Siebel Forced-Ranking System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Siebel Forced-Ranking System - Essay Example In a sense, force ranking is a more truthful way of implementing performance management. Managers are forced to differentiate talent and the process of forced ranking also forces managers to spot and champion talent. Since the forced-ranking system requires that criteria for ranking need to be set first and foremost, the system also provides information that conventional performance appraisal systems cannot. The deliberations among managers in determining criteria help them define and understand what are important for success of the organization. Subsequently, knowing the criteria that managers use to appraise performance increases the probability that employees will adjust their behavior in order to succeed. A forced-ranking system can also provide an independent verification of performance appraisal data. Significant variations in the talent data provided by the performance appraisal system and the data provided by the forced ranking process should be worth delving into. Better performing employees may be motivated by a forced-ranking system because they feel appreciated and not treated in the same way as underperformers. In terms of teamwork and collaboration, forced-ranking may also have a positive effect, because those who do not want to cooperate with the team or in a collaborative effort are eliminated. Organiz Organizations implementing forced-ranking may be attractive to high-quality job applicants who would see such a system as one where their contributions would be recognized and rewarded and would therefore be eager to work for the organization, thereby improving the overall quality of the applicant pool. Company investors may view a forced ranking system as management's commitment to accountability and to operations efficiency. Cons May be unfair to people performing at an acceptable level, with attendant legal repercussions in terms of human rights. May create an unhealthy star-cult culture. It may not possible to continually improve the overall potential of a workforce by removing the bottom dwellers and replacing them with better employees. As standards are raised, it would be more difficult to find applicants to replace those that have been removed. A job applicant who is aware that an employer uses a forced ranking system may feel that such a culture would be stressful or risky, and not consider the organization, causing the loss of high-potential applicants. Shareholders might not agree with a forced ranking system because of potential lawsuits or other negative consequences. Some companies using forced ranking have become embroiled in discrimination lawsuits brought by employees upset over dismissal or lower pay (Levinson, 2003). The system may create a dysfunctional, hypercompetitive work environment where employees refused to collaborate with one another, such as hoarding knowledge or hoarding customers,

Troubleshooting Common Diesel Engine Problems Essay Example for Free

Troubleshooting Common Diesel Engine Problems Essay Engine wont start Is the fuel fresh? If untreated fuel is more than a month old, this fuel will start to break down and engine stalling (in addition to fuel system component gumming) can result. Thats why its important to either drain the gas from your outdoor power equipment before it sits idle during the winter, or add a fuel preservative/stabilizer to the fuel. To prevent the fuel from going stale purchase a replacement Fresh Start Fuel Cartridge for your Fresh Start Fuel Cap, OR purchase our Advanced Fuel Treatment and mix the prescribed amount with your gasoline. Even better, keep a gas can solely for your outdoor power equipment filled with gasoline treated with our Advanced Fuel Treatment. That way, you will always have a supply of fresh, treated fuel used specifically for your outdoor power equipment. If youve got stale gas in your equipment, drain the gas from the fuel tank completely and dispose of it properly, following your local municipalities regulations. NOTE: In most cases, this older fuel can be added to your cars fuel tank with no harmful effects. Sometimes removing the old fuel and replacing with fresh, treated fuel may just solve the problem. If not, drain the old fuel and spray the inside of the fuel tank and carburetor with some carburetor cleaner. Finally, remove any sediment from the fuel tank and add fresh, treated gas. Another thing to consider is that certain equipment manufacturers place a plastic packing plug between the gas cap and gas tank. In order for there to be proper venting, ensure that this plug is removed. If stale fuel is not at fault, next look at the ignition system. Did the engine suddenly stop after striking an object? If so, you likely sheared the flywheel key, which upsets the engines ignition (spark) timing. Engine Runs Poorly Is the oil level low? When you pour fresh oil into the crankcase, its a golden or amber color. Gradually, the heat, dirt particles and agitated air in the crankcase cause the oil to darken. Dark oil is not only dirty; it has also lost much of its ability to coat and protect engine components. Manufacturers recommend  changing the oil in your small engine after every 25 hours of operation. For a new engine, youll also need to change the oil after the first five hours of operation. New engines require this extra step to flush out small particles that accumulate naturally during the break-in period. Hours of use are just one factor in determining how often the oil should be changed; the amount of wear and tear is equally important. Just like the oil in a vehicle operated in extremely dirty or dusty conditions or at high speeds, the oil in a lawn mower or other small engine breaks down faster under tough conditions, such as wet grass, heavy dust, high temperatures and rough or hilly terrain. Avoid overfilling your crankcase. Too much oil can cause the same type of engine damage as not having enough. Air bubbles form in the oil, reducing overall lubrication. The resulting friction and metal-to-metal contact can cause premature part failure. Excess oil can also burn in the cylinder, producing smoke and leaving carbon deposits. Engine Wont Start A no-start condition is one of the most frequently encountered engine problems. If there is a clicking noise but the engine does not crank it generally indicates a battery issue. An engine that cranks but will not start is indicative of a fuel or ignition problem. Common reasons an engine wont start: Low or discharged battery Corroded or loose battery cables Starter motor relay failure Ignition switch failure Defective fuel pump Clogged fuel filter Service Engine Soon Light The Service Engine Soon light is designed to illuminate whenever a fault is detected in any of the sensors attached to the emission, engine, or powertrain controls. The purpose of the service engine soon light is to alert the driver to a potentially serious fault that requires repair. Blue exhaust smoke along with the service engine soon light may indicate a fuel  system fault caused by an engine oil leak. An ASE certified mechanic can retrieve the trouble codes from within the onboard electronic control module and determine the specific cause. Frequent service engine soon light causes: Loose or missing gas cap Spark plugs or wires that are worn out or damaged Electronic control module failure Defective distributor or coil packs Emissions control fault such as the oxygen sensor Fuel quality issue Overheating Overheating is most generally caused by a low coolant level. A quick check of the coolant overflow reservoir will indicate if coolant is leaking. Most cars are equipped with temperature gauges or warning lights that will alert the driver to an overheating issue. Frequent overheating can cause serious and expensive engine damage. Proper maintenance of the cooling system is vital in order to maintain the quality of the coolant and to make certain the cooling system is in good operating condition. Additionally, a cracked head or blown head gasket can also cause overheating, coolant loss and white exhaust smoke, which may indicate the need for engine repair. Common reasons for overheating: Faulty thermostat Dirty or low coolant level Non-functioning cooling fan Kinked or broken radiator hose Internal or external coolant leak Defective radiator cap Dirty air filter The Most Common Small Engine Problems Many owners of small engine vehicles such as lawnmowers, golf carts, motorcycles and snowmobiles make the costly mistake of replacing their engines or entire vehicles simply because they believe the engine is beyond  repair. That is rarely the case, and what many small engine owners dont realize is that replacement kits are easy to use, cost effective, and can get your old mower or motorcycle running like new again. The first thing to do when considering a small engine replacement kit is to identify what is wrong with your current engine. Problems fall into two basic categories; failure to start and problems running after the engine has started. Just because your engine wont start doesnt mean it is dead. There are a number of reasons an engine might not start. There may be fuel line problems. Make sure you check to see that the fuel tank is full, that the fuel is fresh, and that the shut-off valve is closed. The fuel line or inlet screen could also be blocked or the fuel tank cap c ould be clogged. These are basic fuel line problems that can easily be remedied with replacement and repair kits. Carburetor problems are another reason an engine might not start. The carburetor could be blocked or the engine could be flooded. There might be problems with the spark plug or the choke on the fuel bowl could be set too high. These are also relatively easy problems to fix with the appropriate instructions and equipment. Another obvious cause for a dead engine is an ignition problem. A number of things could be wrong with the spark plug; its contacts could be dirty, the plug gap could be set incorrectly, the lead could be faulty, or the kill switch could be shorted. These all require basic replacement or repair and are a snap with a proper kit. If you have a compression problem in your small engine you would want to check the valves, pistons, cylinder, or connecting rods. These could be dirty, stripped, or otherwise damaged, and would prevent the engine from starting properly or at all. Many small engines will start correctly but have problems running properly. These can pose more danger to your vehicle than an engine that simply wont start. If left to themselves, simple problems such as overheating and emitting smoke can eventually ruin an engine and require a full-on replacement. Overheating engines can be dangerous for a vehicle as well as its operator. Lack of oil is one of the most common reasons for overheating, as is a dirty engine. Beyond that, there may be shrouds or cooling fans missing within the engine or the gasket could be leaking. The fuel mixture might be too lean, another carburetor problem. Simply cleaning or replacing the fuel tank vent and fuel tank screen can also help reduce the chance of your engine overheating. Fixing overheating problems yourself  with replacement or repair kits is much less expensive than taking the engine in for repairs or simply buying a new engine. If your small engine is emitting smoke you might think you need to replace the engine or vehicle. Not likely. If the engine is emitting blue or white smoke then it is probably burning oil. If it is emitting black smoke it is most likely a problem with a carburetor. If it is neither the carburetor nor an oil leak, then it might be the air filter. A plugged or dirty air filter can cause an engine to smoke. A knocking engine is a loud and obvious indicator that something is wrong with your small engine. If your engine experiences knocking it may indicate an excess of carbon in the combustion chamber, which would require you to clean carbon from the piston and head. The flywheel might also be loose, and should be replaced as needed. Another reason for engine knocks is a faulty spark plug lead, easily tested, repaired and replaced with the appropriate replacement kit. Speaking of spark plugs, a small engine might run poorly if the spark plug repeatedly misses under load. This could be caused by any number of things, including a faulty spark plug, faulty breaker points, an incorrectly set carburetor, or a weak valve spring. All these problems can be repaired at home with a specific repair kit. It may be tempting to simply buy a new small engine vehicle or tool when the engine starts to give you problems, but it is hardly cost-effective and doesnt guarantee you wont run into the same problems a few months down the road. Small engine replacement and repair kits are affordable, easy to use, come with the most advanced technology, and most are back by a warrantee. And with todays economy the way it is, buying a new vehicle when your engine experiences problems is silly. Fix the problem yourself with a detailed replacement kit. It just makes sense. Engine Problems Bad fuel mix A bad fuel mix can occur in several ways: †¢You are out of gas, so the engine is getting air but no fuel. †¢The air intake might be clogged, so there is fuel but not enough air. †¢The fuel system might be supplying too much or too little fuel to the mix, meaning  that combustion does not occur properly. †¢There might be an impurity in the fuel (like water in your gas tank) that makes the fuel not burn. Lack of compression If the charge of air and fuel cannot be compressed properly, the combustion process will not work like it should. Lack of compression might occur for these reasons: †¢Your piston rings are worn (allowing air/fuel to leak past the piston during compression). †¢The intake or exhaust valves are not sealing properly, again allowing a leak during compression. †¢There is a hole in the cylinder. The most common hole in a cylinder occurs where the top of the cylinder (holding the valves and spark plug and also known as the cylinder head) attaches to the cylinder itself. Generally, the cylinder and the cylinder head bolt together with a thin gasket pressed between them to ensure a good seal. If the gasket breaks down, small holes develop between the cylinder and the cylinder head, and these holes cause leaks. Lack of spark The spark might be nonexistent or weak for a number of reasons: †¢If your spark plug or the wire leading to it is worn out, the spark will be weak. †¢If the wire is cut or missing, or if the system that sends a spark down the wire is not working properly, there will be no spark. †¢If the spark occurs either too early or too late in the cycle (i.e. if the ignition timing is off), the fuel will not ignite at the right time, and this can cause all sorts of problems. Many other things can go wrong. For example: †¢If the battery is dead, you cannot turn over the engine to start it. †¢If the bearings that allow the crankshaft to turn freely are worn out, the crankshaft cannot turn so the engine cannot run. †¢If the valves do not open and close at the right time or at all, air cannot get in and exhaust cannot get out, so the engine cannot run. †¢If someone sticks a potato up your tailpipe, exhaust cannot exit the cylinder so the engine will not run. †¢If you run out of oil, the piston cannot move up and down freely in the cylinder, and the engine will seize. Small Engine Problems And Simple Solutions Failure to Start There are a number of reasons a small engine might not start properly: Fuel line problems: Check to see that the fuel tank is full, that the fuel is fresh, and that the shut-off valve is closed. The fuel line or inlet screen could also be blocked or the fuel tank cap could be clogged. Carburetor problems: The carburetor could be blocked or the engine could be flooded. There might be problems with the spark plug. Check the choke on the fuel bowl as well it could be set too high. Ignition problems: The spark plug contacts could be dirty, the plug gap could be set incorrectly, the lead could be faulty, or the kill switch could be shorted. These all require basic replacement or repair and are a snap with a proper kit. Compression problems: Check the valves, pistons, cylinder, or connecting rods if you suspect a compression problem. These could be dirty, stripped, or otherwise damaged, and would prevent the engine from starting properly or at all. Problems Running Problems running properly can pose more danger to your vehicle than an engine that simply wont start. If left unfixed, constant overheating or smoke emission can eventually ruin an engine and require a full-on replacement. Overheating engines: Lack of oil is one of the most common reasons for overheating. So is a dirty engine. Beyond that, there may be shrouds or cooling fans missing within the engine or the gasket could be leaking. The fuel mixture might be too lean, another carburetor problem. Cleaning or replacing the fuel tank vent and fuel tank screen can help reduce the chance of your engine overheating as well. These are all fixes that you can do yourself or with some simple repair kit that will cost far less than a new  engine. Smoking: If the engine is emitting blue or white smoke then it is likely burning oil. If it is emitting black smoke it is a problem with the carburetor most likely. If it is neither the carburetor nor an oil leak, then it might be a clogged or dirty air filter. Knocking engine: If your engine experiences knocking it may indicate an excess of carbon in the combustion chamber, which would require you to clean carbon from the piston and head. The flywheel might also be loose. A faulty spark plug lead could cause engine knocking. This can be easily repaired or replaced. Spark Plug Misses: This could be caused by any number of things, including a faulty spark plug, faulty breaker points, an incorrectly set carburetor, or a weak valve spring.

Immigration Reform Essay example -- Immigration US Policy

â€Å"We are nation of immigrants. Some came here willingly, some unwillingly. Nonetheless, we are immigrants, or the descendants of immigrants, one, and all. Even the natives came from somewhere else, originally. All of the people who come to this country come for freedom, or for some product of that extraordinary, illusory condition. That is what we offer here—freedom and opportunity in a land of relative plenty.† (Middletown Journal 2005) We have created the land of free. Nonetheless, there have been a number of Immigration Acts in the United States. The first one was the Naturalization act of 1790. Then the immigration act of 1965 passed, and immigration restrictions applied to Mexican Immigrants for the first time. Nearly 30 years later in 1986, the immigration Reform and Control Act was, created which granted amnesty to immigrants that had lived in the United States before 1982. Nevertheless, this later act made it a crime for employers to hire undocumented immigrant workers. In order to create a successful Immigration Reform Policy, the government has to consider several socioeconomic areas including border control, worker programs, education, and the economy. â€Å"All the elements of this problem must be addressed together† (Bush 2006) Who is controlling our borders? We must secure our borders to prevent illegal crossing. The United States recognizes illegal immigration, has been an issue for decades. Creating a successful Immigration reform policy will decrease illegal crossings. In addition, implementing more experienced Border control officers; will decrease the use of military personnel. In addition, allowing military personnel to secure our Nation not just the Mexican borders. The new policy will a... ...itehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060705-6.html Bush, President George (2006/06/15). President Bush Addresses the Nation on Immigration Reform Retrieved July 36, 2006, from Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060515-6.html Bush, President George (2006/05/15). Fact Sheet: Overview Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Retrieved July 31, 2006, from Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060515-7.html Civil Rights Org. (20060529) Senate Approves Sweeping But Flawed Immigration Reform Bill Retrieved July 31, 2006, from Web site: http://www.civilrights.org/issues/immigration/details.cfm?id=43795 Gale, Thomas. (June 8, 2006) Senate passes immigration reform bill with vouchers for ESL, civics classes In Report on Literacy Programs, 18, p75. Retrieved August 20, 2006, from InfoTrac OneFile via Thomson Gale:

Inner Journeys Essay

What extent has studying the concept of inner journeys expanded your understanding of yourself individuals and of the world? Inner journeys are about the process in which we move from naivity to maturity. In this proccess we learn new things about ourself that help us grow and become wiser and better people. The texts cosi by louis Nowra, the film groudhog day and the poem the road not taken all depict journeys of the mind and spirit which open up a greater understanding of the sense of self. In cosi louis nowra presents the inner journey of lewis, a young first time director who is hired to direct a play to bring the inmates of an asylum ‘out of their shells ‘. At the begining of the play lewis is indecisive in his understanding of others, uncertain of his opinions and unconfident of his own abilies. Diresting cosi fan tutti with emotionally and mentally handicapped people is the catalysts for lewis’ own emotional and mental maturity. As a metaphor for the world the charred theatre represents the challenges that will confront lewis. The characterization of lewis is established by the realism that of his language when he initially states † i need the money. However this realism is threatened when both nick and lucy leave him alone to deal with the inmates. lewis’s growing fear and uncertainty is emphasized through Nowra’s stage directions. Gradually as lewis spends more time with the patients like when he like when he lies about cherry â€Å"thats why she spends so much time in the toilets in order to keep the production going he starts to see the value it has for them. Lewis also changes his attitude toward love and fidelity. This evident in the contrast when he says † loves not so important nowadays† to now saying â€Å"without love the world wouldn’t mean much†. Nowra uses the play within play within play structure to emphasize the importance of love and fidelity. The opera cosi fan tutti functions somewhat as a mimetic device as it becomes a reflection of lewis’ relationship with lucy and his realisation that fidelity is an essential part of love. The inner journey that allowed lewis to gain this insight has been a product of his relationship with the mental patients. Finally lewis develops personally as a a director. Initially conveyed as a timid character, evident as roy talks over him, he learns to control and direct as he gains the respect of the mental patients. The film groundhog day starring bill Murray show’s the Inner journey of Phill as he is trapped in a recurring day. Through the brilliance of the plot we can observe as he deals with his unique predicament. We see how he struggles to find meaning and purpose in life. Each day he experiments with new thoughts and behaviors and he learns what works and what doesn’t. Any change that occurs must be inside him because only he can change. All the other characters repaet eaxcly what they did the day before. This shines an intense light on Phils abilty to change himself. Over countless days he learns that what pleasure he thought would make him happy have failed to, and he has to accept his old self has completely run out of steam. From this he is forced to place all his attention on changing the way he interprets the world, on his personal reality by changing his attitudes, values thoughts and feelings. like lewis he literally recreates himself becoming a mature. loving and giving person. His journey proves that inner change is the key to personal growth and happiness. The road not taken by Robert frost uses a metaphor of traveling to explore our chooses in life. It depicts the difficulty of making choices available and presented to people. Frost traces the way we make decisions, enjoying the options life has to offer us yet he also acknowledges that we cannot realistically do everything that is presented to us. The first person perspective instantly brings the audience close to the experience being recounted. The use of ‘i’ establishes the personas personal dilemmas as his journey brings him to â€Å"two roads diverge in a yellow wood†. â€Å"Two roads† and yellow woods are metaphors for the choices he confronts. Rhyming creates a flow to the piece while the rhythm forces us to pause effective for thinking what the persona is contemplating. Stanza 1 shows that persona is ‘sorry i could not travel both’ roads and show that life’s journey requires chooses that exclude alternatives. The second stanza shows that the choice has been made. The use of the language â€Å"As just as Fair and † Perhaps suggests both roads are equal. However there is slight confusion of the personas choice, conveyed in ‘perhaps the better claim, really about the same’. At the time of his choice he believes it was a better claim than the other. Later he thinks there much the same. In the third stanza, the exclamation ‘ oh I kept the first for another day†! suggests the optimism of being able to retread ones steps and take life’s journey by a different route. But the use of the conjunction ‘yet’ he later says ‘ I doubted if i should ever come back’ which suggests that after taking one route, That’s the route he has to live by, it is a choice he has made in life. Finally in the last stanza the pause suggests regret. The persona is now not sure if he took the better route but this decision is one we have to make in life and we have to life with the consequences and hopefully learn from our past experiences. The poem suggests that inner journeys are irreversible and the choice we make define the person who we become and our understanding of life and the world. This idea is similar to lewis experience where his decision to direct Cosi fan tutti moulds him. Through a close analysis of the three texts Cosi, The film Ground hog day And the poem the road not taken by robert frost that convey the ideas that an inner journey forms as a response to life’s changes and particularly the climatic moments which force a spiritual, mental and emotional re-evaluation of values of priorities.

KMART The New Forms of Discount Stores

Kmart was formed in the late 1950's to challenge new forms of discount stores. They are a descendant of an organization Sebastian S. Kresge. The average Kmart store is around 100,000 square feet. In 1987 Kmart was the largest discount retailer in the United States. They currently have 2,223 stores and last year they had over $25 billion in sales which is nearly double that of Wal-Mart. In 1991 they opened their Kmart superstores. The superstore is a 150,000 square feet and is expected to gross $40 to $50 million dollars in revenues. It will also remain open 24 hours a day. One symptom is that Wal-Mart has lower prices than Kmart which makes them very hard to compete with. Kmart has to try to get out of the really urban areas so they can compete more realistically with Wal-Mart. They need to keep their appearance and service above par or this also will result in problems. Kmart's biggest problem is obviously the widespread of Wal-Mart all over the United States. They have to find a way to compete with Wal-Mart's regional distribution centers. These centers ensure the Wal-Mart customers that they are going to get the best product for the best price. Since Kmart does not have these centers they still need to pay all of the fees that deal with shipping and handling. Kmart needs to do something quick. In a recent survey 49% of people said that they would drive right past a Kmart to go to a Wal-Mart. The average Wal-Mart customer visits the store 32 times in a year, meanwhile the average Kmart customer only visits 15 times in a year. They have to be in financial trouble since they are getting pressure from vendors to pay their bills on time. Kmart needs to find a certain area that they are better at then Wal-Mart. They are not going to be able to beat their prices so they have to provide better customer service. They have select a specialized department that they can dominate and at least take away a little of the business from Wal-Mart. For example develop a top of the line auto care station for tune ups, inspections, oil changes etc. They have to research and find rare products that Wal-Mart does not carry. If it is at all possible try to lower their prices so that they provide more competition for Wal-Mart. Kmart needs to develop a way to get their products for a lower price. As already said they should come up with an idea similar to Wal-Mart's regional distribution centers. They also need to develop physical distribution management. I think if they use the idea of regional centers it will greatly increase their product flow.

Compare and Contrast the Philosophies of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Karl Marx

Compare and Contrast the Philosophies of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Karl Marx In the idea of human nature; origin of state, the nature of government, the rights of regulation can be drawn as the reflection of insightful philosophies of John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Karl Marx. By understanding this within the context of human nature, we can see their ideas play to how they perceive a modern philosophy. Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto illustrates the desire to build "a society without economic classes". John Locke's Political Theory claims the establishment of natural rights which will assist protest against unjust rulers. Thomas Hobbes's most famous publication, the "Leviathan" defines a government which unifies the collective will of many individual and unites them under the authority of sovereign power. Although the three philosophers desire the same result through their theories, its practices and use have indicated that there are difference and similarities both present. All are saying that there should be absolute government, but their areas of specializat ion are different.English: Thomas Hobbes ÐÅ"Ð °Ã ºÃ µÃ ´Ã ¾Ã ½Ã' Ã ºÃ ¸: Ð ¢Ã ¾Ã¯ ¿ ½...Karl Marx and Thomas Hobbes both agreed on the theory of collectivism over individualism. Marx is more quantitative and calculative in his reasoning, while Hobbes's theories are based on natural laws. The contradiction between Marx's and Hobbes's concepts of material wealth is that -"Modern society view men to compete with each other for material goods and that is just. Humans do not live in isolation but work to achieve together a society that turns a blind eye to what is alienating man from his nature" (Marx). On the other hand, Hobbes argued that "Rights of liberty, property can be transferred from one person to another by means of legal contract. Human beings are naturally selfish, therefore they are always in the state of conflict of 'war' with each other, unless they are forced to obey a sovereign authority or governing power." Though, differences between the...

9 Forms of the Past Tense

9 Forms of the Past Tense 9 Forms of the Past Tense 9 Forms of the Past Tense By Mark Nichol Multiple variations of past tense that employ regular verbs occur in English. Explanations of the distinctions follow. Note that each section includes examples of positive-declarative, negative-declarative, and interrogative forms. 1. Simple Past A sentence in the simple-past form describes an event that occurred in the past: â€Å"They agreed with us.† â€Å"They did not agree with us.† â€Å"Did they agree with us?† Notice that in the first sentence, the verb form of agree is in past tense, but in the other examples, did does the heavy lifting of indicating the tense, so agree remains in present tense. In almost all other variations of past tense, the form of the verb â€Å"to be† and the participle retain the same form regardless of the type of sentence. 2. Past Progressive (or Past Continuous) Past-progressive statements and questions describe something that began in the past and continued to occur for a time before stopping: â€Å"They were agreeing with us.† â€Å"They were not agreeing with us.† â€Å"Were they agreeing with us?† 3. Past Perfect This tense form applies to events that began at a time preceding a period in the past: â€Å"They had agreed with us.† â€Å"They had not agreed with us.† â€Å"Had they agreed with us?† 4. Past Perfect Progressive (or Past Perfect Continuous) Sentences with this tense form describe something that occurred in the past and continued to occur after the fact but in the present is no longer occurring: â€Å"They had been agreeing with us.† â€Å"They had not been agreeing with us.† â€Å"Had they been agreeing with us?† 5. Past Habitual A sentence written in past-habitual tense describes an occurrence that once occurred continuously or repeatedly: â€Å"They used to agree with us.† â€Å"They used to not agree with us.† (This formal usage is awkward and seldom used; we are more likely to write, â€Å"They used to disagree with us.† An informal version of the sentence, more likely to be used if no direct antonym like disagree is available for a given sentence, is â€Å"They didn’t use to agree with us.†) â€Å"Used they to agree with us?† (This formal usage is rare. The informal form, much more common, is, â€Å"Did they use to agree with us?†) 6. Time-Specific Past Habitual A variation of the past-habitual tense includes a specific time frame: â€Å"Before, they would agree with us.† â€Å"Before, they would not agree with us.† â€Å"Before, would they agree with us?† 7. Past Intensive A sentence in the past-intensive form describes something confirmed as having occurred: â€Å"They did agree with us.† â€Å"They did not agree with us.† â€Å"Did they agree with us?† 8. Future in the Past A future-in-the-past construction describes something that was supposed to have occurred after a time in the past: â€Å"They were going to agree with us.† â€Å"They were not going to agree with us.† â€Å"Were they going to agree with us?† Past Subjunctive This form is not numbered, because it is not, despite its name, a type of past tense, but it is identified here to make that point. A sentence formed in the past subjunctive describes a counterfactual event: â€Å"If they were going to agree with us, they would have told us by now.† â€Å"If they were not going to agree with us, they would have told us by now.† â€Å"If they were they going to agree with us, would they have told us by now?† 9. Past-Perfect Subjunctive Sentences with this subjunctive form, by contrast, do have a past-tense sense: â€Å"Had they agreed with us, they would have told us by now.† â€Å"Had they not agreed with us, they would have told us by now.† â€Å"Had they agreed with us, would they have told us by now?† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)Email EtiquetteQuiet or Quite?