Choose the tense
Not so long ago he _______________ (join) the new social club.
joined
1) Finished actions at a specific time in the past.
2) Action that happened before another past action/moment.
1) Past Simple
2) Past Perfect
I arrived late. (Add Past Perfect)
I arrived late because I had missed the bus
Use PS + PC (2 sentences).
I was walking home when I saw a police car.
She was texting her friend when the teacher entered the classroom
When she ______________ (enter) the room, her nieces ______________ (paint) the picture.
entered, were painting
Action that had been happening before another past action/moment (duration matters).
Past Perfect Continuous
She was angry. (Add Past Perfect Continuous)
She was angry because she had been waiting for over an hour.
Use PS + PP (2 sentences).
I realised I had left my wallet at home.
They were surprised because someone had already told the secret.
Meeting her in the mall ___________ (make) me think about the time we __________(use to) spend together.
made, used to
Two past actions: one ongoing background + one short interrupting event.
Past Continuous + Past Simple
We found the keys. (Add Past Perfect + reason)
We found the keys because someone had left them on the kitchen table.
Use PC + PP + time link (by the time / already).
She was getting ready the whole evening, and by the time the taxi arrived, she had already finished her preparation.
Would you be happier if you _____________ (study) computer science last term.
were studying
Name any cases of usage for Past Perfect
1) An earlier action before another past action
When I arrived, they had already left.
2) An earlier action before a past time (a deadline in the past)
By 8 p.m., I had written three emails.
3) Explaining the reason/cause in the past
He was tired because he had worked late.
He missed the bus. (Add Past Perfect Continuous duration + “before”)
He missed the bus because he had been looking for his wallet for ten minutes before he left the house.
Use all 4 past tenses in a mini-story (4 sentences).
I was studying in the café when the lights went out. (PC + PS)
Everyone panicked, but I had seen something strange earlier. (PS + PP)
A man was standing near the door, and he looked nervous. (PC)
He had been watching us for ten minutes before he suddenly ran outside. (PPC + PS)
My friend __________(write) computer games for 7 years when finally he __________(have) success with it.
had been writing, had
Name any cases of usage for past perfect continuous tense.
1) Duration before another past action or time (duration is important)
He had been studying for two hours before the exam started
2) To show an action was continuing up to a past moment
When I met her, she had been living in London for months.
The police questioned him. (Add Past Perfect + a twist)
The police questioned him because someone had reported his car stolen—but it had actually been borrowed by his brother.
Use all 4 past tenses in a mini-story (4+ sentences - my weekend).
I was relaxing at home on Saturday morning when my friend suddenly called me.
I had already planned to stay in, but I agreed to meet her anyway.
While we were walking to a café, it started raining.
We were soaked because we had been waiting for the bus for nearly thirty minutes before it finally arrived.
Later, we watched a movie, and I fell asleep as soon as I got home.