PAST TENSES

Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect simple Past Perfect Continuous
To talk about completed To talk about past actions in To talk about an action which For an action which lasted for some time in
actions in the past , at a stated progress at a specific time happened before another past the past whose result was visible in the past.
time in the past. Ex: At 9:00 I was watching action. Ex: She had been working hard all day
Ex: Yesterday I saw my friends TV. Ex : When we arrived home,
Past actions in progress they had already had dinner. To put emphasis on the duration of an
For past actions which which are interrupted by other action which started and finished in the past
happened one after the other. actions. before another past action( with since and for)
When I arrived home, I Ex: He was having a shower Ex: They had been skating together for 5
switched on the heater. when they called him years before they entered the competition.
For two simultaneous past
actions
Ex: She was studying while I
was doing my homework
Ago At 8 oclock yesterday By the time / by For / since
Last year/ week/ night While / as / when Before / after
Yesterday As soon as Already / yet / just /ever
In 1995 / Then /Suddenly For / since /Always / never
S+ V2 +Cs ( +) was S+ had + V3 / (-ed) (+) S+ had + been +Ving (+)
Did + S+ V1 ( ? ) + Ving Had + S + V3 ? (?) Had + S + been + Ving ?
didnt + V1 ( - ) were S+ hadnt + V3 ( - ) S+ had been + Ving ( - )
+ She swam yesterday + Ann was swimming at ten. + It had just started + Her hair was wet! She had been
swimming for an hour/since 6 p.m
- She didnt swim yesterday. - She wasnt swimming at - She hadnt started yet. - She hadnt been swimming for an
ten. hour/since 6 p.m.
? Did she swim yesterday? ? Was she swimming at ten? ? Had it started yet? ? Had she been swimming for an hour/since
6 p.m.?
Yes, she did. Yes, she was. Yes, she had. Yes, she had.
No, she didnt. No, she wasnt No, she hadnt. No, she hadnt.

I. Fill in the blanks with the Past simple, Past 11. My dad _____________(tell) me that before I _________(be) born they
continuous, or Past perfect simple or continuous of _____________(use) to go camping most weekends.
the verbs in brackets! 12. Paul _________(tell) us that he____________ (start) to go out without
his parents at night only after he _____________ (be) eighteen.
1. Andrew____________ (spend) his last holidays in Germany. He 13. When my dog _____________ (give) to me it ____________(be) two
___________ (have) a great time there since he _____________ (plan) months old. We____________(fall) in love immediately. I
his trip in advance. _______________(not/have) a pet before.
2. I ___________________ (walk) along the street when suddenly I 14. While Kate _______________(try) to fall asleep, she
______________ (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody ____________(keep) remembering what _______________(happen) on
__________________(follow) me. that day. She __________(feel) restless because her best friend
3. They ____________(just/watch) Shakiras latest video clip when I ____________(leave) the city and _____________(go) to live far away.
___________(invite) them to visit me and watch that same clip. She____________(miss) her although they ________(say) goodbye only
4. When he _____________ (drive) back home, he ___________ (see) a two hours ago.
crowd that ____________(block) the street. It _________(be) a 15. My mom ________________ (prepare) a romantic meal when dad
demonstration. As he ___________(have) to drive slowly he ____________(phone) and ___________(tell) her he __________(have) to
___________(arrive) home much later than his work until midnight. I ____________(feel) so sorry for her!
wife______________(expect). She _________(be) very worried because 16. Last weekend Paul _____________(have) an unforgettable experience.
she ____________ (not/can) contact him. He _______________ (leave) He ___________(spend) two days camping In the mountain near a lake. At
his mobile phone in the office. night he ___________(can) listen to his own breathing!
5. We were good friends . We _____________________________ 17. They ______________ (make) a trip to the Alps two weeks ago. They
(know) each other for a long time __________(love) it!
6. In 1997 Sheila _____________ (make) a tour around Europe. She 18. After Mary_____________ (go) to bed, her cousins __________
____________(meet) people from all over the world. It _________(be)a (arrive). It _________ (be) such a big surprise that she __________ (fall)
fantastic life experience. She _____________(improve) her English, she asleep only at dawn.
____________(get) to know other cultures, ______________(become) 19. ____________ (you/meet) Tom yesterday? He ____________(say)
more mature . She _____________(not/miss) her family because she you _____________(not/go) to the bar and he ____________(need) to talk
_____________(be) never alone. She ____________(buy) souvenirs for to you urgently.
everyone. 20. The teachers ____________(have) a long meeting before they
7. Peter ________________ (go) shopping before he ___________(join) ___________(informed) the students about the school changes.
us. 21. She really admires her parents! Although
8. When I _____________ (phone) Sue, she _____________(take) a they_______________(face)many problems in the past, they never
bath. I only ____________(manage) to talk to her in the evening. So she _____________(give up) and always ___________(have) a smile on their
_____________(refuse) my invitation to go to the cinema because she faces.
____________(plan) to go to bed early. 22. By the time they ________________________ (phone) me I
9. Where_________________ (you/go) last weekend? I ____________________(already / book) the table in a very luxurious
_______________(not/can) find you anywhere. restaurant.
10. Tom ____________________________(work) for the company for 23. Paul ________________________(live) in London for three months
30 years before he ______________________(retire). when he had the accident with his motorbike.