique vise à consolider la compréhension et l’utilisation correcte de ces temps verbaux. Cette ressource présente des exemples concrets et des exercices pratiques pour renforcer l’apprentissage, et les mots en gras sont particulièrement utiles, avec leur traduction fournie à la fin de l’article.
What is the past tense?
Tenses are an important part of English grammar as they set an event in time. The past tense is a grammatical tense used to describe an action or state that occurred in the past. It allows us to talk about events or the way something was in the past. In English, the past tense is one of the three main tenses, alongside the present and future tenses. There are four main types of past tense: past simple, past perfect, past continuous, and past perfect continuous.
Past simple tense
The past simple tense is commonly used to express completed actions in the past. It typically involves adding « –ed » to the base form of regular verbs, while irregular verbs have unique forms
(e.g., « walked » for regular verbs, « went » for irregular verbs).
Here’s an example of the past tense in action using both verbs.
“I walked to the store yesterday.”
“I went to work yesterday.”
A key tip to help master the past simple tense would be to pay attention to irregular verb forms as they do not follow a specific pattern. It is important to familiarise yourself with common irregular verbs as this will help you use them accurately in sentences.
A list of irregular verbs that are applicable in a business or legal setting will be provided at the end of the article.
Past perfect tense
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action or state that occurred before another past action. It is formed by combining the past tense of the auxiliary verb « to have » with the past participle of the main verb (e.g., « had eaten and had finished »). Examples of this will be provided below.
For instance,
- « She had finished drafting a final version of the contract before she left the office. »
This example indicates that an action was completed prior to another past action, specifically the completion of the contract before she left the office.
- “They had eaten their breakfast hours before leaving the house”
This sentence indicates an ongoing action that started in the past and continued up until a specific point in the past. In this case, the action of eating lunch had already been happening for a prolonged period of time before leaving the house. »
Past continuous tense
The past continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions that were happening in the past. It shows that something was in progress at a specific time in the past. We form the past continuous tense by using « was » or « were » (past tense of « be ») followed by the verb’s present participle form (-ing form).
For example:
- « She was negotiating the contract while her colleague was preparing the presentation. »
This means that at a specific time in the past, she was in the middle of negotiating the contract, and her colleague was in the process of preparing the presentation.
- « We were working late into the night to meet the deadline. »
This indicates that at a particular time in the past, « we » were engaged in continuous work to complete a task before the deadline.
Past perfect continuous tense
The past perfect continuous tense is used to express a continuous action that started in the past and continued up until another point in the past. It emphasises the duration or length of time an action had been happening before something else occurred. We form the past perfect continuous tense by using « had been » (past tense of « have been ») followed by the verb’s present participle form (-ing form). For example,
- « He had been working on the project for months before it was completed. »
This means that before the project was finished, he had been continuously working on it for an extended period of time. The action of working started in the past and continued until the project was completed.
- « They had been negotiating the terms of the agreement before reaching a compromise. »
This indicates that prior to reaching a compromise, they had been engaged in ongoing negotiations for a considerable time. The negotiation process had started in the past and continued until the compromise was reached.
By using these different forms of the past tense, we can accurately convey when an action occurred in relation to other events, describe ongoing actions in the past, and provide a clearer understanding of past experiences and situations.
Mastering the past tense tips and best practices
To effectively use the past tenses in English, consider the following tips:
Pay Attention to Time Indicators
Utilising time indications such as yesterday, last week, or specific dates can help provide clarity and context when discussing past events.
For instance,
« They signed the contract yesterday and finalised the deal” (past simple)
“In 2020, she attended a conference on international trade law.” (past simple)
Practice Verb Conjugation
It is important to regularly practice conjugating both regular and irregular verbs in the past tense. By familiarising yourself with irregular verb forms and how they often differ from their present tense forms you will find that this will help with forming sentences in the past tense.
For instance:
« I wrote » (simple past of « write ») e.g. I wrote a set of guidelines for the company code of conduct. (past simple)
« I worked » (simple past of « work ») e.g. I worked overtime to complete an important task. (past simple)
Apply the past tense to real life scenarios
Apply the past tenses to real-life case studies and scenarios relevant to the legal and business fields. This approach will enhance your understanding and ensure that the examples are relatable.
For instance:
« In a landmark case last year, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, setting a new precedent. » (past simple)
« The company’s profits had been steadily declining until they implemented a new marketing strategy. » (past perfect continuous)
Avoiding Common Mistakes in English Past Tenses
Everyone makes mistakes but there are measures one can take to limit them. Here are some common errors to avoid:
Verb Agreement
Ensure that the verb agrees in tense with the subject of the sentence.
For example:
Incorrect: « He works on the case yesterday. »
Correct: « He worked on the case yesterday. »
Word Order
Maintain the correct word order in sentences in the past tense.
For example:
Incorrect: He was last year a lawyer. Now he is a Youtuber.
Correct: « Last year he was a lawyer. Now he is a Youtuber. »
Why not test your past tense skills with some exercises? Here is a link to a number of exercises where you can test yourself/
Unlocking Success In English Communication
Exploring the intricacies of the past tense in the English language opens up a world of opportunities for legal and business professionals seeking to enhance their language skills. The concepts we have discussed serve as vital building blocks in constructing meaningful narratives, whether in legal documents, contracts, or courtroom presentations. By understanding the nuances of irregular verb conjugations, French professionals can ensure accuracy and precision in their written and spoken English. This linguistic proficiency not only facilitates effective communication with international clients and colleagues but also showcases a commitment to excellence in the field. As you continue your language journey, delving deeper into the complexities of English grammar, you will find yourself equipped with the tools to navigate the legal landscape with confidence and finesse. Embracing the challenges of learning irregular verbs and mastering the past tense will undoubtedly amplify your professional capabilities, enabling you to convey your legal expertise seamlessly across borders. Remember, language learning is an ongoing process, and the commitment you have demonstrated in seeking out resources to enhance your English skills is a testament to your dedication. Embrace the power of the past tense, and let it propel you forward as you confidently navigate the realm of business and legal discourse in the English language.
List of Irregular verbs that can be frequently encountered in legal documents, contracts, business negotiations, and related discussions within the legal and business domains
| Present | Past | Past Participle |
| Begin | Began | Begun |
| Break | Broke | Broken |
| Choose | Chose | Chosen |
| Do | Did | Done |
| Go | Went | Gone |
| Have | Had | Had |
| Pay | Paid | Paid |
| Say | Said | Said |
| Sell | Sold | Sold |
| Take | Took | Taken |
| Think | Thought | Thought |
| Win | Won | Won |
| Give | Gave | Given |
| Find | Found | Found |
For a more comprehensive list of irregular verbs take a look at Les verbes irréguliers
Traduction des mots surlignés
| State | État |
| Unique | Unique |
| Specific | Spécifique |
| Auxiliary | Auxiliaire |
| Ongoing | En cours |
| Past tense | Temps passé |
| Past simple | Passé simple |
| Past continuous | Passé continu |
| Past perfect continuous | Passé composé continu |
| Prolonged | Prolonged |
| Emphasises | Souligne |
| Tenses | Les temps |
| Intricacies | Subtilités |
| Enhance | Améliorer |
| Nuances | Nuances |
| Proficiency | Compétence |
| Discourse | Discours |
| Propel | Propulser |
Retrouvez toutes les formations en Anglais d’LFEX ici : https://lfex.fr/tous-les-programmes/
