Past Tense

Simple Past

The simple past is used to andicate a finished or completed action / task that happend at a specific point in time in the past . A specific time can be diverse and can cover a long priod of time but it cannot be undeterminable.

Subject + verb in the past form + ....+ adverb of time + ....

I went to mexico last year.

He had an exam yesterday.

I didn't do my homework.

The present continuous is used to demonstrate an action that was happening in the past for a period of time in a particular context. The context can be a specific time or another action.

Subject + was / were + verb + ing +..... a specific time

Alex was sleeping yesterday at 6:30 AM .

I was washing the dishes at around 5:30 - 6:30 yesterday .

When + subject + simple past tense + subject + was / were + verb+ing ...

When I went out, you were shouting from behind.

Whan sara came, I was sleeping.

Subject + was / were + verb+ing + when + subject + simple past tense...

You were shouting from behind when I went outside.

I was sleeping when sara came home.

While + subject + was / were + verb+ing + subject + was / were + verb+ing...

While I was sleeping, you were making noises.

While sara was playing, I was sleeping.

The past perfect is used to demonstrate an action that occurred before another action in the past

Subject + had + past participle form of the main verb + before + subject + simple past tense...

Alex had completed the task before teacher asked.

I had bought a phone before you came here.

Before + subject + sinple past tense + subject + had + past particible form of verb +...

Before I went to the office, I had finished some business with her.

Before she went home, she had taken a test.

Subject + simple past + after + subject + had + past particible...

I went to the office after I had finished some business with her.

Mark ate after I'd(had) bought him a bat.

After + subject + had + past participle + subject + simple past ...

After I had bought a phone for her, she left me! .

After she had gone, I found a new one.

when

after

before

Past perfect continuous is an extension to the past perfect tense and its structures. Past perfect continuous is used to demonstrate an action which contiued for a specific period of time but stopped before another action.

Subject + had + been + [verb + ing] + .... + for / since + .... + before + subject + past simple tense

Alex had been playing cricket for 15 years before he retired.
Jack had been living in Sydney since 2010 before he moved to Melbourne.