PAST TENSES:
Past tenses
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There are four past tenses in English:
Past simple
Past continuous
Past perfect simple
Past perfect continuous
Past simple: uses
I got up, switched off the radio, and sat
down again.
Why are we using the past simple here?
Past simple: uses
(CONSECUTIVE) FINISHED ACTIONS IN THE
PAST
Past simple: uses
When I was younger, I went to the park
every day.
Why are we using the past simple here?
Past simple: uses
PAST HABITS
Used to (actions and states) and would
(actions) are also possible:
I used to be addicted to chocolate.
When I was younger, I would get up at 6.
Past simple: uses
If he didn’t stay up so late, he wouldn’t
feel tired all the time.
Why are we using the past simple here?
Past simple: uses
IN SECOND CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Past simple: uses
Joan said that she wanted to come to the
party.
Why are we using the past simple here?
Past simple: uses
IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE
PRESENT SIMPLE
Past simple: uses
I wish I knew where your father was.
It’s time you got your own car.
Why are we using the past simple here?
Past simple: uses
TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT THE PRESENT
Past continuous: uses
John: I rang you at one but you weren’t
in.
Mary: I was. I was having lunch at one.
Why are we using the past continuous
here?
Past continuous: uses
ACTIONS IN PROGRESS IN THE PAST
Sometimes there’s an idea of interruption:
I was working at my office when I got a phone call.
Past continuous: uses
On the dance floor half a dozen couples
were throwing themselves around. Most
of them were dancing cheek to cheek,
if dancing is the word.
Why are we using the past continuous
here?
Past continuous: uses
BACKGROUND DESCRIPTIONS IN STORIES
Past continuous: uses
He said that he was enjoying his work.
Why are we using the past continuous
here?
Past continuous: uses
IN REPORTED SPEECH INSTEAD OF THE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Past continuous: uses
I wish you weren’t chasing these impossible
dreams.
It’s about time we were leaving.
Why are we using the past continuous here?
Past continuous: uses
TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT ACTIONS IN
PROGRESS
Past perfect simple: uses
The pilot told the police what had
happened.
Why are we using the past perfect simple
here?
Past perfect simple: uses
ACTIONS IN THE PAST THAT OCCURRED
BEFORE ANOTHER PAST ACTION
If the order of events is clear, we can use
the Past simple:
I waited until everybody (had) arrived.
Past perfect simple: uses
If he had run a bit faster, he could have
won.
Why are we using the past perfect simple
here?
Past perfect simple: uses
IN THIRD CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Past perfect simple: uses
She said that she had already seen the
film.
She said that she had got up late.
Why are we using the past perfect simple
here?
Past perfect simple: uses
IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE:
- PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
- PAST SIMPLE
Past perfect simple: uses
If only I had known you were coming.
Why are we using the past perfect simple
here?
Past perfect simple: uses
TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT THE PAST,
USUALLY TO EXPRESS REGRET
Past perfect continuous: uses
The boat had been sailing in calm when a
cow fell from the sky.
Why are we using the past perfect
continuous here?
Past perfect continuous: uses
A LONGER ACTION IN THE PAST THAT
OCCURRED BEFORE ANOTHER PAST
ACTION
Past perfect continuous: uses
She said that she had been looking for a
good location since August.
She said that she had been sleeping.
Why are we using the past perfect
continuous here?
Past perfect continuous: uses
IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE:
- PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
- PAST CONTINUOUS
PAST TENSES
Created by:
Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro