Question

Here is a newspaper report of a young girl who went back in time to see how her home town looked seventy years ago.

Dehra Times

Purkul, 7 July, 09 It is reported that Kareena, a twelve year old girl living in Purkul, went back in time using a time machine. Seventy years ago her home town was an ideal place to live in. Her home town had not been invaded by the marvels of technology. Industries had not been set up then, so the air was not polluted. She could see children playing in the garden. Some children were listening to the stories told by their grandmothers. Happiness and contentment prevailed everywhere.

In the newspaper report above, the focus is on the changes as observed by Kareena.

1. Kareena’s hometown had not been invaded by the marvels of technology.
2. Industries had not been set up.
3. The air was not polluted.
4. Some children were listening to stories told to them by their grandmothers.

Answer 1

The sentences show the changes noticed by Kareena by using the Past Perfect and Past Continuous forms.

1. had not been invaded → Past Perfect Passive
2. had not been set up → Past Perfect Passive
3. was not polluted → Simple Past Passive
4. were listening → Past Continuous

These forms help describe what the town was like seventy years ago and what had or had not happened by that time.