Past Forms in English Simple Past Past Continuous Past Perfect

Past Simple (I did) Form: 2nd form of the V Form: 2nd form of the V Usage Usage –Events happened in the past Time adverbials Time adverbials –Last week/year etc. –Yesterday –In 1994 WeIThey invited saw were Didweinvite?Didyousee? Weretheyill? Wedidn’tinviteIdidn’tsee Theyweren’till

Past Continuous (I was doing) Form: was/were V+ing Form: was/were V+ing Usage Usage –Sy was in the middle of doing sg at a certain time This time last year I was living in Brazil –Sg happened in the middle of sg When I was walking home I met Dave Not used in the continuous: Not used in the continuous: –Know/want/believe We were good friends. We knew each other well. Past Continuous Past Simple I was walking home when I met Dave. She was watching TV when the phone rang I walked home then I met Dave. (He came over) She watched TV a lot when she was ill.

now past I was walking home I met Dave I was walking home when I met Dave

Past Perfect (I had done) Sarah went to a party last week. Paul went to the party too but they didn’t see each other. Paul went home at and Sarah arrived at 11 o’clock. So: Sarah went to a party last week. Paul went to the party too but they didn’t see each other. Paul went home at and Sarah arrived at 11 o’clock. So: Paul had gone home before Sarah arrived. Form: had + past participle (V3) Form: had + past participle (V3) Usage: Usage: –We talk about an event that happened before another one in the past

Sarah went to a party last week. Paul went to the party too but they didn’t see each other. Paul had gone home before Sarah arrived now past Paul had gone home Sarah arrived

Differences Was Tom at the party when you arrived? No, he had already gone home. Ann wasn’t home when I phoned. She was in London. Yes, but he went home soon afterwards. Ann had just got home when I phoned. She had been in London.

Homework CSI: you are a policeman/woman and you were called to a crimescene. Try to make up the line of events that led to the accident. CSI: you are a policeman/woman and you were called to a crimescene. Try to make up the line of events that led to the accident.

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