1. PAST tenses SIMPLE CONTINUOUS PERFECT PERFECT CONTINUOUS I,you,we,they
1) Action that happened
at a definite time in the
past
Ex. They went camping last
month.
2) Actions which
happened one after
another
Ex. First she paid the driver,
then she got out of the taxi.
3) Past habits that are
now finished (used to)
Ex. Kitchens used to be very
different 100 years ago.
4) Narration in the past
Ex. He looked out of the
window.
5) Speaking of dead
people
Ex. Charles Dickens lived in
XIX century.
I, you, he, she
we, they, it DID
yesterday, then, when
last week/year/month
on 4 October, in 1997
CONTINUOUS
1) Action which was in
progress at a stated time in
the past
Ex At 7 o’clock yesterday they
were having dinner.
2) Action which was in progress
when another action happened
Ex He was walking down the
street when he came across an
old friend.
3) Two or more simultaneous
past actions
Ex. She was talking on her
mobile phone while she was
driving to work.
4) Narration in the past - to
describe atmosphere
Ex. The sun was shining, the
birds were singing and the
leaves were rustling in the
breeze.
I, You,we,they
He, she, it WERE DOING
while, when, as,
all morning/day/night
PERFECT
1) Action that happened before
another past action
Ex. She had already finished her
work when the telephone rang.
2) Action that happened before a
stated time in the past
work by 7 o’clock.
3) Action that happened in the
past and whose result was visible
in the past
Ex. He was happy. He had signed
an important contract.
I,you,we,they
He, she, it HAD DONE
before, after, since, till
just, already, yet, never
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
1) Emphasis on the duration
of an action that started and
finished in the past before
another past action
Ex. They had been looking
for a house for six months
before they found the one
they liked.
2) Emphasis on the duration
finished in the past before a
stated time in the past
by October 2003.
3) Action which lasted for
some time in the past and
whose result was visible in
the past
Ex. He was annoyed. He had
been waiting at the airport
for three hours.
I,you,we,they HAD BEEN
He, she, it DOING