3. Let’s talk about past tenses, we have three forms: - PAST SIMPLE - PAST CONTINUOUS - PAST PERFECT

4. The simple past tense is the most common verb form in English. USE: We use it when we want to talk about a started and finished action in a specific time in the past. The specific time has always to be mentioned in the sentence or in the context. Examples: I spent my last holidays with my best friends. I got up very late yesterday.

5. CONSTRUCTION: Regular verbs : To form the most regular verbs add the form –ed at the base form. -if the verb ends in -e, add –d. es.live  lived -if the verb ends in a consonant followed by –y, change “y” in “i” and then add –ed. es.cry  cried -if the verb ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the final consonant ad then add –ed. es.stop  stopped

6. Irregular verbs : The irregular verbs have instead their personal paradigm that you find in the dictionary and you have to memorize.

7. WAS/WERE + VERB + -ING Example: We were going… USE 1) We use the past continuos to talk about an action in progress at a specific time in the past. Example: At one o’clock in the morning George was still studying.

8. 2) We use the past continuos to describe a past action in progress which was interrupted by another action (exspressed in the past simple). Example: I was having a bath when the phone rang. 3) We use the past continuos with while for two actions happening at the same time. Example: While we were having a breakfast, Sue was still sleeping.

9. 4) We often use the past continuos to describe a scene. Example: There was a full moon and a light breeze was blowing. Edith was sipping her tea on the terrace.

10. HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE USE 1) We use the past perfect when we are talking about the past and we want to talk about an earlier past action. Examples: A) When we got to the station, the train had already left. B) Malcom decided not to go on the excursion, beacuse he had been sick the nigth before.

11. 2)We use the past perfect with how long, since, for to show when something started in the past. Examples: A) How long had they been married when they had their first child? B) Sandy had had the car for only a month when they stole it. 3) We use the past perfect after these expressions:it was the first/second time…. Example: It was the third time I had visited that country.

12. In some sentences we can use both the simple past and the past perfect, anyhow the meaning is the same. Example: After she read/had read the letter, she tore it to pieces.

13. Hello! I’m ready Let’s try ! Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.Use the Past simple,continuos or perfect. 1) I __________ (see) an accident while I _____________ (walk) home. 2) How long ________ (he have) a temperature when he __________ (finally call) a doctor? 3) By the time we _________ (arrive),the party __________ (finish). 4) I ___________ (not study) very much,so I __________ (not pass) the exam. 5) I _________ (cook) dinner when you ________ (phone) 6) They ___both busy __________ (work) in the garden. Julia _________ (plant) some bulbs while Walt ____________ (cut) the grass. 7)We ___________ (not eat) anything since the day before,and _____________ (be) very hungry.

14. 1) I SAW an accident while I WAS WALKING home. 2) How long HAD he HAD a temperature when he finally CALLED a doctor? 3) By the time we ARRIVED,the party HAD FINISHED. 4) I HADN’T STUDIED very much,so I DIDN’T PASS the exam. 5) I WAS COOKING dinner when you PHONED. 6) They WERE both busy WORKING in the garden. Julia WAS PLANTING some bulbs while Walt WAS CUTTING the grass. 7)We HAD NOT EATEN anything since the day before, and WERE very hungry.