PAST TENSES

1. PAST SIMPLE

2. PAST CONTINUOUS

3. PAST PERFECT

4. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

5. USED TO / WOULD

6. THE UNREAL PAST

 1. PAST SIMPLE

WE USE THE PAST SIMPLE FOR:

TIME
- an action that occurred at a definite time
EXPRESSIONS:
(stated or implied) in the past.
Yesterday, then,
e.g.: The football organisation fired the team's
when, How long
coach yesterday.
ago...?, last
- actions that happened immediately after

one another in the past. night/week/

e.g.: He opened the window and shouted to month/year/

his friend. Friday/October,
- habits or states which are now finished. etc.; three
e.g.: My uncle worked in a supermarket when days/weeks,
he was younger.
etc.;
ago, in 1999, etc.
 2. PAST CONTINUOUS
WE USE THE PAST CONTINUOUS (was/were + verb -ing) FOR:

- an action which was in progress when another action

interrupted it.

e.g.: We were watching the tennis match when the phone rang.

- two or more simultaneous actions in the past.

e.g.: I was writing out the invitations while Philip was addressing

the envelopes.
- an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past ,

we don't mention when the action started or finished.

e.g.: At 7 o'clock last night, I was working out at the gym.

- to describe the atmosphere or setting and to give

background information to a story.

TIME
e.g.: A light breeze EXPRESSIONS:
was blowing and the sun was shining.
While, when, as, all morning/evening/day/week, etc.
 3. PAST PERFECT

WE USE THE PAST PERFECT (had + past participle)

FOR: TIME
EXPRESSION
- an action which happened before another past S:

action or before a stated time in the past. Before,

e.g.: Judy had finished her homework by seven after,
o'clock. already, just,
- an action which finished in the past and whose for, since,
result was visible at a later point in the past.
till/until,
e.g.: He had heard the news a few days earlier and
when,
he was still in shock.
by the time,
- a general situation in the past.
never, etc.
e.g.: Everyone had been pleasant in the beginning.
 4. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

WE USE THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS (had

been + verb -ing): TIME

EXPRESSION
- to put emphasis on the duration of an action S:

which started and finished in the past, before another

action or stated time in the past, usually with for or For,

since . Since,
e.g.: The cake had been baking in the cooker for How long,
almost an hour when I realised that I hadn't
Before,
added the eggs.
Until,
- for an action which lasted for some time in
etc.
the past and whose result was visible in the

past.

e.g.: He had been travelling all night and he was

exhausted.
 5. USED TO / WOULD

- We use used to + infinitive to refer to past habits or states.

In such cases, used to can be replaced by the past simple with no

change in meaning.

e.g.: When our children were younger, they played/used to play

tennis.
However, for an action that happened at a definite time in the past we

use the past simple, not used to.

e.g.: I cut the grass yesterday.

- We use would/used to for repeated actions or routines in the

past.

e.g.: We would/used to go out on Saturday nights.

 6. THE UNREAL PAST

The past simple can be used to refer to the present when we

talk about imaginary, unreal or impossible situations which are

contrary to facts in the present . It is used with:

- type 2 conditionals - e.g.: If she had the money, she would buy a flat.

- suppose/supposing – e.g.: Suppose/Supposing you were offered the

position, what would you do?

- wish/if only – e.g.: I wish/If only I lived in my own flat.

- would rather (present) – e.g.: I'd rather you invited the Smiths.

- as if/as though – e.g.: Joanne acted as if/as though she knew everything.

- it's (about/high) time – e.g.: It's (about/high) time you threw that junk

away.
 6. THE UNREAL PAST

The past perfect can be used to refer to imaginary, unreal or

impossible situations which are contrary to facts in the

past. It is used with:

- type 3 conditionals - e.g.: If you hadn't moved in to this building, I

wouldn't have met you.

- suppose/supposing – e.g.: Suppose/Supposing you had seen him taking

the bracelet, would you have said anything?

- wish/if only – e.g.: I wish/If only I hadn't caused such a fuss.

- would rather (past) – e.g.: I'd rather you hadn't told me what you

thought about him.

- as if/as though – e.g.: Christa didn't know anything about art, but she

spoke about Rembrant as though/as if she had