PAST TENSES:

1. PAST TENSES:

2. Past tenses • There are fourpast tenses in English: • Past simple • Pastcontinuous • Pastperfect simple • Pastperfectcontinuous

3. Past simple: uses I got up, switched off the radio, and sat down again. Why are we using the past simple here?

4. Past simple: uses (CONSECUTIVE) FINISHED ACTIONS IN THE PAST

5. Past simple: uses When I was younger, I went to the park every day. Why are we using the past simple here?

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. Past simple: uses IN SECOND CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

9. Past simple: uses Joan said that she wanted to come to the party. Why are we using the past simple here?

10. Past simple: uses IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT SIMPLE

11. 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?

12. Past simple: uses TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT THE PRESENT

13. Pastcontinuous: 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?

14. Pastcontinuous: 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.

15. Pastcontinuous: 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?

16. Pastcontinuous: uses BACKGROUND DESCRIPTIONS IN STORIES

17. Pastcontinuous: uses He said that he was enjoying his work. Why are we using the past continuous here?

18. Pastcontinuous: uses IN REPORTED SPEECH INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

19. Pastcontinuous: 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?

20. Pastcontinuous: uses TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT ACTIONS IN PROGRESS

21. Pastperfect simple: uses The pilot told the police what had happened. Why are we using the past perfect simple here?

22. Pastperfect 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.

23. Pastperfect simple: uses If he had run a bit faster, he could have won. Why are we using the past perfect simple here?

24. Pastperfect simple: uses IN THIRD CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

25. Pastperfect 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?

26. Pastperfect simple: uses IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE: • PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE • PAST SIMPLE

27. Pastperfect simple: uses If only I had known you were coming. Why are we using the past perfect simple here?

28. Pastperfect simple: uses TO EXPRESS WISHES ABOUT THE PAST, USUALLY TO EXPRESS REGRET

29. Pastperfectcontinuous: uses The boat had been sailing in calm when a cow fell from the sky. Why are we using the past perfect continuous here?

30. Pastperfectcontinuous: uses A LONGER ACTION IN THE PAST THAT OCCURRED BEFORE ANOTHER PAST ACTION

31. Pastperfectcontinuous: 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?

32. Pastperfectcontinuous: uses IN REPORTED SPEECH, INSTEAD OF THE: • PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS • PAST CONTINUOUS

33. PAST TENSES Created by: Carmen Luisa Pérez Amaro