Narrative tenses Past Simple = describes a completed past action Last year, we went to Paris. pastnow went to Paris

Past Perfect = describes a past action which happened before another past action. It is often used with the past simple. I had eaten breakfast before I went out past nowfuture Before I went out I had eaten

Past Continuous = describes a past action which continue for some time. It is often used in contrast with past simple. It was raining and people were going home. She was having lunch when her mobile rang. past nowfuture She was having lunch when her mobile rang.