Past Tenses (Narrative te

Past Tenses Narrative Tenses

Review and Practice

Simple past, Past continuous, Past perfect, Past perfect continuous & Used to

CONTENTS

Introduction

Simple Past

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

Past Perfect Continuous

Used to

Narrative Practices

INTRODUCTION

How to Tell Stories or Experiences Fluently in English

Telling stories or sharing personal experiences is an essential part of communication, and being able to do it fluently in English requires a good understanding of past tenses. In English, we use different past tenses to describe actions, background information, and the sequence of events that happened at different times in the past. This allows us to bring our stories to life and make them more engaging for the listener. In this lesson, we will explore the key past tenses used in storytelling: Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous, and Used to. We’ll learn how to combine these tenses effectively to create a smooth narrative flow, whether we’re talking about sports, school activities, vacations, or other personal experiences.

+ INFO

01

sIMPLE PAST

Verb To Be & OthersAffirmative, Negative, Interrogative

There are some things we only do once, right? Like being born—definitely a one-time deal. There are other events that (hopefully) only happen once, like turning 18, graduating from school, or going on that unforgettable road trip with friends. These are moments that happen, and then they’re over. When we talk about those kinds of events, we use the Simple Past. This tense is great for talking about actions that happened at a specific moment in the past and are now finished.

Affirmative sentences Subject + verb simple past + complement Example: I went to the beach last summer.

Negative sentences Subject + didn’t + base form of the verb Example: I didn’t go to the university 2 days ago

Interrogative sentences Did + subject + base form of the verb? Example: Did you watch the new movie yesterday?

WH QUESTIONS

TIME INDICATORS

VERB TO BE

So, if you want to talk about something you did yesterday or last year, Simple Past is your best friend!

Let's practice a little

Video (Ted Ed)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Watch the video from Ted Education about melancholy.
2. Then, answer the comprehension questions that are includes in the Quizz section.
3. Finally, read the instructions about the writing task to complete your evidence.
4. Send both evidences as your teacher indicates.

Quizz

Writing Task

02

PAST CONTINUOUS

Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative

Affirmative: Subject + was/were + verb(ing) I was playing soccer when it started raining. We were watching a movie when the power went off Negative: Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + verb(ing) I wasn’t sleeping last night when you called. The weren't taking classes when the earthquake began. Question: Was/Were + subject + verb(ing)? Were you having lunch when your mom arrived? Was the player faking the injury when the referee checked the VAR?

Now, imagine you’re telling a story, and you want to describe what was happening at a specific time in the past. Like, maybe you were in the middle of a soccer game when it suddenly started raining. For those “ongoing” actions or situations in the past, we use the Past Continuous. It’s like pressing pause on a moment and describing what was going on around that time.

WH QUESTIONS

TIME INDICATORS

brief practice (past continuous only)

Answer the following questions in complete sentences using the Past Continuous. Be sure to describe what you were doing at the specific times mentioned. Write your answers in a separate document and submit it digitally. Each answer should be 1-2 sentences long.

QUESTIONS

Past continuous & simple past

Listen to the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Pay attention to the use of Past Continuous and Simple Past. After answering the questions, write your own paragraph following the same structure.

CLICK HERE

03

PAST PERFECT

Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative

Okay, now let’s get a bit more sophisticated. Sometimes, we need to talk about an event that happened before another past event. For example, imagine you’re telling a story about how you arrived late to a party because you had forgotten your keys. Here, you’re talking about two actions: one that happened first (forgetting the keys) and one that happened later (arriving late).

Affirmative: Subject + had + past participle. I had finished my homework before dinner. Negative: Subject + hadn’t + past participle. She hadn’t seen the movie before. Interrogative: Had + subject + past participle? Had you eaten before you came?

PAST MOMENT

PRESENT MOMENT

I had forgotten my keys

I arrived late to the party

Most ancient action (action 1)

Most recent action (action 2)

TIME INDICATORS (1)

TIME INDICATORS (2)

Past Perfect

Simple Past

To describe the first action, we use the Past Perfect. It’s all about showing that something had already happened before something else in the past.

PRACTICE

Activity 2

Activity 1

Reading

After reading the passage, answer the following items. Respond True or False to each one of the statements. If you need, you can check the passage again to doublecheck the information.

Click on the buttom here below and read the passage. It is a short text about a vacation plan. If you have any vocabulary questions, feel free to look for their meaning on Internet.

As an additional practice, click on the buttom here below and answer the grammar practice. It is about using Simple Past and Past Perfect.

ACTIVITY 2

ACTIVITY 1

PASSAGE

04

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative

Affirmative: Subject + had been + verb(-ing) I had been running for an hour when it started to rain. Negative: Subject + hadn’t been + verb(-ing) They hadn’t been practicing before the match. Question: Had + subject + been + verb(-ing)? Had you been waiting long before the bus arrived?

Now, what if you want to talk about something that had been happening for a while before another event? For example, maybe you had been studying for hours when your friend finally called you. This is where the Past Perfect Continuous comes in. It’s like showing a continuous action that had been going on for some time before another action interrupted it.

CONTRAST

Activity 2. Short story completion

Activity 1. Choose the correct tense

Complete the story using either Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous.

Fill in the blanks with either the Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous form of the verbs in parentheses.

"Last weekend, Sarah and John went hiking in the mountains. They __________ (plan) this trip for weeks, and they were excited. Before they left, they __________ (already pack) all their gear and __________ (check) the weather forecast. The forecast said it would be sunny, but by the time they reached the top of the mountain, it __________ (start) to rain. They __________ (not bring) any raincoats because they __________ (trust) the weather forecast.As they continued down the trail, they realized they __________ (take) the wrong path. They __________ (walk) for over an hour in the wrong direction. By the time they figured it out, it __________ (already get) dark. They __________ (not bring) a flashlight, so they had to rely on their phones for light. They __________ (feel) a bit nervous because the trail was slippery, and they __________ (not expect) to be hiking so late. Luckily, after they __________ (backtrack) for another 30 minutes, they finally __________ (find) the correct path and made it back to their car safely. Even though they __________ (face) some unexpected challenges, they were glad they __________ (go) on the hike and decided they would plan better for their next trip."

1. By the time we arrived at the theater, they __________ (already finish) the movie.
2. She __________ (study) for three hours before she decided to take a break.
3. I __________ (not eat) all day, so I was starving by the time dinner was served.
4. They __________ (wait) for over an hour before the bus finally arrived.
5. When I saw him, he __________ (already leave) the office.
6. He __________ (read) the book for two weeks before he finally finished it.
7. The kids __________ (play) soccer for hours before it started to rain.
8. We __________ (not meet) each other until we attended the same conference.
9. The teacher __________ (already explain) the lesson before I entered the class.
10. She __________ (work) on the report for several hours before her computer crashed.

05

USED TO

Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative

Finally, let’s talk about "Used to". This one’s perfect for describing habits or things you used to do in the past but don’t do anymore. Maybe when you were a kid, you used to ride your bike to school every day, but now you drive. "Used to" is your go-to phrase for talking about those regular past activities that no longer happen.

Affirmative: Subject + used to + base form of the verb. I used to play football every weekend. Negative: Subject + didn’t use to + base form of the verb. She didn’t use to like coffee. Question: Did + subject + use to + base form of the verb? Did you use to live in the countryside?

So, whenever you want to share something that was a regular part of your past but isn’t anymore, "Used to" is your friend.

ACTIVITY 1. Rewrite the Sentences Rewrite these sentences using "used to".

1. I went swimming every weekend when I was little.
2. They often played soccer in the park after school.
3. She didn’t enjoy reading books, but now she reads every day.
4. We lived in a small town before we moved to the city.
5. He worked out at the gym every morning, but now he prefers running outside.

ACTIVITY 2. Short Answer Questions Answer these questions using "used to" and your own experiences.

1. What kind of food did you use to hate when you were younger but now enjoy?
2. Where did you use to go on vacation as a child?
3. What activities did you use to do that you don’t do anymore?
4. What kind of music did you use to listen to in high school?
5. Did you use to have any hobbies that you no longer do?

06

all narrative tenses

Telling stories and experiences

Now that we’ve covered all these tenses, you’re ready to tell a full story using Narrative Tenses. It’s all about mixing and matching these past tenses to give more depth and clarity to your stories. Here’s an example: Last summer, I went to a sports camp. We had been planning it for months, and everyone was really excited. On the second day, while we were playing basketball, it started raining. Luckily, we had already finished the game, so we ran back to our cabins. In this story:

• Simple Past: Describes the main events (went, started raining).
• Past Continuous: Sets the background (were playing basketball).
• Past Perfect: Describes what had already happened before another event (had finished the game).
• Past Perfect Continuous: Talks about an action that had been going on for some time (had been planning).

With these tenses, you can add detail, context, and depth to your stories and make them much more interesting and clear!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN

Instructions: Write your own story about a strange or unexpected day at the beach (or any other memorable event). Make sure to use all the narrative tenses (Simple Past, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, and Past Perfect Continuous) in your story, incorporating the following guidelines:

• Use Simple Past to describe the main events (e.g., what happened, what you did, etc.).
• Use Past Continuous to describe background actions that were happening at the same time as the main events (e.g., the weather, what people were doing while something else happened).
• Use Past Perfect to describe actions or events that had already happened before the main events (e.g., things you had done earlier that day or the day before).
• Use Past Perfect Continuous to describe actions that had been ongoing before another action or event occurred (e.g., things that had been happening for some time before something else happened).

Try to include at least:

• 2 sentences in Simple Past
• 2 sentences in Past Continuous
• 2 sentences in Past Perfect
• 1 sentence in Past Perfect Continuous

If you are a living, breathing human being, chances are you have felt sad at least a few times in your life. But what exactly is melancholy, and what (if anything) should we do about it? Courtney Stephens details our still-evolving understanding of sadness -- and even makes a case for its usefulness.

The Verb To Be

(Independent conjugation)

Unlike most verbs in the Simple Past, the verb "to be" doesn’t need any helping (auxiliary) verbs like “did” to form questions or negatives. Why? Because "to be" is special—it has its own conjugation! In the Simple Past, "to be" changes to was or were, depending on the subject.

For questions, there’s no need for an auxiliary (like “did”). You simply switch the order of was/were and the subject.Was he at school this morning around 9:30? Where were you last night when I called you? So, remember: unlike most verbs in the Simple Past, "to be" does all the work by itself. No need for an extra helping verb!

I/he/she/it → was/wasn't I was at the park yesterday. She wasn't tired after the game. You/we/they → were/weren't You were great in the match. They weren't at the party on Saturday.

The Missed Flight

ACTIVITY 1. TRUE OR FALSE?

INSTRUCTIONS: Based on the passage, tell if the following statements are True or False. In case there's one false statement, write what is true about it.

1. Sarah's family had been saving money for two years before the trip.
2. They had set the alarm correctly the night before the flight.
3. By the time they woke up, the taxi had already left.
4. Sarah had been to Europe several times before this trip.
5. The airline was able to book them a flight on the same day.

WH-Questions

with prepositions

In the Past Continuous, WH questions are used to ask about actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past. The structure is simple: we place the WH question word at the beginning, followed by the verb "to be" in the past (was/were), then the subject, and finally the verb in its -ing form.

WH questions with prepositions in the Past Continuous follow a similar structure, but the preposition comes at the end of the question. This happens when we want to ask about actions that involve a preposition, like "talking to," "waiting for," or "thinking about."

WH-Questions Structure: WH word + was/were + subject + verb(ing) + complement? What were you doing at 10 PM last night? Why were they laughing so loudly during class?

WH-Questions Structure: WH word + was/were + subject + verb(ing) + complement + preposition + rest of the question? What was she waiting for when you arrived? What were they laughing about during the movie?

It’s a common structure in everyday English when asking about actions with specific people or things involved.

These questions help us inquire about specific details related to actions that were in progress at a particular time.

The Missed Flight

Text created with Chat GPT

Last summer, Sarah and her family planned a vacation to Italy. They had been saving money for the trip for two years, and everything was organized perfectly. They had already booked their flights, accommodation, and even made reservations for a few tours. Sarah was particularly excited because she had never been to Europe before. The night before their flight, they packed their bags and set the alarm for 4 a.m., giving them plenty of time to catch their early flight. However, things didn’t go as planned. Sarah’s younger brother, Tom, had forgotten to set the alarm correctly, so the family overslept. By the time they woke up, they had already missed the taxi that was supposed to take them to the airport. In a panic, they rushed to get dressed and called for another taxi. When they finally arrived at the airport, their flight had already departed. Sarah was heartbroken. She had been looking forward to this trip for months, and now, all their plans were ruined. The airline staff was helpful, but there were no more flights available until the following day. Since they had already missed their first day in Italy, they decided to spend the night at a hotel near the airport. Despite the rough start, things eventually improved. When they finally arrived in Italy, they were able to enjoy the remaining days of their vacation. They visited historical sites, ate delicious Italian food, and Sarah even took a cooking class, which she loved. Although they had missed the first day of the trip, it turned out to be an unforgettable experience.

Writing Task

A Moment of Melancholy

Think about a time when you felt melancholic—maybe it was during a difficult goodbye, a memory of a special place, or a nostalgic moment from your past. Your task is to write about this experience in 200 words or less, using the Simple Past, time indicators (e.g., yesterday, last year, two months ago), and connectors (e.g., and, but, because, however, etc.).

Guidelines:

• Organize your writing into at least 3 paragraphs.
• Each paragraph should have at least 5 lines to keep the story clear and well-structured.
• First paragraph: Introduce the moment. When and where did it happen? Who was there? Set the scene using time indicators and the Simple Past.
• Second paragraph: Describe what happened and how you felt. Use connectors to create a smooth flow between ideas.
• Third paragraph: Conclude by reflecting on the experience. How did you deal with those feelings? How did that moment change or impact you?

Make sure your writing is coherent, with clear transitions between ideas. Proofread your text to check for grammar and punctuation.

TIME INDICATORS

• At [specific time] – to indicate an exact moment in the past:

I was reading a book at 8 PM last night.

• All [day, night, morning, etc.] – to express an action that lasted for a long time:

They were working all night to finish the project.

• As – similar to "while," it’s used to describe two actions happening at the same time:

As I was leaving the house, I realized I had forgotten my keys.

• During – to indicate an action in progress during a specific period:

He was talking to his boss during the meeting.

In the Past Continuous, the most common time indicators are used to signal an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past or to indicate interruptions of an ongoing action. Here are some of the most used ones:

• While – to signal that one action was in progress when another happened:

I was studying while my friends were playing video games.

• When – used to describe an interruption of an ongoing action:

I was walking to the park when it started to rain.

Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous

Both Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous describe actions that happened before another action in the past, but they are used differently depending on what you want to emphasize.

1. Past Perfect (Had + Past Participle) The Past Perfect is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action or before a specific point in the past. Focus: The completion of the action. Example: I had finished my homework before my friends arrived. (The homework was completed before my friends arrived.) She had already left when I called her. (The action of leaving was finished before the call happened.) Use the Past Perfect when you want to emphasize that something was already done before another past event.

2. Past Perfect Continuous (Had been + verb-ing) The Past Perfect Continuous is used to describe an action that was ongoing or happening for a period of time before another action in the past. Focus: The duration or ongoing nature of the action before another past event. Example: She had been waiting for 30 minutes when the bus finally arrived. (The waiting was in progress and continued until the bus arrived.) Use the Past Perfect Continuous when you want to emphasize that an action was ongoing or happening for a certain amount of time before another past event.

Your turn:

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUDIO

• What were researchers doing when they discovered that video games could help with rehabilitation?
• What were patients doing while they were using motion-based games?
• What did Sarah realize while she was playing the tennis simulation game?

Write two short paragraphs (5-6 sentences each) about a time when you tried a new activity or hobby and were surprised by the outcome. Use both the Past Continuous and the Simple Past in your story. Example start: I was learning how to cook a new recipe when I accidentally burned the vegetables. However, I quickly realized that...

Audio

TIME INDICATORS

By [specific time] – to refer to a specific point in time when the action was completed:

• They had left the party by 11 PM.

After – to show that one action occurred after another had been completed:

• After I had eaten dinner, I went for a walk.

When – similar to "by the time," it shows that one action was completed before the other started:

• When he arrived, we had already finished the project.

Once – to indicate that one action happened after the completion of another:

• Once they had finished the exam, they went home.

In the Past Perfect, time indicators are often used to show that an action occurred before another action in the past or before a specific point in time. Here are some of the most commonly used time indicators:

Before – to show that an action happened earlier than another:

• She had finished her homework before she went out with friends.

By the time – to indicate that something was completed before a particular moment or action:

• By the time the movie started, they had found their seats.

Grammar Practice

Simple Past vs Past Perfect

INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb according to the sequence of events (action 1 and action 2). Remember to use Past Simple and Past Perfect properly. Pay attention to time indicators.

1. By the time she __________ (arrive) at the party, most of the guests __________ (already leave).
2. He __________ (never see) the movie until his friends __________ (recommend) it to him.
3. After they __________ (finish) their homework, they __________ (go) to the park.
4. The train __________ (already leave) when we __________ (reach) the station.
5. They __________ (eat) dinner before they __________ (watch) the movie.
6. By the time the meeting __________ (start), we __________ (already prepare) all the documents.
7. I __________ (never visit) that museum before we __________ (go) together last week.
8. She __________ (finish) her assignment before the teacher __________ (ask) for it.
9. The students __________ (already complete) the quiz when the teacher __________ (collect) the papers.
10. By the time the storm __________ (begin), we __________ (already leave) the beach.
11. After the flight __________ (land), we __________ (realize) we __________ (forget) our luggage at home.
12. He __________ (read) the entire book before the class __________ (discuss) it.
13. They __________ (not meet) each other until they __________ (work) together last year.
14. The chef __________ (already cook) the meal before the guests __________ (arrive).
15. We __________ (never hear) about that singer until she __________ (release) her hit song.

Comprehension questions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EVIDENCE

1. Click on the blue buttom below
2. Download the attached file with the questions
3. Answer them and keep the document as part of the evidence

Note: You can either edit the document to send it as your evidence, or, if you prefer, answer the questions on your notebook and send a photo of it as an evidence.

Download the questions here

oBJECTIVE OF THE LESSON

By the end of the lesson, you’ll be able to describe past events with greater clarity and confidence, making your stories sound more natural and fluent in English.

The questions:

EXAMPLE FOR ANSWERING THIS TASK: Question: What were you doing on Sunday evening? Answer: On Sunday evening, I was having dinner with my family. We were talking about our day when suddenly my phone rang. It was my friend calling to tell me some exciting news.

What were you doing at 6:00 PM last night? What were you doing when you heard the last school announcement? What were you doing last Friday afternoon? What were you doing when the last big storm happened? What were you doing at this exact time yesterday?

MORE TIME INDICATORS

Yet – often used in negative sentences or questions to show that something had not happened up to a certain time:

• She hadn’t finished her project yet when the deadline arrived.
• Had they left yet when you arrived?

Already – used to indicate that something happened earlier than expected or before a particular point in the past:

• I had already read the book before the class started.

Ever – used in questions or negative statements to ask if something has happened at any point up until a certain time in the past:

• Had you ever been to Italy before your last trip?

Never – used to emphasize that something did not happen at any point up until a specific time in the past:

• I had never been so scared before.

These additional time indicators—like "for," "since," "yet," "already," and "ever"—are often used with the Past Perfect to emphasize the duration of actions, experiences, or completed events. Here's how each is used:

For (+ amount of time) – used to indicate the duration of an action up until another action or point in the past:

• I had lived in that city for five years before I moved to another country.

Since (+ time reference) – used to point out the starting point of an action or situation that continued up to a certain point in the past:

• He had studied French since he was a child

WH-Questions

with prepositions

These are the kinds of questions we ask when we want more than just a “yes” or “no” answer. WH-questions in the Simple Past help us get all the important information, like who, what, when, where, why, and how something happened.

Sometimes, we need to ask a bit more specific questions with prepositions. This is especially useful when you’re curious about location, reason, or time. Here, the preposition often comes at the end of the question

WH-Questions Structure: WH-word + did + subject + base form of the verb? What did you do last weekend? Where did she go on vacation?

WH-Questions Structure: WH-word + did + subject + base form of the verb + preposition? Who did you go with? What did you talk about?

Simple, right? You’re just adding a WH-word at the beginning and keeping the Simple Past question structure.

Remember, don’t be afraid to put the preposition at the end—it’s totally natural in English!

TIME INDICATORS

• Yesterday: I went to the gym yesterday.
• Last (night/week/month/year/etc.): We watched a movie last night.
• Ago: I moved to this city two years ago.
• In + year/month: She started college in 2020.
• On + day/date: They got married on Friday.
• At + time: He left the party at 10 PM.

These time expressions make it super easy to set the timeline for your past events. They give context and help the listener understand exactly when things happened.

When talking about events in the past, it’s important to know when something happened. That’s where time indicators come in. These are words and phrases that help us clarify exactly when the action took place. They give more detail to your story. Here are some of the most common time indicators you’ll see with the Simple Past: