We use tenses of verbs to refer to actions or situations in the present, in the past and in the future

past

There are different sorts of tenses: simple tenses continuous tenses perfect tenses

perfect continuous tenses

past

past simple past continuous past perfect past perfect continuous past

past tenses

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM
This tense is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive. The negative and interrogative are formed with the past tense of the verb to do + infinitive of the main verb

Examples They arrived at head quarters an hour ago. When did he finalize this deal? I didnt finish until 12 oclock.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past.

Example We signed the contract last Friday at 2 oclock.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past. 2. For actions which are already completed in the past: the time is understood but not stated.

Example Did you arrive in time?

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. For actions completed at a definite time in the past. 2. For actions which are already completed in the past: the time is understood but not stated. 3. The unreal past tense is used after the verb to wish and after words and phrases such as if only; its time; suppose etc. The simple past tense implies that the speaker knows that the wish or the idea is impossible. Note that the wish refers to the present time. Examples If I only knew his name. I wish I were at home now. If I were in his shoes, I would fix his wagon without much scruples. Its time I went home.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

15.30

now

future

I arrived at 15.30 sharp.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM
This tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples I was watching TV at 8 oclock yesterday. Where were you looking for my glasses this time? I wasnt eavesdropping at all!

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action.

Examples She was playing tennis with a friend. He was discussing production planning for the coming week.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action. 2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past.

Examples At 6 p.m. I was still sleeping. At a quarter past nine I was having breakfast. Prices were going up all the time.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action. 2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past. 3. To describe an interrupted past action. Examples When he arrived, I was studying the quarterly reports.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. To emphasize the continuity of the past action. 2. To describe an action in progress at a certain time in the past. 3. To describe an interrupted past action. 4. To express repeated past actions which caused irritation, annoyance. ( with always, forever) Examples He was always trying to influence the personnel director. She was forever paring her nails during meetings.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now

future

I was working all day yesterday.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now
I was working all day yesterday.

future

yesterday

past

now
I worked all day yesterday.

future

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

now
1. I was working all day yesterday.

future

yesterday
past now 2. I worked all day yesterday. future

While (1) emphasizes the continuity of the action, (2) only indicates that the action took place yesterday.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past
8.30 p.m.

now

future

I was watching TV at 8.30 last night.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram 8.30 p.m. past now future

3. I was watching TV at 8.30 last night. 8.30 p.m. past future

now
4. I watched TV at 8.30 last night.

Whereas 3. indicates that the action started before and continued after a certain point in time, 4. indicates that the action happened (started) at 8.30

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

I was browsing through your report ...

past

now

future

when he knocked at my office door.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM
This tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to have + past participle of the main verb.

Examples I had never seen so many measuring tools. What assistance had he given? He hadnt expected this outcome.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. We use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action.

Example The customer had left the shop by the time I found his order form.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. We use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action. 2. We use it when necessary to indicate the sequence of two actions. Example He had already cleared the screen when I got behind his desk.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. We use this tense to describe one past action happening before another past action. 2. We use it when necessary to indicate the sequence of two actions. 3. We often us it when the second action is understood, but not stated. Example I hadnt realized! (until you told me.)

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past
had dinner watched TV

now

future

1. When I had had dinner, I watched TV.

past

had dinner

watched TV

now

future

2. I had dinner before I watched TV. In (1) the sequence of actions is expressed by the past perfect tense; whereas in (2) the sequence of actions is indicated by the use of before

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

FORM
This tense is formed with the past perfect tense of the verb to be + present participle of the main verb.

Examples She had been working as a secretary for two years when she was promoted. What had she been writing all day? He hadnt been listening to that tape for that long.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. We use this tense to describe a continuous past action happening before another past action. We often use it with for + time period.

Example We had been waiting for thirty minutes when they arrived.

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

USE
1. We use this tense to describe a continuous past action happening before another past action. We often use it with for + time period. 2. We use this tense to emphasize the continuity or duration of the past action. Example I had been waiting for my exam results for six weeks. (before I got them.)

past simple

past continuous

past perfect

past perfect continuous

on the time diagram

past

10 minutes

now

future

1. I had been waiting for 10 minutes when she arrived.

past

now

2. I waited for 10 minutes before she arrived.

Whereas in (1) the past perfect continuous indicates both the sequence of the actions and the continuity of the first action; in (2) the sequence of the actions is indicated by before. (1.) emphasizes the duration.