I listened attentively

[dany]

Test No. incompl/elem-4 "Listen/Hear", question 2

I ......... attentively to the lecture on philosophy but I still didn't understand much of it.

(a) heard
(b) listened
(c) was hearing
(d) was listen

Test No. incompl/elem-4 "Listen/Hear", answer 2

I listened attentively to the lecture on philosophy but I still didn't understand much of it.

Correct answer: (b) listened

Your answer was: incorrect
I was listen attentively to the lecture on philosophy but I still didn't understand much of it.
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when can i use the pass simple and imperfect one?

[Torsten]

Hi Dany,

The option you chose is wrong because the combination I was listen doesn't exist in the English language.
In the given context you clearly have to choose I listened - as you know that's Simple Past which we use to describe an action that took place once or several times in the past.
For more information on how to use the tenses you can study the information in grammar book or English course book - there you will find plenty of examples. Also, if you read texts in English and take some time analyzing the structure and use of the tenses you will find that's really rather simple. There are quite a limited number of possible combinations - most of the patterns occur over and over again. It helps tremendously if you read some sample sentences out loud several times in a row. That's much more effective than trying to cram all the grammar rules into your head.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[appu]

hey,
i think i can help a bit on this. we can genaralize the differnt tenses in past tense as:

simple past: subject + past form of the verb

past continuous: subject + was/were + ing form of the verb

past perfect: subject + had + past perfect form of the verb

past perfect continuous: subject + had + been + ing form of the verb

hope this clarifies your doubt on the structure of the tense.

[appu]

hey,
the above generalisation works only for active voice and it's different for the passive voice.
the generalisation really works when you are in doubt the structure of a sentence.

good luck..
if i can be of your assistance, mail me at getappu@gmail.com