BY : IRENE JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CARMELO SANCHEZ SANCHEZ

Past Simple  To talk about a completed action at a particular time in the past. The bus left at 5.00 am  To talk about repeated actions in the past. He read a chapter of the book every night before going to sleep.

 To talk about an action in progress around a point in the time past. I was living in London when Kennedy was assassinated  To talk about a situation or action in progress which was interrupted by another event. The plane was coming in to land when it struck by lightning  To emphasize that two situations or events were happening simultaneously. While I was trying to phone her, she was trying to phone me.

 To talk about past events or situations in a time period that extends from the past up to the present. I have been in Canada. When did you go? I went last month.  To talk about an event in the past that has a result in the present. Cancel the skiing trip, I’ve broken my arm.  To talk about the duration of an event or situation which started in the past and extends up to the present. How long have you worked here? I’ve been here for 10 years.

 To talk about past events which continue up to the present. I’ve been watching this film on TV but I’m going to turn it off if something doesn’t happen soon.  To talk about repeated past events in a time period that extends up to the present. The car has been breaking down a lot recently.  To talk about something in the recent past that has a result in the present. It has been raining. (The rain has stopped but the street are wet).  To talk about the duration of an event or situation which started in the past and extends up to the present. Has she been writing her novel for a long time?

 Refers to actions or events before a particular time in the past. Before I was 18, I hadn’t been outside my home town.  It can refer to specific times in the past. We already felt like old friends even though we had only met that morning.

 Refers to actions or events at a particular time in the past. She had been helping at him on and off for a few months.  Refers to actions or events up to just before a particular time in the past. He had been drinking. I could smell it on his breath.  It can refer to specific time in the past. At breakfast I wondered why I as so tired, then I remembered that at 2 am I’d been listening my neighbour arguing again.