THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE FORM Affirmative form: We use the past form of the verb or we put an -ED suffix at the infinitive of the verb. Interrogative form: We use DID and the infinitive form of the verb. Negative form: We use DIDN'T and the infinitive of the verb. Past Simple refers to: For an action which happened at a definite time in the past - time is stated, already known or implied. e.g. I met him yesterday. When did you met him? (when the time is asked about) In those days, I didn't like reading. For actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past. e.g. First she paid the driver, the she got out of the taxi. Past habits or states (which are now finished). In such cases we can also use the expression used to. e.g. Kitchens were/ used to be very different a hundred years ago. Every day I went to the park. Sometimes a time becomes definite as a result of a question and answer in the resent perfect. e.g. A:`Where have you been?' B: `I've been to the opera.' A: `Did you enjoy it?' Conditional sentences type 2, after: as if, as though, it is time, if only, wish, wood sooner/rather. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE FORM WERE or WAS + infinitive with ING. Past Continuous refers to: For an action which was in progress at the stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started of finished. e.g. At seven o'clock yesterday evening they were having dinner. (We do not know when they started or finished their diner.) For an action in progress when another action interrupted it - we use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and the past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action). e.g. He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend. While I was opening the letter, the phone rang. Simultaneous past action. e.g. She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work. To describe the atmosphere, setting etc.- in the introduction to a story before we describe the main events. e.g. One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rusting in the breeze. Repeated actions and criticism. e.g. When Jane was at school, she was always losing things.

THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE FORM HAD + past participle or infinitive with ED Past Perfect Simple refers to: Action which happened before another past action or before stated time in the past - where there is no time expression to make this clear. e.g. She had finished work when she met her friends for coffee. By the time I got to the station, the train had left. (But: The train left five minutes ago before I got to the station). He met her in Paris in 1977. He had seen her ten years before. He had served in the army for ten years; then he retired and remarried. Action which finished in the past - result visible in the past. e.g. He was happy. He signed an important contract. After when, as soon as, the moment, immediately - when we wish to emphasize that the first action was completed before the second one started. e.g. When she had sung the song she sat down. With till/until and before - to emphasize the completion or expected completion of an action. e.g. He refused to go till he had seen all the pictures. Before he had finished his meal he ordered us to back to work. Two actions viewed in retrospect from a point in the past. e.g. He had been to school but he had learned nothing there, so was now illiterate. In indirect speech e.g. He said that he had been in England for ten years. THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS FORM HAD + BEEN + infinitive with ING Past Perfect Continuous refers to: To put emphasis on the duration of an action which started and finished in the past before another past action or a stated time in the past, usually with since or for. e.g. They had been looking for six months before they found one like they liked. For an action which lasted for some time in the past and whose result was visible in the past. e.g. It was now ten o'clock and he was tired because he had been working since dusk. Contrast with Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous. By six o'clock he had repaired the engine. (This job had been completed) By six o'clock he had been repairing the engine. (It does not tell us whether or not it was completed) He had been painting the door. (The paint was probably still wet) He had painted the door. (Perhaps recently, perhaps some time ago)

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