SIMPLE PAST
When do we use the simple past?
Finished actions
When do we use the past perfect?
To talk about an action that occured after another
When do we use the past continuous?
To talk about actions and states in progress (happening) around a particular time in the past.
When do we use past perfect continuous?
to talk about actions that continued for a period of time before another action or situation in the past
Structure of simple past
S + V (past) + comp
Structure of past perfect
Structure of past continuous
S + was/were + verb -ing
Structure of past perfect continuous
S + had been + verb-ing
When I (arrive) ______ they were talking about me
When I arrived, they were talking about me
They wanted to buy a new computer, but they _____ (not / save) enough money.
They wanted to buy a new computer, but they hadn't saved enough money.
They _________ (clean) the dishes when we came back to our house
They were cleaning the dishes when we came back to our house
I ______ (learn) English for almost 3 years when I first _____(travel) abroad.
I had been learning English for almost 3 years when I first traveled abroad.
When we _______(be) on the shopping line, we noticed we hadn't brought the wallet
When we were on the shopping line, we noticed we hadn't brought the wallet
I was late. The teacher ____ (already /give) a quiz when I ____ (get) to class
I was late. The teacher had already given a quiz when I got to class
The kids ____ (still / sleep) when their father _______ (call). And I didn’t want to wake them up, so they didn’t talk to him.
The kids were still sleeping when their father called. And I didn’t want to wake them up, so they didn’t talk to him.
My mother ___ (cook) something for more than one hour when I walked in the room. She was already exhausted, so I ____ (help) her finish preparing the food.
My mother had been cooking something for more than one hour when I walked in the room. She was already exhausted, so I helped her finish preparing the food.