THE PAST

PAST SIMPLE

PAST CONTINUOUS

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Form:

Regular Verbs

Affirmative:

Subject + verb + ed

Negative:

Subject + did + not + verb (infinitive)

Interrogative:

Did + subject + verb

Irregular verbs

Affirmative:

Subject + verb (second form)

Negative:

Subject + did + not + verb (infinitive)

Interrogative:

Did + subject + verb (infinitive)

Form:

Affirmative:

Subject + was / were + ing

Negative:

Subject + was/were + not + ing

Interrogative:

Was / Were + subject + ing

Form:

Affirmative: Subject + had + verb (past participle)

Negative:

Subject + had + not/ hadn't + verb (past participle)

Interrogative:

Had + subject + verb (past participle)

Form:

Affirmative:

Subject + had + been + verb + ing Negative:

Subject + had + not/ hadn't + been + verb + ing

Interrogative:

Had + subject + been + verb + ing

Use:

- Actions completed at a specified point in the past: Yesterday, I had a few meetings

Use

-Actions in progress at a certain point in the past:

Yesterday at 6 p.m. I was writing an assessment report.

Two past actions in progress at the same time:

We were discussing the new policies while the secretary was taking down the minutes

Use:

- Action in the past completed before another action in the past:

I had already finished by the time he came.

Use:

- the duration of an action in progress before another activity or period in the past

He had been working on the contract for 2 hours when he found out that the client had changed his mind.

Expressions of time:

Last year, month, week etc., yesterday

Expressions of time:

Last year, month, week etc., yesterday

Expressions of time:

just, ever, never, already, yet, until, by the time, by then