Past tenses

The infinitivePresent participle
Past participle
To + verb verb + ing verb+ d or ed
Mind the irregular verbs
To close ,To walkClosing, Walking Closed ,Walked To drinkDrinkingDrunkTo takeTakingTaken
The simple past
Simple pastThe rule
ExampleHe was/he drank/he went/he played
Yesterday, last week, last month, last year, a month ago....
verb+d or ed


I visited New York City a month ago.


He ate chicken yesterday.

James smoked for most of his life.
(Maybe for 30 years)
Question
Did + verb
Did you find the answer?
Negation
Did not (didn't)+ verb
I didn't find the answer.
I did not find the answer.
Short answerDid
 Did not (didn't)
Yes, I did.
No, I did not (didn't).
Past Continuous (Progressive)The rule
Example
he was playing/he was eating
All night, all day, while, yesterday..)
Was+ were+ verb+ing


I was reading a novel yesterday evening.
(I spent the whole evening reading)


I was reading a novel, while he was playing.
(At the same time)

They were living in Moscow.
(Now, they live in London)
Note
We can use the past simple and the past continuous in the same sentence.
I was reading a novel, when the phone rang.


We were playing games, when she arrived.Past perfectThe rule
Example
He had played/he had gone
Had+past participle

I had finished my work by nine o’clock.


I had played games before I went to bed.
(Two actions: one action before the other one )
Past perfect continuous The rule
Example
He had been playing
He had been going
Had+been+ present participle

Really, I was very tired! I had been revising all evening.


I had been waiting for James for thirty minutes when he finally arrived.
(James arrived after thirty minutes )








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