The past and perfect tenses

the simple past tense USE for actions completed in the past at a definite time I met him yesterdayyesterday When the action clearly took place at a definite time even though this time it is not mentioned. The train was ten minutes late.

the simple past tense The simple past is used with the following expressions: YESTERDAY LAST night/week/month/year a second/a minute, a week, a month AGO

the simple past tense FORM +SUBJ. + VERB I studied English yesterday (regular verb)regular verb I met Peter yesterday (irregular verb)irregular verb -SUBJ. + DID NOT (DIDN’T) + infinitive I didn’t study English yesterday

the simple past tense ?DID + SUBJ. + INFINITIVE Did you study English yesterday ?

the simple past tense REGULAR VERBS to WORK + EDWORKED to LOVE + DLOVED to PLAY + EDPLAYED to STUDY + IEDSTUDIED to STOP + P + EDSTOPPED To TRAVEL + L +EDTRAVELLED

the simple past tense IRREGULAR VERBS The simple past form of each irregular verb MUST be learnt by heart   

Used to USE to express a discontinued habit or a past situation which contrasts with present FORM I used to drink beer; now I drink wine. I didn’t use to drink beer; now I do. Did you use to drink beer ?

Past continuous USE To set the scene, often at the start of a story The night was falling and the moon was shining ….. With the simple past to show that a long activity was interrupted by a short one When my mum phoned …. _______________ …. I was sleeping.

Past continuous While I was sleeping …. ____________ …. My mum phoned FORM +SUBJ. + WAS/WERE + ING FORMING FORM I was reading a book … -SUBJ. + WASN’T/WEREN’T + ING FORM ?WAS/WERE + SUBJ. + ING FORM

Past continuous - ING FORM EAT + INGEATING MOVE + INGMOVING STOP + P + INGSTOPPING STUDY + INGSTUDYING PLAY + INGPLAYING LIE + Y + INGLYING TRAVEL + L + INGTRAVELLING

Present Perfect USE for news and recent activities We’ve decided to move to England For finished actions in the past if we don’t know exactly when the happened The train has just arrivedjust

Present Perfect to talk about situations that began in the past and continue now I have known him SINCE I was a childSINCE I’ve lived here FOR 20 yearsFOR

Present Perfect FORM + SUBJ. + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE I have been to England - SUBJ. + HAVEN’T/HASN’T + P.PARTICIPLE I haven’t been to England ? HAVE/HAS + SUBJ. + P.PARTICIPLE ? Have you been to England ?

Present Perfect Adverbs used with the Present Perfect: ALREADY JUST YET EVER/NEVER STILL

Present Perfect SINCEit is used to say when the situation began FORit’s used to say how long the situation has been true. since 2000 for 13 years 2013 ….

Present Perfect simple or continuous ? USE To emphasise the repetitive or continuous nature of an activity which has a result in the present. I’ve been writing letters all day vs I’ve written three letters

Present Perfect simple or continuous ? FORM + SUBJ. + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + ing FORM I have been writing letters all day

Past Perfect USE To talk about an action in the past that was completed before another action in the past. It combines with the past simple. I discovered that somebody had stolen my money

Past Perfect FORM + SUBJ. + HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE I had gone for a coffee when they arrived - SUBJ. + HADN’T+ P.PARTICIPLE I hadn’t finished the lesson when Peter left ? HAD + SUBJ. + P.PARTICIPLE ? Had you read the book before you saw the film ?