PAST TENSES PRESENTATION

PAST TENSES

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PAST SIMPLE

Yesterday I didn't eat bangers, I ate pizza--> actions that happened at a specific moment in the past He got in the car, started the engine, and drove away--> the main events in a chronological sequence

She never played in that park when she was a child--> past habits My grandfather had two brothers--> past situations or states

INfo

TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH PAST SIMPLE

Yesterday I didn't eat bangers, I ate pizza-->

yesterday

Last year our teacher was Andrea-->

LASt week/month/year

___ + ago

Two weeks ago I visited London-->

Ryan Reynolds announced the new Deadpool film the day before yesterday-->

The day before yesterday

Elizabeth II died on the 8th September 2022-->

past dates, hours, years

She never played in that park when she was--> a child

when-sentences

USED TO (only for the past)

I didn't use to smoke before I got this job.--> past habits As a child I used to be blonde.--> situations/states no longer true

WOULD (for the past)

When I was 5, we would go to the cinema every Friday.--> repeated actions

BE USED TO

At the beginning this class was hard, but now I'm used to it.--> you are accustomed to this

GET USED TO

I'm getting used to her accent.--> you are in the process; at the end you'll be used to it

past continuous

What were you doing yesterday at 5?--> actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past The Sun was shining and I was listening to music when a meteorite hit!--> to describe a situation in the past

As in the previous example, it is commonly used in combination with the past simple. The action in the past simple interrupts the one in past continuous. In the same sentence the past continuous can describe a longer action and the past simple a shorter one. When I saw Susan, she was having a drink.

TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH PAST continuous

He was talking on the phone for a long time.-->

for a long time

Yesterday at 6 am I was having breakfast.-->

past specified time

while

While I was cooking, she was doing the dishes.-->

We copied in the exam as the teacher wasn't looking-->

as

She was always complaining about the weather.-->

always, constantly, forever to emphasise repeated past actions

Last Sunday they were hiking the whole day.-->

the whole day

past PERFECT

When I got out of the school, I noticed someone had stolen my project.--> actions that happened earlier in the past It is usually used in combination with the past simple:

By the time he left the house, he had done the dishes, made all the beds and cleaned the bathroom.When I got toNew York, my friend had already arrived at the station. I was really tired because I had been to a wild party the night before.

TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH PAST PERFECT

She felt better after she had had some water.-->

after

I had just finished eating when the bell rang.-->

just

I'd already finished the exercise when the teacher asked.-->

already

My mum arrived at 10 pm and I hadn't started to make dinner yet.-->

yet

We'd known for many years before I went to his house.-->

for

past PERFECT continuous

How long had they been running when they took a break?--> actions that were in progress when another interrupted them (the action in progress happens before) She was tired because she had been working too much. --> to show cause and effect

As shown in the examples, it is mainly used in combination with the past simple.

TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH PAST PERFECT continuous

I had been working in this company for two years when I got promoted.-->

for

She had been waiting since 5 am when they arrived.-->

since

How long had you been going out before you broke up?.-->

how long

He had been driving all morning by the time he called.-->

all morning/day/night, etc.

In combination with the past simple, "when" and "before" can be used: He had been drinking before he got in his car.

¡GRACIAS!

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Past tenses