Tenses
Tense that indicates that an activity, state, habit or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.
Past Simple
While they chatted/were chatting, I studied/was studying.
were chatting/was studying
Last year Tim ________ (pass) all his exams.
passed
You started the fight.
Did you start the fight?
We eat a lot of cheese last Monday.
We use it for actions and events that were in progress at a particular moment in the past.
Past Continuous
It was a beautiful day in the park last Sunday. The sun shone/was shining and people were smiling/smiled.
was shining, were smiling
She ________ (cook) when her mum ______ (come).
was cooking, came
They were studying all night.
Were they studying all night?
He was watching a movie when the electricity went out.
Correct
It expresses an activity that was completed before another activity or time in the past.
Past Perfect Simple
I didn't recognise / hadn't recognised my friend, because she cut / had cut her hair.
didn't recognise/had cut
She ________ (cook) when her mum ______ (come).
was cooking, came
They had gone to the supermarket to buy groceries.
Had they gone to the supermarket to buy groceries?
I opened the fridge to find that someone had eat all my chocolate.
Incorrect. someone had EATEN
Which tense is used when we want to emphasize the duration of an ongoing action?
Past Continuous
When I looked / had looked everywhere for my car keys, I started / had started to panic.
had looked, started
Before I ________ (touch) anything in there, I ______ (wash) my hands.
touched, had washed
They did their homework together and helped each other.
Did they do their homework together and help each other?
I opened my handbag to find that I forgot my credit card.
Incorrect. that I had forgotten (happened before)
We use it to draw attention to the fact that something took place and finished before something else in the past.
Yesterday, a man had wanted/wanted/was wanting to steal my wallet, but little did he know that I was leaving/had left/left it at home.
wanted, had left
I ____________ (walk) down an alley when a weird man _________ (appear) in front of me and ______ (want) to steal my wallet, but little did he know that I ________ (leave) it at home.
was walking, appeared, wanted, had left
By the time they got to the cinema, the movie had already started.
Had the movie already started by the time they got to the cinema?
They had prepared and organised my birthday party by the time I got back.
Correct.