Past tenses

What did you do yesterday? SIMPLE PAST

Mix!

TALKING ABOUT THE PAST

What was happening then? PAST CONTINUOUS

Fifth grade

Habits in the past. USED TO

ENGLISH

What has happened today? PRESENT PERFECT

What did you do yesterday? I played a lot!

Simple Past

What do we use it for?

how do we use it?

Affirmative

Negative

Generally, we have to add –ed to the verb:• Yesterday, I played football.• We danced to that song last week.

Actions or things that happened at a certain moment in the past.

I didn’t play tennis yesterday.They didn´t win last week. didn't = did not

However, some verbs are irregular: we don’t add –ed. We have to learn their past!• Yesterday, I ate pizza.• Last month, they won all their matches.

Interrogative

Special verb: to be.

Did you play football yesterday?Did they win last month?

Special verb: TO BE

Present Perfect

Present

Simple Past

I am always happy.You are always happy.He is always happy.She is always happy.It is always happy.We are always happy.They are always happy.

I have been happy all week.You have been happy all week.He has been happy all week.She has been happy all week.It has been happy all week.We have been happy all week.They have been happy all week.

I was happy yesterday.You were happy yesterday.He was happy yesterday.She was happy yesterday.It was happy yesterday.We were happy yesterday.They were happy yesterday.

Present Perfect

How do we use it?

have/has+past participle

We use it for:

• Experiences:

irregular verbs

verb -ed

- Have you ever travelled to London? - Yes, I have.

- Have you ever eaten sushi?- No, I haven't. But I have tasted algae!- Has Mary come to school today?- No, she hasn't. She has gone to the doctor.

• Actions that have an effect in the present:

Oh! Somebody has painted the wall!

• Recent past:

I have washed my face today.

I have I've

he has he's

has not hasn't

have not haven't

Past Continuous

We use it for:

Actions that happened during some time in the past. Specially, when that action was interrupted.

I was sleeping when the alarm clock rang.

• What were you doing yesterday at 7 p.m.?
• I was reading.
• What was your sister doing?
• She was doing homework.
• What were the teachers doing?
• They were correcting our exams.

How do we use it?

Remember: it's special!

verb to be+verb -ing

Past habits: used to

When I was little, I used to break my toys! Now, I never break them.When I was little, I didn't use to help at home.Now, I always help.Did you use to play videogames when you were 4?No, I didn't. I started playing videogames when I was 6.

• So, Mr. Columbus, have you ever been to America?
• Yes, I have. I have been there four times. The first time was in 1492.
• Were you trying to discover America?
• No, I wasn't. I didn't know that America existed. I was trying to find a shorter route to the Indies.
• Did the journey to the Indies use to be very long?
• Yes, it did! It used to be too long! That's why the Catholic Monarchs paid for my expedition.