PAST TENSES

PAST TENSES

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Past continuous

Past simple

Would-Used to

Past perfect simple

Past perfect continuous

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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--> a series of actions that happened in the past

My grandfather had two brothers--> situations or states in the past

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...

Two weeks ago I visited London-->

___ + ago

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

The day before yesterday

past dates, hours, years, centuries

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

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

when-sentences

WOULD (for the past)

When I was 5, we would go to the cinema every Friday.-->repeated actions in the past (past habits)

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 that have changed

Do not confuse with:

BE USED TO

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

GET USED TO

I'm getting used to her accent.--> becoming accustomed to something; you are not fully accustomed yet

past continuous

What were you doing yesterday at 5?--> actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past When I saw Susan, she was having a drink.--> an action in progress in the past interrupted by another (past simple)

She was uploading some videos while we were posting our latest photos. --> two incomplete past actions happening at the same time

TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH PAST continuous

Yesterday at 6 am I was having breakfast.

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

while

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

as

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

the whole day

past PERFECT SIMPLE

When I got out of the school, I noticed someone had stolen my project.--> past actions completed before another action in the past It is often 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

By the time we arrived, the concert had already started.-->

By the time+past simple

They left before I'd spoken to them.-->

before

The party couldn't begin until Jane had arrived.-->

until

past PERFECT continuous

How long had they been running when they took a break?--> past actions that were in progress when a shorter one happened. She was tired because she had been working too much. --> to show cause and effect It is structured as "have/has been + -ing" (“llevar + gerund” in Spanish)

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, you can use "although", "because", "when", "until" or "before".: He had been drinking before he got in his car./Her eyes were red because she had been crying.

thanks!

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Past tenses