Muhammad Ali: Past Tenses Review

After graduating university, I moved abroad.

We're using the simple past "moved" because it's (...).

• a finished time

• the conditional

• future in the past

• a stative verb

At the time, I was working on a new business. We were discussing ways to expand, and we came up with the idea of launching a digital product.

We use the continuous "was working on" and "were discussing" because they're (...).

• a continuously changing event

• setting the scene / a specific time

• emphasis

She was upset with me because I still hadn't told her I loved her.

We use the past perfect "hadn't told" because it's (...).

• putting past events in order

• setting the scene

• the conditional

I had been waiting for an hour by the time she texted me to say she was running late.

We use the past perfect continuous "had already been waiting" because it's (...).

• An unfinished time and unfinished action in the past

• the conditional

Would you mind closing the window for me?

We use "would" because it's (...)

• the future in the past

• the conditional

• a form of politeness

• a past habit / "used to"

I shouldn't have said that. I should NOT have said that.

We use the modal perfect "should not have" because it's (...).

• a regret / a recommendation

• reported speech

• past probability / certainty

• the conditional

This activity is based on the HBR podcast "Muhammad Ali: A Case Study in Purpose-Driven Decision Making."

• Let's give the podcast a listen, then do the activity.

• The heck with the podcast! Give me the grammar!

BRIAN KENNY: Maybe we’ll just start by asking you to tell us what the central issue is in the case.

BOB SIMONS: Well, Brian, it’s a very interesting question, and I struggled a little bit even though you had forewarned me.

• putting past events in order

• setting the scene

• the conditional

Answer explanation

First Brian forewarned Bob. Then Bob struggled.

He struggled even though Brian had forewarned him.

BRIAN KENNY: Yeah. So, let’s talk about Muhammad Ali. What was it like for him growing up?

BOB SIMONS: He had a very tough childhood. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942, and as a Black African American young man. His father was handsome and charismatic, but also a drunk.

• a finished time

• the conditional

• future in the past

• a stative verb

Answer explanation

His childhood is finished and over. He had a tough childhood.

Although "had" is a stative verb (never used in the continuous form), there's no signal phrase here that we should use the continuous.

BOB SIMONS: He was very well-known for... I’ll call it dancing. 

He would literally dance around the ring, taunting his opponents, throwing in punches, and they would become furious trying to get back at him, swinging, swinging, swinging.

• the future in the past

• the conditional

• a form of politeness

• a past habit / "used to"

Answer explanation

In each case, the "would" here means "used to." This is the way he used to act. This was his style / his habit.