PAST TENSES

past tenses

PAST SIMPLE

STRUCTURE: AFFIRMATIVE-Subject + past simple (regular and irregular verbs) NEGATIVE - Subject + did not (didn't) + verb (base form) QUESTION - Did + subject + verb (base form)? We use the PAST SIMPLE: - For completed actions in the past and for past states Ex.Dickens wrote Oliver Twist - For two or more past actions in sequence, especially in narrative (it follows a chronological order). Ex. He took off his hat and came forward, then, we started to discuss. TIME EXPRESSIONS When, frequency adverbs (always), state verbs (love, know, taste), ago, last week/month, yesterday

PAST CONTINUOUSSTRUCTURE: AFF: Subject + was/were + vb.ing NEGATIVE: Subject + wasn't/ weren't + vb.ing QUESTION: Was/ Were + subject + vb.ing?

We use the Past Continuous: - to describe actions in progress at a specific time in the past . Ex - Yesterday evening, I was driving home frow work - Two actions happening at the same time. In this case we usually use while. Ex.While my brother was doing the homework, I was doing the shopping. - to describe the background. Ex. The sun was shining and everybody was walking whereas the Past Simple is used to for actions in a story. Ex. He arrived at the beach and ate a burger - We use the Past Simple and the Past Continuous in the same sentence when one action interrupted another in the past. We use the Past Continuous for the longer action and the Past Simple for the shorter action. In this case we usually use while, when or as.. Ex.We were walking down the hill when it started to rain. TIME EXPRESSIONS: While, as, active verbs (walk, run), for a long time, all day, for two hours.

PAST PERFECT STRUCTURE: AFF: Subject + had + past participle NEGATIVE: Subject + hadn't + past participle QUESTION: Had + subject + past participle?

We use the Past Perfect: - to talk about an action which happened before another action in the Past Simple. Ex. He knew it because I´d already told him TIME EXPRESSIONS: A. We often use temporal expressions like never, after, already, just with the Past Perfect. He ate his sandwich after he had washed his hands. B. We use the Past Perfect with because to give reasons for an action in the past. I couldn´t get in the house because I had lost my keys.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS STRUCTURE: - AFF: Subject + “had” + “been” + verb+ing - I had [I’d] been studying English for 2 years when I went to London.(Había estado estudiando inglés durante 2 años cuando fui a Londres.) - NEG: Subject + “had” + “not” + “been” + verb+ing - Lindsay had not [hadn’t] been working at the store for long when it closed.(Lindsay no había estado trabajando en la tienda mucho tiempo cuando se cerró.) - INT: Had + subject + “been” + verb+ing? - Had they been traveling for a long time when the airline lost their luggage?(¿Habían estado viajando mucho tiempo cuando la aerolínea perdió su equipaje?)

We use the Past Perfect Continuous: - for an action in progress up to a specific moment or another action in the past. I’d been working for hours when I fell asleep at my desk.(Había estado trabajando durante horas cuando me quedé dormido en mi escritorio.) - for an action the results of which were obvious later on in the past. She was tired because she’d been working too much.(Estaba cansado porque había estado trabajando demasiado.) TIME EXPRESSIONS Before + point in time, By + point in time ,, after, when, how long, since, for

USED TO vs WOULD

When we talk about something that happened regularly or repeatedly in the past but not now, we often use the structures ‘used to + infinitive’ and ‘would + infinitive’

USED TO + INFINITIVE

We use used to + infinitive when we talk about things that happened in the past but do not happen now. In the negative we say didn’t use to + infinitive: I used to live in a large city, but now I live by the seaside. I didn’t use to go swimming everyday. Did you use to live in a small or large city? We can use this structure with both states and actions: Paul used to be very calm when he was younger. Now he’s stressed all the time. (STATE) Paul used to work full-time, but now he only takes on part-time jobs. (ACTION)

WOULD + INFINITIVE

When we are telling a story or recalling a situation from a long time ago, we often prefer to use would to describe repeated behaviour in the past, although both would and used to are possible: I remember growing up in the countryside. It was a peaceful and simple life. I would pick vegetables every day and from time to time I would feed the chickens with my mother. Note that would can only describe past events and actions. It is not usually used with states. To describe past states we can only use used to: Paul would be (NOT) used to be very calm when he was younger. Now he’s stressed all the time.