Want to create interactive content? It’s easy in Genially!

Get started free

4 ESO: The Past tenses U3

David Gutiérrez Camp

Created on January 6, 2024

Start designing with a free template

Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:

Fill in Blanks

Countdown

Stopwatch

Unpixelator

Break the Piñata

Bingo

Create a Secret Code

Explore all templates

Transcript

The Past tenses

4 ESO - UNIT 3

The Past tenses

index

Past Simple

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

used to

forms

Past Simple

Comimos cordero en Nochevieja.

-ed / 2nd c.

We ate lamb on New Year's Eve.

didn't + inf. did + s + inf ?

We didn't eat lamb on New Year's Eve.

Did we eat lamb on New Year's Eve?

* to be: (+) was/were (-) wasn't/weren't (?) was/were + S ?

The Past tenses

forms

Past Simple

-ed / 2nd c.

didn't + inf. did + s + inf ?

The Past tenses

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we _________ to the park. (walk)
  2. She _________ a delicious cake for the party. (make)
  3. He _________ very tired after work. (be)
  4. They did _________ finish the project on time. (not / finish)
  5. _________ you _________ the movie last night? (watch)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we walked to the park.
  2. She _________ a delicious cake for the party. (make)
  3. He _________ very tired after work. (be)
  4. They did _________ finish the project on time. (not / finish)
  5. _________ you _________ the movie last night? (watch)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we walked to the park.
  2. She made a delicious cake for the party.
  3. He _________ very tired after work. (be)
  4. They did _________ finish the project on time. (not / finish)
  5. _________ you _________ the movie last night? (watch)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we walked to the park.
  2. She made a delicious cake for the party.
  3. He was very tired after work.
  4. They did _________ finish the project on time. (not / finish)
  5. _________ you _________ the movie last night? (watch)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we walked to the park.
  2. She made a delicious cake for the party.
  3. He was very tired after work.
  4. They didn't finish the project on time.
  5. _________ you _________ the movie last night? (watch)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Yesterday, we walked to the park.
  2. She made a delicious cake for the party.
  3. He was very tired after work.
  4. They didn't finish the project on time.
  5. Did you watch the movie last night?

forms

Past Continuous

Estábamos comiendo cordero en Nochevieja.

was / were + -ing

We were eating lamb on New Year's Eve.

wasn't / weren't + -ing was / were + s - ing?

We weren't eating lamb on New Year's Eve.

Were we eating lamb on New Year's Eve?

The Past tenses

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She _________ studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. _________ they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We _________ listening to the teacher at that moment. They ___________ talking.
  4. I _________ trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. _________ you working yesterday afternoon?

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She was studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. _________ they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We _________ listening to the teacher at that moment. We ___________ talking.
  4. I _________ trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. _________ you working yesterday afternoon?

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She was studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. Were they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We _________ listening to the teacher at that moment. We ___________ talking.
  4. I _________ trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. _________ you working yesterday afternoon?

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She was studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. Were they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We weren't listening to the teacher at that moment. They were talking.
  4. I _________ trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. _________ you working yesterday afternoon?

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She was studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. Were they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We weren't listening to the teacher at that moment. They were talking.
  4. I was trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. _________ you working yesterday afternoon?

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the correct form of to be in the past to complete the Past Continuous verbs.

  1. She was studying for her exam when I called her.
  2. Were they playing football at 6 p.m.?
  3. We weren't listening to the teacher at that moment. They were talking.
  4. I was trying to open the door, but it was stuck.
  5. Were you working yesterday afternoon?

uses

Match the tenses with their uses.

Past Simple

Actions in progress in the past.

Past Continuous

Completed action in the past.

The Past tenses

uses

Past Simple

Completed action in the past.

Past Continuous

Actions in progress in the past.

The Past tenses

When / While + Past Simple & Continuous

- Two previous straightforward ideas:

When + Past Simple - "cuando"

While + Past Continuous - "mientras"

Past Continuous -> Long actions

Past Simple -> Short actions

The Past tenses

The Past tenses

When / While + Past Simple & Continuous

- Possibilities

1.

When + Past Simple, Past Continuous

When I woke up, my sister was sleeping.

Long action (PC) interrupted by Short action (PS)

The Past tenses

When / While + Past Simple & Continuous

- Possibilities

2.

While + Past Continuous, Past Continuous

While I was reading an article, John was studying Maths.

Two parallel actions in progress (PC).

The Past tenses

When / While + Past Simple & Continuous

- Possibilities

3.

While + Past Continuous, Past Simple

While she was having a shower, I made dinner.

An action takes place at some point in the course of another long(er) action

Remember

Past Simple

Past Continuous

-ed / 2nd c.

was / were + -ing

wasn't / weren't + -ing was / were + s - ing?

didn't + inf. did + s + inf ?

The Past tenses

forms

Past Perfect

Habíamos comido cordero en Nochevieja.

had + -ed / 3rd c.

We had eaten lamb on New Year's Eve.

hadn't + -ed / 3rd c. had + s + -ed / 3rd c.?

We hadn't eaten lamb on New Year's Eve.

Had we eaten lamb on New Year's Eve?

The Past tenses

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. When I got home, my parents ______ already ______ dinner. (eat)
  2. She ______ ______ her homework before dinner. (not finish)
  3. ______ you ever ______ that book before the exam? (read)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. When I got home, my parents had already eaten dinner.
  2. She ______ ______ her homework before dinner. (not finish)
  3. ______ you ever ______ that book before the exam? (read)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. When I got home, my parents had already eaten dinner.
  2. She hadn't finished her homework before dinner.
  3. ______ you ever ______ that book before the exam? (read)

The Past tenses

#mini-exercise

Complete with the Past Perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. When I got home, my parents had already eaten dinner.
  2. She hadn't finished her homework before dinner.
  3. Had you ever read that book before the exam?

uses

Past Simple

Completed action in the past.

Past Continuous

Actions in progress in the past.

Actions that happened before other actions / points in the past.

Past Perfect

The Past tenses

Past Simple vs Past Perfect

- Main idea:

We express with the Past Perfect the action that happened FIRST / BEFORE.

PRESENT

PAST

When my dad came home yesterday, I had made dinner.

Cuando mi padre llegó a casa ayer, yo había hecho la cena.

The Past tenses

Past Perfect: common time expressions

- After and Before

PRESENT

PAST

Before my dad came home yesterday, I had made dinner.

After I had made dinner, my dad came home.

The Past tenses

Past Perfect: common time expressions

- already

When my dad came home yesterday, I had already made dinner.

- just

PRESENT

PAST

When my dad came home yesterday, I had just made dinner.

*- yet - never

The Past tenses

Exercise What happened first? Place the icons in the correct place.

Exercise: What happened first?

The Past tenses

I turned on the TV after Valencia had scored a goal.

PAST
PRESENT

Before I got home my brother had eaten the chicken.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: What happened first?

The Past tenses

In1940, Hitler had already invaded Poland.

PAST
PRESENT

When he called me, my flight hadn't taken off yet.

PAST
PRESENT

The Past tenses

Exercise Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

When the class _______ (start), she ________ (get) to school.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

When the class started, she had got to school.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

At 7:00 pm, they ________ (already / go) to the cinema.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

At 7:00 pm, they had already gone to the cinema.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

He _______ (just / move) to the city when I _______ (meet) him.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

He had just moved to the city when I met him.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

I ________ (just / wash) the floor when my dog ________ (pee) on it.

PAST
PRESENT

Exercise: Make sentences considering the position of the icons.

The Past tenses

I had just washed the floor when my dog peed on it.

pirrito
PAST
PRESENT

The Past tenses

Exercise Write the sentences in the correct verb tense. Compare their meanings and usage. What do they mean in Spanish?

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I ____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We ____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST CONT.

I ____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We ____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST PERFECT

I ____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We ____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We didn't play beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST CONT.

I _____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We _____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST PERFECT

I _____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We _____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We didn't play beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST CONT.

I was memorising all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We weren't playing beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST PERFECT

I _____ (memorise) all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We _____ (not play) beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We didn't play beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST CONT.

I was memorising all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We weren't playing beer pong at midnight on Friday.

PAST PERFECT

I had memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We hadn't played beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We didn't play beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

I memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We didn't play beer pong at midnight on Friday.

Me memoricé todo el tema 3 de historia ayer a las 6.

No jugamos a beer pong ayer a medianoche.

Usage: Completed single action. Focus on the ACTION.

The Past tenses

PAST CONT.

I was memorising all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We weren't playing beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST CONT.

I was memorising all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We weren't playing beer pong at midnight on Friday.

Yo me estaba memorizando el tema 3 de historia ayer a las 6.

No estábamos jugando a beer pong a medianoche el viernes.

Usage: Action in progress at a moment in the past. Focus on its INCOMPLETENESS.

The Past tenses

PAST PERFECT

I had memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We hadn't played beer pong at midnight on Friday.

The Past tenses

PAST PERFECT

I had memorised all History's Unit 3 yesterday at 6:00.

We hadn't played beer pong at midnight on Friday.

Me había memorizado el tema 3 de historia ayer al 6.

No habíamos jugado al beer pong el viernes a medianoche.

Usage: Action before another point in the past. Focus on the PREVIOUSNESS.

The Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONT.

PAST PERFECT

memorised

was memorising

had memorised

weren't playing

hadn't played

didn't play

was / were + s + ing?

had + s + play?

did + s + play

The Past tenses

Exercise Use the Past Simple to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She _______ (not study) when the phone _______ (ring).
  2. They _______ (play) football while it _______ (rain).
  3. I _______ (meet) him while I _______ (walk) in the park.
  4. He _______ (work) on the computer when the lights _______ (go) out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Exercise Use the Past Simple or the Past Continuous to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She _______ (not study) when the phone _______ (ring).
  2. They _______ (play) football while it _______ (rain).
  3. I _______ (meet) him while I _______ (walk) in the park.
  4. He _______ (work) on the computer when the lights _______ (go) out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She wasn't studying when the phone rang.
  2. They _______ (play) football while it _______ (rain).
  3. I _______ (meet) him while I _______ (walk) in the park.
  4. He _______ (work) on the computer when the lights _______ (go) out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She wasn't studying when the phone rang.
  2. They were playing football while it was raining.
  3. I _______ (meet) him while I _______ (walk) in the park.
  4. He _______ (work) on the computer when the lights _______ (go) out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She wasn't studying when the phone rang.
  2. They were playing football while it was raining.
  3. I met him while I was walking in the park.
  4. He _______ (work) on the computer when the lights _______ (go) out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She wasn't studying when the phone rang.
  2. They were playing football while it was raining.
  3. I met him while I was walking in the park.
  4. He was working on the computer when the lights went out.
  5. I _______ (read) a book when she _______ (call) me.

The Past tenses

Example: I heard a noise while I was taking a shower.

  1. She wasn't studying when the phone rang.
  2. They were playing football while it was raining.
  3. I met him while I was walking in the park.
  4. He was working on the computer when the lights went out.
  5. I was reading a book when she called me.

The Past tenses

Exercise Translate the following sentences into English. Pay special attention to the verbs.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi hermana estaba cenando, yo hice todos mis deberes.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi hermana estaba cenando, yo hice todos mis deberes.

While my sister was having dinner, I did all my homework.

The Past tenses

Ellos se estaban riendo cuando Jorge se cayó.

The Past tenses

Ellos se estaban riendo cuando Jorge se cayó.

They were laughing when Jorge fell.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi madre estaba cocinando, yo estaba lavando las verduras.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi madre estaba cocinando, yo estaba lavando las verduras.

While my mother was cooking, I was washing the vegetables.

The Past tenses

Mario estaba aparcando su coche cuando atropelló a un pirrito.

The Past tenses

Mario estaba aparcando su coche cuando atropelló a un pirrito.

Mario was parking his car when he ran over a dog.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi amigo estaba jugando al poker, yo estaba hablando por teléfono.

The Past tenses

Mientras mi amigo estaba jugando al poker, yo estaba hablando por teléfono.

While my friend was playing poker, I was talking on the phone.

The Past tenses

Exercise Max had a really bad day yesterday. Write about his misfortunes using the pictures and the prompts.

Remember

Past Perfect

Past Simple

Past Continuous

-ed / 2nd c.

was / were + -ing

had + -ed / 3rd c.

wasn't / weren't + -ing was / were + s - ing?

hadn't + -ed / 3rd c. had + s + -ed / 3rd c.?

didn't + inf. did + s + inf ?

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Past Continuous

(-ed / 2nd column)

(to be + -ing)

Max _____ (run) a bath while / when the telephone ____ (ring).

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Past Continuous

Max was running a bath when the telephone rang.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and the Past Perfect

(-ed / 2nd column)

(had + -ed/3rd c.)

The water _____ (be) all over the floor, because he _____ (forget) about it.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Perfect

The water was all over the floor because he had forgotten about it.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Past Continuous

(-ed / 2nd column)

(to be + -ing)

Max _____ (go) down in the lift, when it suddenly _______ (stop).

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Continuous

Max was going down in the lift, when it suddenly stopped.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Past Continuous

(-ed / 2nd column)

(to be + -ing)

While Max _____ (sit) on the floor, an engineer _____ (rescue) him.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Continuous

While Max was sitting on the floor, an engineer rescued him.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Past Continuous

(-ed / 2nd column)

(to be + -ing)

While he ______ (cycle) home, he ____ (have) an accident.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Simple and Continuous

While he was cycling home, he had an accident.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Perfect

(had + -ed/3rd c.)

At 6.15, he _____ (destroy) his bicycle.

The Past tenses

Exercise: Make a sentence using the Past Perfect

At 6.15, he had destroyed his bicycle.

The Past tenses

The Past tenses

used to

used to + infinitive didn't use to + infinitive did + s + use to + infinitive?

Early humans used to live in caves.

People didn't use to own a car until de 1960s.

Did your mum use to sing lullabies for you to fall asleep?

Past habits and states. "solía"

The Past tenses

Exercise Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

I used to / didn't use to live in Paris, but now I only go there every now and then.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

I used to live in Paris, but now I only go there every now and then.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

It's sad to know that almost all Afro-americans used to / didn't use to be slaves.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

It's sad to know that almost all Afro-americans used to be slaves.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Women didn't use to / used to vote before the 20th century.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Women didn't use to vote before the 20th century.

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Did your brother used to have / use to have a dog?

Exercise: Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

The Past tenses

Did your brother use to have a dog?

pirrito

The Past tenses

Exercise Write sentences about the following situations.

Exercise: Write sentences about the following

The Past tenses

  1. Something you were doing yesterday at 8 pm.
  2. Three things you had done before 8 am today.
  3. How long did you spend doing homework and/or studying yesterday afternoon?
  4. What you think your two closest friends were doing last Monday at 6 pm.
  5. Something you did immediately after having dinner last night.
  6. Had you already had breakfast before getting dressed today?
  7. Something you were doing 10 minutes ago.