PAST SIMPLE PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT

FORM FORM FORM

+ Ved/V2 - didn’t V1 ? Did … V1? + was/were Ving + had Ved/V3

USAGE: USAGE: USAGE:

1) Finished past actions
I travelled abroad last summer.
I last saw my mentor two days ago.
2) Actions that happened one
after another.
Yesterday I woke up, had brekfast
and went to work.
1) Actions happening at a 1) Actions that happ
definite moment in the past before another past e
At this time yesterday I was The criminal had escaped be
reading a book. police arrived.
After the demonstration had
2) 2 simultaneous past actions. we went home.
By the time I came home, my
I was reading a book while my
had cooked dinner.
mother was cooking dinner.

3) A longer action interrupted 2) Used with ‘thinking’

by a shorter action. like remember, realize
I was reading a book when the out, discover
telephone rang. I came to the office and reali
left the keys at home.

*Time expressions: *Time expressions: *Time expressions:

yesterday, the day before yesterday, at 23.00 yesterday, at this time last by 9 p.m. yesterday, before, after
last week/month/year, 2 days ago, the week, while, as time
other day, in 1964 etc.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. I __________ (get) home late yesterday so I __________ (take) a shower and
___________ (go) to bed.

2. We ________(meet) some interesting people while we _________ (travel) in Thailand.

3. Yesterday I _______(meet) my old school friend who I ________(not/see) for years.
4. She took her phone out and _________ (see) that she __________ (miss) twenty-two
calls.
5. Somebody ________ (steal) my bag while I __________ (have) lunch in a café.
6. I was excited and nervous because I __________ (not/be) to my hometown for 5 years.
7.

8. He _________ (switch) the TV off before he ______ (go) to bed.

9. When I ___________ (open) the curtains, it __________ (snow) outside.
10. By the time I _________ (arrive) at the movie theatre, the biopic _________(start).
11. As I __________(drive) a car, it suddenly _________ (break) down.
12. While Paulette __________(sit) in the conference hall, she _________ (realize) she
________(forget) her folder with documents at home.
13. Halfway to the office Paul _____(turn) round and _____ (go) back home, because he
_________ (forget) to turn the gas off.
14. While she ________ (talk) on the phone the children _______ (start) fighting and
________ (break) the window.
15. What (happen) to you yesterday? We ______ (wait) for you but you _____ (not/come).