October, 4th

Past simple

1-The past simple is used to describe finished actions and events in the past.

Ex: Susan went into the station and bought a ticket. (Susan fue a la estación y compró un
ticket).

2-Habits: The past simple is used to describe past habits or states. A time expression is usually
necessary.

Ex: I always got up at six in those days (Yo siempre me levantaba a las seis en esos días)

Ex: I lived in Brazil for several years (Yo viví en Brasil algunos años)

Used to: ‘Used to’ (solía) is an expression that describes past habits or states.

Ex: I used to get up at six, but now I get up at eight. (Yo solía levantarme a las seis, pero ahora
me levanto a las ocho)

Ex: Did you use to swim every day when you were ten? (¿Solías nadar todos los días cuando
tenías diez?)

Past continuous

1-The past continuous is used to describe actions in progress in the past. It gives information
about the background situation.

Ex: There were a lot of people waiting in the station. Some were sleeping on the benches, and
others were walking up and down. Susan was looking for Gabriel.

2-We often use the past continuous first to set up the scene, and then the past simple for the
separate, completed actions that happen. We often contrast an action in progress with a
sudden event which interrupts it.

Ex: While Susan was trying to get onto the platform, a man grabbed her handbag. (Mientras
Susan estaba intentando llegar a la Plataforma, un hombre sujetó su bolso de mano).

As Susan was trying to get onto the platform, a man grabbed her handbag.

Susan was trying to get onto the platform WHEN a man grabbed her handbag. (Susan estaba
intentando llegar a la Plataforma CUANDO un hombre sujetó su bolso de mano).

>After ‘While’ and ‘As’, past continuous is used. After ‘When’, past simple is used.

>After ‘While’ and ‘As’, you need to put a comma, but not before ‘When’.

3-The past continuous can be used to describe a repeated action in the past, often an annoying
habit. A frequency adverb is necessary.

When Peter was younger, he was always getting into trouble (Cuando Peter era joven, él
siempre se estaba metiendo en problemas).

(Peter was always getting into trouble when he was younger).

Past simple or past continuous?

Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.

1-While Diana watched/was watching her favourite television programme, there was a power
cut.

2-Who was driving/drove the car at the time of the accident?

3-I did/was doing some shopping yesterday when I saw that Brazilian friends of yours.

4-I used to like/was liking sweets much more than I do now.

5-What exactly were you doing/did you do when I came into your office yesterday?

November, 8th

Past perfect

The past perfect is used to make it clear that one past event happens BEFORE ANOTHER PAST
EVENT. We use the past perfect for the earlier event.

Ex 1: By the time the train arrived, Susan had managed to push her way to the front of the
crowd. (Para cuando el tren llegó, Susan había logrado abrirse paso al frente de la multitud).

Past perfect<----Past simple------Present---------Future

Pronombre+had+2nd verb in 3rd column (participle)+rest+(some event happened in the past)

Ex 2. After she had called her friend, her cell phone battery died. (Después de haber llamado a
su amigo, la batería de su celular se agotó).

The past perfect is also used for actions that we hadn't done until a while ago, when we finally
did.

Ex 3: I was a bit scared because I hadn’t travelled abroad before. (Estaba un poco asustado
porque no había viajado al extranjero antes).