Past tenses

PAST SIMPLE:

Uses:

• Something happened in the past./ eg. I met you an 1983
• Something that happened repeteadly in the past./ eg. They always enjoyed visiting their friends
• Something that was true for some time in the past: eg. I lived abroad for ten years.
• Phrases with "ago"./ eg. I met my husband ten years ago

Form:

+ You went to the cinema last night

- You didn't go to the cinema last night

? Did you go to the cinema last night?

PAST CONTINUOUS:

Uses:

• An action in the past interrupted by another action./ eg. The children were doing their homework when their grandmother arrived home.
• For something that happened before and after a particular time./ At half past nine, I was writting a letter.
• To show that something continued for some time./ eg. My head was aching
• For something that was happening again and again./  eg. I was practising everyday, twice a day.
• With verbs which show change or growth./ eg. Her English was improving/ My hair was going grey.

Form:

+ I,he, she, it + was + talking, eating, learning, doing, going…

you, we, they + were + talking, eating, learning, doing, going…

- Subject + wasn't/ weren't + gerund/ eg I wasn't talking to you

? Was/ Were + subject + gerund? / eg Were you talking to me?

PAST PERFECT/ PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

Uses ( Past Perfect continuous has the same the same uses than past perfect but emphasazes more in the process):

• For something that started in the past and continued up to a given time in the past/ eg. When George died, he and Anna had been married for 15 years.
• For something we have done several times up to a point in the past and continued to do after that point. / eg. She had written three books and she was working on another one
• With since/ eg. They had worked together since 1980.
• When we are reporting our experience and including up to the (then) present/ eg. My 18th birthday was the worst day I had ever had
• For something that happened in the past but is important at the time of reporting/ eg. I couldn't get into the house. I had lost my keys
• Conditions, hypotheses and wishes/ eg. I would have helped him if he had asked.

Form:


PAST PERFECT

 
I, you, he, she, it, we, they                             had                         studied
I'd, you'd, he'd, she'd, it'd, we'd, they'd                                         studied 

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I, you, he, she, it, we, they                              had                   been                       studying
I'd, you'd, he'd, she'd, it'd, we'd, they'd                                    been                       studying


PRESENT PERFECT

Uses:

• Period not finished yet (This weekend, this month) 
• Time not mentioned or no important (I've eaten crocodile)
• Action finished in the past but the effect still felt in the present (He's broken my arm)

Form:

I, you, we, they                                               have                              past participle (3rd column)
He, she, it                                                        has                                 past participle (3rd column)

+ They have done their homework
- They haven't done their homework
? Have they done their homework?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Uses:

• Period not finished yet (This weekend, this month) 
• Time not mentioned or no important (I've eaten crocodile)
• Action finished in the past but the effect still felt in the present (He's broken my arm)

But emphasizing the process or duration

Form:

+ Have/has + been+ gerund. / eg. I have been reading the book

- Haven't/ hasn't + been + gerund /  I haven't been reading the book

? Has/have + subject + been + gerund? Have you been reading the book?