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Past Simple Tense

It is used to express an action that happened or completed in past, usually a very

little time before speaking, or action which is just completed. Time of action is
not specified in terms of long time ago or short ago but it make a sense that the
action has done a little time ago. For example, a person says, I watched a
movie, it means the speaker of this sentence watched a movie a little time ago
or little time ago in the same day.
Rules:2nd form of verb (past simple) is used as main verb in the positive
sentences and base form is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

Structure of sentences
Positive Sentence
Subject + main verb (past simple) + object
Subject + 2nd form of verb (past simple) + object
Examples
I killed a snake
He ate a mango.
Negative sentences
Subject + (auxiliary verb + not) main verb (base form) + object
Subject + did not + 1st form of verb or base form + object
In negative sentence did not is written and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is
used instead of using 2nd form (or past simple verb).
Examples.
I did not kill a snake
He did not eat a mango
Interrogative sentences
Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (base verb) + object
Did + subject + 1st form of verb (or base verb) + object
Interrogative sentence starts with did and the 1st form of verb (base verb) is
used instead of using 2nd form (or past simple verb).
Examples
Did I kill a snake?
Did he eat a mango?

More Examples
Negative sentences
He gave me a gift
They went to cinema.
She wrote a letter to him.
I made a table.
You answered correctly.
Negative sentences
He did not give me a gift
They did not go to cinema.
She did not write a letter to him.
I did not make a table.
You did not answer correctly.
Interrogative sentences
Did he give me a gift?
Did they go to cinema?
Did she write a letter to him?
Did I make a table?
Did you answer correctly?

More Examples.
Positive Sentences
They have gone to school.
They have bought a new car.
I have started a job
It has rained.
The guests have arrived
John has left for home.
You have told a lie.
Negative Sentences
They have not gone to school.
They have not bought a new car.
I have not started a job
It has not rained.
The guests have not arrived.
John has not left for home.
You have not told a lie.
Negative Sentences
Have they gone to school?
Have they bought a new car?
Have I started a job?
Has it rained?

Have the guests arrived?

Has John left for home?
Have you told a lie?

Past Continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action in past, an ongoing action

which occurred in past and completed at some point in past. It expresses an
ongoing nature of an action in past. For example, he was laughing. This
sentence shows ongoing action (laughing) of a person which occurred in past.
Past continuous tense is also called past progressive.

Rules: Auxiliary verb was or were is used in sentence. 1st form of verb or base
verb + ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence.

Structure of sentence
Positive sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb + Main Verb (present participle) + object
Subject + was/were + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
If the subject is he, she, It, I, singular or proper noun then auxiliary verb was
is used. If subject is you, we, they or plural then auxiliary verb were is used.
Examples.
She was crying yesterday.
They were climbing on a hill.
Negative sentences
Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + Main verb (present participle) + object
Subject + was/were + NOT + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing)
+object
Rules for using auxiliary verb after subject are same as mentioned above.
Examples.
She was not crying yesterday.
They were not climbing on a hill.
Interrogative sentences
Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb (present participle) + object
Was/were + Subject + (1st form of verb or base verb +ing) +object
The interrogative sentence starts with the auxiliary verb. If the subject is he,
she, It, I, singular or proper noun then the sentence starts with auxiliary verb
was. If subject is you, we, they or plural then the sentence starts with
auxiliary verb were.
Examples.

Was she crying yesterday?

Were they climbing on a hill?
More Examples
Positive sentences
They were laughing at the joker.
He was taking exam last month
You waiting for him yesterday
She was working in a factory.
It was raining yesterday.
Negative sentences
They were not laughing at the joker.
He was not taking exam last month
You were not waiting for him yesterday
She was not working in a factory.
It was not raining yesterday.
Interrogative sentences
Were they laughing at the joker?
Was he taking exam last month?
Were you waiting for him yesterday?
Was she working in a factory?
Was it raining yesterday?

Past perfect tense

It is used to express an action which has occurred in past (usually, a long time
ago) and action which has occurred in past before another action in past.

For example,
I had lived in America. (The sense of time in this sentence refers to a completed
action in past and especially a long time ago)

The students had gone before the teacher came. (The first part of sentence The
student has gone is sentence of past perfect tense, it says about an action
which occurred before another action in past which is the teacher came. The
second part the teacher came is sentence of past simple tense. So such a
sentence which express an action in past before another action in past comprises
two parts where the first part of sentence is past perfect tense)

Rules. Auxiliary verb had is used in sentence. 3rd form of verb (past participle)
is used as main verb in sentence

Structure of sentence.
Positive sentence
Subject + auxiliary verb + main verb (past participle) + object
Subject + had + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Examples.
He had taken the exam last year
A thief had stolen my watch.
Negative sentence
Subject + auxiliary verb + NOT + main verb (past participle) + object
Subject + had + not + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object
Not is written after auxiliary verb in negative sentence.
Examples.
He had not taken the exam last year
A thief had not stolen my watch.
Interrogative sentence
Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb (past participle) + object
Had + subject + 3rd form of verb or past participle + object

Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb had

Examples.
Had he taken the exam last year
Had a thief stolen my watch?
More Examples
Positive sentences
They had visited a doctor.
He had slept.
I had finished my work last year.
It had rained heavily last month.
The film had started before we reached cinema.
Negative sentences
They had not visited a doctor.
He had not slept.
I had not finished my work last year.
It had not rained heavily last month.
The film had not started before we reached cinema.
Interrogative sentences
Had they visited a doctor?
Had he slept?
Had I finished my work last year?
Had it rained heavily last month?
Had the film started before we reached cinema.

Past Perfect continuous tense

It is used to express a continued or ongoing action that started in past and

continued until sometime in past. (Remember, an ongoing action in past which
continued till some time in past) There will be a time reference, such as since
1980, for three hours etc from which the action had started. A sense of time
reference is found in these sentences which shows that action had started in
past and continued till some time in past. Such time reference or sense of
reference is the identity of Present perfect continuous tense because it tells that
action has started from a particular time in past or for some time period. For
example, He had been studying in this school since 2005, so the it means that
he had started his education in this school in 2005 and he studied in this school
till sometime in past.
Note: If there is not time reference or sense of time reference, then it is not Past
perfect continuous tense because there is no hint about the time of action when
it started in past or continued for some time period, so it seems just an ongoing
action in past which resembles past Continuous tense. So the reference of time
differentiates between Past perfect continuous tense and past continuous tense.

Rules: An auxiliary verb had been is used in sentence. 1st form of verb (base
verb) +ing (present participle) is used as main verb in sentence. Since or for
is used before the time reference in sentence. If the time reference is exactly
known such as 1995, 4 Oclock then since is used before the time in sentence.
If the time reference is not exactly known such as three hours, six years, four
days, then for is used before the time in sentence. Time reference such as 3
hours or 5 days is not exactly known because we dont know that about which
three hours a day is told in sentence or about which 5 days in a month is told in
sentence. While the 1995 is exactly known time.

Structure of sentence.
Positive Sentence.
Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (Present participle) + Object + Time
reference
Subject + had been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time
reference
Examples.
I had been waiting for him for one hour.
She had been playing chess since 7 Oclock.

Negative Sentence.
Subject +Not between the Auxiliary verbs + main verb (present participle) +
Object + Time reference
Subject + had not been + (1st form of verb or base verb + ing) + object + time
reference
To make negative sentence, the word not is added inside auxiliary verb, so it
becomes had not been.
Examples.
I had not been waiting for him for one hour.
She had not been playing chess since 7 Oclock.

Interrogative Sentence.
Auxiliary verb+ Subject + Auxiliary verb + main verb (present participle) +
object + time reference
Had + Subject + been + (1st form of verb or base verb+ing) + object + time
reference
Interrogative sentence starts with auxiliary verb had and auxiliary verb been
is used after subject in sentence.
Examples.
Had I been waiting for him for one hour?
Had she been playing chess 7 Oclock?
More examples.
Positive sentences
I had been living in America since 2003.
He had been playing cricket for two hours.
They had been watching television since 6 Oclock.
She had been working in this office since 2007.
It had been raining for three days.
Negative sentences
I had not been living in America since 2003.
He had not been playing cricket for two hours.
They had not been watching television since 6 Oclock.
She had not been working in this office since 2007.
It had not been raining for three days.
Positive sentences
Had I been living in America since 2003?
Had he been playing cricket for two hours.
Had they been watching television since 6 Oclock?
Had she been working in this office since 2007?
Had it been raining for three days?

http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/past_perfect_continuous

Past Simple
Basic form
Subject + Verb (past form)

Quick examples

I was sleepy.
He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago.
I went to the cinema, bought popcorn and watched a movie.
We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
The actions can be short or long. There can be a few actions happening one ofter another.

Use
1.
2.
3.

Events in the past that are now finished

Situation in the past
A series of actions in the past

Use 1: Past actions that are now finished

The first use of the Past Simple to express actions that happened at a specific time in the
past. The actions can be short or long.

John cut his finger last week. short

I went to college 3 years ago. long
He ate the dinner 1 hour ago. short
I slept well last night. long

Use 2: Situation in the past

Another use of this tense is talk about situations in the past.

I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore).

Use 3: A series of actions in the past

The Past Simple can also be used with a few actions in the past happening one after another.

He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests.

Form
Forming a sentence in the Past Simple is easy. To form a declarative sentence, all you need is
the subject of the sentence (e.g. I, you, he, a dog) and the past form of your verb
(e.g. was, talked, swam). Questions and negative sentences are only a little more difficult,
because they require an auxiliary verb.

Declarative Sentences
Subject

Verb (past form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. walked, went, took, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

I lived in New York for 10 years.

Mike walked in, looked around and smiled to us.

He married a woman who lived in the same village.

I ate the cake yesterday.

Time Expressions
Common time expressions (time adverbials) in the Past Simple are:

yesterday

the other day

just now

the day before yesterday

Questions
DID

Subject
+

Verb (present form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

EXAMPLES
How long did he work there?

e.g. go, make, have, etc.

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

Didthe telephone ring?

Did you see that?

Negative Sentences
Subject

Didn't
+

Verb (present form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. go, make, have, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago.

I wasn't at my grandma's when you came.

He didn't get any good grades when he attended school.

Check your understanding!

Past Continuous
Basic form
Subject + WAS/WERE + Verb (continuous form)

Quick examples

The man was singing.

I was resting in the garden when it started to rain.
We usually use the Past Continuous to talk about activities that lasted for some time in the
past. The actions can be interruped by something or can be happening at the same time.

Use
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Duration in the past

Interrupted actions in progress
Actions in progress at the same time in the past
Irritation
Polite question

USE 1: Duration in the past

We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions or situations that lasted for some time in
the past, and whose duration time is unknown or unimportant.

I was watching TV yesterday in the evening.

She was sleeping on the couch.
The dog was barking.

USE 2: Interrupted actions in progress

The Past Continuous is often used when one action in progress is interruped by another
action in the past. The Past simple is used in such sentences. We usually use when or while to
link these two sentences.
1.

Sentence in Past
Continuous

WHEN

Sentence in Past Simple

e.g. I was singing

e.g. my wife came home

3.

WHEN/WHILE

Sentence in
Past
Continuous

Sentence in Past Simple

e.g. I was
singing

e.g. my wife came home

I was talking with James when the telephone rang.

While Angelica was playing tennis, the plane crashed.
When Bob was painting windows, it started raining.

USE 3: Actions in progress at the same time

We also use this tense to talk about two or more activities happening at the same. We usually
use when orwhile to link the two sentences.
1.

Sentence in Past
Continuous

WHEN/WHILE

Sentence in Past Continuous

e.g. I was singing

e.g. She was cooking

3.

WHEN/WHILE

Sentence in Past
Continuous

Sentence in Past Continuous

e.g. I was singing

e.g. She was cooking

I was watching TV and Barbara was reading a book.

The family was eating the dinner and talking.
When Bob was painting windows, Mary was working in the kitchen.

USE 4: Polite questions

If we want to ask a polite question, we can use the Past Continuous.

I was wondering if you could open the window.

I was thinking you might help me with this problem.
Even though the sentences have a Past Continuous form, they refer to the present moment.
Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences, but they are more polite.

USE 5: Irritation

Remember that you can also express irritation over somebody or something in the past.

She was always coming late for dinner!

Form
To form a sentence in the Past Continuous, you need:
1.
2.

The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to be" in the past form
The Present Participle of your verb (verb + ing)
1. Auxiliary verb "to be"
The past form of the auxiliary verb "to be" is:

1.
2.

For the first and third person singular: "was"

For all others: "were"
She was always coming late for dinner!
You were always coming late for dinner!
2. The Present Participle
The present participle is of a verb is a verb form that appears with the present tenses. The
present participle is formed by adding -ing to the verb.

talk + ing = talking

be + ing = being
There are exceptions.

Declarative Sentences
Subject

WAS/WERE
+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

Verb + ING
+
e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK
READ)

At 3 PM, I was having lunch.

They were talking about her when she walked into the room.

While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was washing the
dishes.

TO

We were all thinking about our holidays.

A rhinoceros was swatting flies with its tail when suddenly a fly bit him.

Questions
WAS/WERE

Subject
+

Verb (continuous form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

Was she going to the theater when it started raining?

What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball?

Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 PM.

Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning.

Negative Sentences
Subject

WASN'T / WEREN'T
+

Verb (continuous form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel.

We weren't playing football when the earthquake began.

Past Perfect
Basic form
Subject + HAD + Verb (past participle form)

Quick examples

I had written the letter before you came home.

If she had studied hard, she would have passed the English language exam.
I wish I had been brave enough.
Mary looked as if she had not slept for 48 hours.
We use the Past Perfect tense to emphasize that an action in the past
finished before another action in the past started. This tense is also used in reported speech,
third conditional sentences, or to show dissatisfaction with the past.

Use
1.
2.
3.
4.

Completed action before another action in the past

Third conditional sentences
Reported speech
Dissatisfaction with the past

Use 1: A completed action before another action in the past

The first use of this tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened before
another action in the past.

I had finished my homework before I went playing football.

John had never been to London before we went there last year.

Good to know
People (especially native speakers) do not use the Past Perfect in above sentences very
often. For example, they will say:

After I washed my car, I went to fill up.

Rather than:

After I had washed my car, I went to fill up.

This is because "after" and "before" tell the listener which action happened first. Still, keep in
mind that it is better to use the Past Perfect, especially in written English or when writing
exams.

Explanation
In this cartoon, you can see a man who says: "My son, Julius, had never seen a camel,
before we went together to the Zoo in summer 1990 ".

Why is the Past Perfect used in this example? Click on the button labled "event
1". The father asks his son, Julius, the following question: "Have you ever seen a camel?".
Julis replies that he has never seen it. In the next scene, they are in the Zoo, watching the
animal. Notice that the event 1 occured before event 2. It means that the use of Past Perfect
is correct here.

Use 2: Third conditional

Use the Past Perfect with third conditional sentences.

If we had gone by taxi, we wouldn't have been late.

If Mary had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.
This use is the so-called hypothetical past: we are talking about things that never
happened.

I wish I had fixed my umberella. (but I didn't)

If only I had known the answer to that question. (but I didn't)

Use 3: Reported speech

Use the Past Perfect with sentences in reported speech.

Mary said she had already seen this film.

He asked if I had read Harry Potter.

Use 4: Dissatisfaction with the Past

We often use the Past Perfect to show our dissatisfaction with the past. Such sentences
typically start with "I wish ..." or "If only ...".

I wish I had taken more food. I'm hungry now.

If only I had taken more food. I'm hungry now.
The Past Perfect is also used with expressions such as "as if" and "as though":

John looked as if he had done something terrible.

She looked as though she hadn't slept all night.

Form
To form a sentence in the Past Perfect, what you need is:
1.
2.

The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have" in the past form.
The Past Participle of your verb.

1. Auxiliary verb "to have"

The past form of the auxiliary verb "to have" is "had":

Mary had finished her homework before Mike came home.

Mary has finished her homework before Mike came home.
Mary hads finished her homework before Mike came home.
2. The Past Participle
The past participle of a verb is a verb form that appears with the perfect tenses. The past
participle can be either regular or irregular.

The regular verbs are formed by adding "-ed" to the verb:

Verb

Past Participle

talk

talked

explain

explained

use

used

deliver

delivered

include

included

achieve

achieved

The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should
be memorized.

Verb

Past Participle

Learn more

be

been

be

become

become

become

see

seen

see

go

gone

go

eat

eaten

eat

grow

grown

grow

Positive Sentences
Subject

HAD
+

Verb (past participle form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. gone, taken, done, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

Before I went to the park, I had finished my work.

If he had made the right choice, he wouldn't be unhappy now.

Mary said she had already seen this movie before.

I wish I had had enough courage to kiss her!

Questions
HAD

Subject

Verb (past participle form)

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. gone, taken, done, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

Had she eaten the dinner before she went to the cinema?

TO READ)

Negative Sentences
Subject

HADN'T
+

Verb (past participle form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. gone, taken, done, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK
READ)

I had not seen this movie before we went to the cinema yesterday
to see it.

If he hadn't made the mistake, he would be happy now.

Mary said she had not visited her father for a long time.

I wish I hadn't done it!

Check your understanding!

TO

Past Perfect Continuous

Basic form
Subject + HAD + BEEN + Verb (continuous form)

Quick examples

The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home.
I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married.
If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park.
She told me that she had been working as a teacher for over 40 years.

Use
The Past Perfect Continuous is used to talk about actions or situations that were in
progress before some other actions or situations. There are also other uses.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Duration of a past action up to a certain point in the past

Showing cause of an action or situation
Third conditional sentences
Reported speech

Use 1: Duration of a Past Action

The main use of the Past Perfect Continuous is to express actions or situations that were in
progress before some other actions or situations.

The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home.
I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married.

Use 2: Showing Cause

Use this tense to show cause of an action or situation in the past.

John was in a detention because he had been misbehaving.

The road was wet because it had been raining.
I had to go on a diet because I had been eating too much sugar.
Jessica got sunburnt because she had been lying in the sun too long.

Use 3: Third Conditional

Remember that this tense is also used in third conditional sentences.

If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park.

Use 4: Reported Speech

This tense also appears in Reported speech.

She said she knew Charlie had been lying to her.

Reported Speech

Form
Positive Sentences
Subject

HAD
+

BEEN
+

Verb (continuous form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.

[ Father: When I looked at our daughter Kathy I knew she had been crying. (Use 1) ]

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK

TO READ)

I had been running for an hour before I twisted my angle.

It was wet outside: It had been raining.

If I had known it, I wouldn't have bought it.

Mary said she had never been swimming so much in one day.

Questions
HAD

Subject
+

BEEN
+

Verb (continuous form)

+

e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.

e.g. walking, going, taking, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK
READ)

For how many hours had Fred been painting the house when the
ladder fell?

How long had the player been playing before he scored?

TO

The difference between the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous

Negative Sentences
HAD +
NOT

Subject
+

BEE
N
+

Verb (continuous form)

+

e.g. he, she, a

dog, etc.

e.g. walking, going,

taking, etc.

EXAMPLES

USE (CLICK
READ)

Mary hadn't been waiting for longer than 10 minutes.

He said he was't tired because he hadn't been working that day.

If it hadn't been raining, we would have played football.

If I hadn't been studying all night, I would have problems with this
test now.

TO