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ARTICLE CONTENTS
PAST CONTINOUS.................................................................................................................................... 2 Explanation ......................................................................................................................................... 3 PAST SIMPLE ........................................................................................................................................... 6 PAST PERFECT ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Explanation ......................................................................................................................................... 9 PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS................................................................................................................... 13 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS ............................................................................................................ 15 Explanation ....................................................................................................................................... 16 PRESENT PERFECT ................................................................................................................................. 18 Explanation ....................................................................................................................................... 19

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The past tense is a verb tense expressing activity, action state or being in the past. In English, there are two types of past tense: 1. simple past 2. present tense 1. Simple past include:

Past Progressive Past Simple Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous

2. The present tenses:

Present Perfect Continuous Present Perfect

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) both refer to the present and to the past.

I have just eaten my chocolate bar. Mike has never seen a car like this before.

PAST CONTINOUS

The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home. I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married. If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park. She told me that she had been working as a teacher for over 40 years.

We usually use the Past Continuous to talk about activities that lasted for some time in the past. The actions can be interruped by something or can be happening at the same time. Use 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Duration in the past Interrupted actions in progress Actions in progress at the same time in the past Irritation Polite question

USE 1: Duration in the past We use the Past Continuous to talk about actions or situations that lasted for some time in the past, and whose duration time is unknown or unimportant. Examples:

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I was watching TV yesterday in the evening. She was sleeping on the couch. The dog was barking.

USE 2: Interrupted actions in progress The Past Continuous is often used when one action in progress is interruped by another action in the past. We usually use when or while to link these two sentences. 1. Sentence in Past Continuous e.g. I was singing 3. WHEN/WHILE Examples:

WHEN

Sentence in Past Simple e.g. my wife came home

Sentence in Past Sentence in Past Simple + Continuous + e.g. I was singing e.g. my wife came home

I was talking with James when the telephone rang. While Angelica was playing tennis, the plane crashed . When Bob was painting windows, it started raining.

Explanation
In this cartoon, you can see a man who says: "When I was jogging someone stopped me and asked what time it was.".

Why is this in Past Continuous? Click on the button labled "event 1". You can see that the man is jogging. This is a continuous action. Suddenly, another man stops him and asks what time it is. This is "event 2". Notice that the action of jogging is interrupted by event 2. This is why the use of Past Continuous is correct here.

USE 3: Actions in progress at the same time

We also use this tense to talk about two or more activities happening at the same. We usually use when or while to link the two sentences.
1. Sentence in Past Continuous + e.g. I was singing WHEN/WHILE + e.g. She was cooking Sentence in Past Continuous

3.

Page 4 of 23 WHEN/WHILE + e.g. I was singing Examples:

Sentence in Past Continuous +

Sentence in Past Continuous e.g. She was cooking

I was watching TV and Barbara was reading a book. The family was eating the dinner and talking. When Bob was painting windows, Mary was working in the kitchen.

USE 4: Polite questions

If we want to ask a polite question, we can use the Past Continuous.

Examples:

I was wondering if you could open the window. I was thinking you might help me with this problem.

Even though the sentences have a Past Continuous form, they refer to the present moment. Their meaning is similar to the "could you" sentences, but they are more polite.
USE 5: Irritation

Remember that you can also express irritation over somebody or something in the past.
Examples:

She was always coming late for dinner!

Form

To form a sentence in the Past Continuous, you need:

1. The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to be" in the past form 2. The Present Participle of your verb (verb + ing)

1. Auxiliary verb "to be" The past form of the auxiliary verb "to be" is:
1. For the first and third person singular: "was" 2. For all others: "were" Examples:

She was always coming late for dinner! You were always coming late for dinner!

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2. The Present Participle The present participle is of a verb is a verb form that appears with the present tenses. The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the verb.

talk + ing = talking be + ing = being

There are exceptions.

Positive Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. was / were

Auxiliary verb +

Verb + ing e.g. swimming/talking etc.

[ A rhinoceros was swatting flies with its tail when suddenly a fly bit him (Use 2) ]

Examples At 3 p.m., I was having lunch

Use (Use 1)

They were talking about her when she walked into the (Use 2) room. While Kenneth was cleaning the living room, Sam was (Use 3) washing the dishes. We were all thinking about our holidays. (Use 2)

Questions Auxiliary verb + was / were Examples Was she going to the theater when it started raining? What were the defenders doing when Kenneth struck the ball? e.g. I/a dog etc. Subject + e.g. swimming/talking etc. Use (Use 2) Verb + ing

(Use 2)

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Were you painting your house yesterday at 5 p.m.? Was Mary shopping when the mall was burning? Negative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples He asked me why I wasn't having dinner at the hotel. We weren't playing football when the earthquake began. was not / were not

(Use 1) (Use 3)

Auxiliary verb +

Verb + ing e.g. swimming/talking etc. Use (Use 1)

(Use 2)

PAST SIMPLE

I was sleepy. He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago. I went to the cinema, bought popcorn and watched a movie.

We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can be a few actions happening one ofter another.
Use 1. Events in the past that are now finished 2. Situation in the past 3. A series of actions in the past USE 1: Past actions that are now finished

The first use of the Past Simple to express actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short [1] or long [2].
Examples:

John cut his finger last week. [1] I went to college 3 years ago. [2] He ate the dinner 1 hour ago. [1] I slept well last night. [2]

Page 7 of 23 USE 2: Situation in the past

Another use of this tense is talk about situations in the past.

Examples:

I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore).

USE 3: A series of actions in the past

The Past Simple can also be used with a few actions in the past happening one after another.
Examples:

He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests.

Form

Forming a sentence in the Past Simple is easy. To form a declarative sentence, all you need is the subject of the sentence (e.g. I, you, he, a dog) and the past form of your verb (e.g. was, talked, swam). Questions and negative sentences are only a little more difficult, because they require an auxiliary verb.
Declarative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. e.g. worked/went/made

Verb + ED or an irregular verb form

I saw two colorful fishes in the lake yesterday (Use 1) Examples He entered the room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests. Mary tried the soup but it was too hot to eat. I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore). They saw us playing football. Use (Use 3)

(Use 1)

(Use 2) (Use 1)

He married a woman who lived in the same (Use 3) village. I ate the cake yesterday. (Use 1)

Page 8 of 23 I have eaten the cake yesterday. Time Expressions Common time expressions (time adverbials) in the Past Simple are:

yesterday the other day just now the day before yesterday

Questions Auxiliary verb + did Examples How long did he work there? Did the telephone ring? Did you see that? Negative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago. I wasn't at my grandma's when you came. He didn't get any good grades when he attended school. didn't e.g. I/a dog etc. Subject + e.g. work/go/make Use (Use 1) (Use 1) (Use 1) Verb in the present form

Auxiliary verb + not +

Verb in the present form e.g. work/go/make Use (Use 1) (Use 1) (Use 3)

PAST PERFECT

I had written the letter before you came home. If she had studied hard, she would have passed the English language exam. I wish I had been brave enough. Mary looked as if she had not slept for 48 hours.

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We use the Past Perfect tense to emphasize that an action in the past finished before another action in the past started. This tense is also used in reported speech, third conditional sentences, or to show dissatisfaction with the past. Use 1. 2. 3. 4. Completed action before another action in the past Third conditional sentences Reported speech Dissatisfaction with the past

USE 1: A completed action before another action in the past The first use of this tense is to emphasize that one action in the past happened before another action in the past. Examples:

I had finished my homework before I went playing football. John had never been to London before we went there last year.

Good to know People (especially native speakers) do not use the Past Perfect in above sentences very often. For example, they will say:

After I washed my car, I went to fill up.

Rather than:

After I had washed my car, I went to fill up.

This is because "after" and "before" tell the listener which action happened first. Still, keep in mind that it is better to use the Past Perfect, especially in written English or when writing exams.

Explanation
In this cartoon, you can see a man who says: "My son, Julius, had never seen a camel, before we went together to the Zoo in summer 1990 ".

Why is this in Past Perfect? Click on the button labled "event 1". The father asks his son, Julius, the following question: "Have you ever seen a camel?". Julis replies that he has never seen it. In the next scene, they are in the Zoo, watching the animal. Notice that the event 1 occured before event 2. It means that the use of Past Perfect is correct here.

USE 2: Third conditional

Use the Past Perfect with third conditional sentences.

Page 10 of 23 Examples:

If we had gone by taxi, we wouldn't have been late. If Mary had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.

This use is the so-called hypothetical past: we are talking about things that never happened.

I wish I had fixed my umberella. (but I didn't) If only I had known the answer to that question. (but I didn't)

USE 3: Reported speech

Use the Past Perfect with sentences in reported speech.

Examples:

Mary said she had already seen this film. He asked if I had read Harry Potter.

USE 4: Dissatisfaction with the Past

We often use the Past Perfect to show our dissatisfaction with the past. Such sentences typically start with "I wish ..." or "If only ...".
Examples:

I wish I had taken more food. I'm hungry now. If only I had taken more food. I'm hungry now.

The Past Perfect is also used with expressions such as "as if" and "as though":

John looked as if he had done something terrible. She looked as though she hadn't slept all night.

Form

To form a sentence in the Past Perfect, what you need is:

1. The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have" in the past form. 2. The Past Participle of your verb.

1. Auxiliary verb "to have" The past form of the auxiliary verb "to have" is "had":

Mary had finished her homework before Mike came home. Mary has finished her homework before Mike came home.

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Mary hads finished her homework before Mike came home.

2. The Past Participle The past participle of a verb is a verb form that appears with the perfect tenses. The past participle can be either regular or irregular.

The regular verbs are formed by adding "-ed" to the verb: Verb talk explain use deliver include achieve talked explained used delivered included achieved Past Participle

The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should be memorized.
Verb be become see go eat grow Past Participle been become seen gone eaten grown be become see go eat grow Learn more

Positive Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc.

Auxiliary verb + had

Past participle e.g. eaten/given/gone etc.

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Examples Before I went to the park, I had finished my work. If he had made the right choice, he wouldn't be unhappy now. Mary said she had already seen this movie before. I wish I had had enough courage to kiss her!

Use (Use 1) (Use 2)

(Use 3) (Use 4)

Questions Auxiliary verb + had Examples Had she eaten the dinner before she went to the cinema? Negative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples I had not seen this movie before we went to the cinema yesterday to see it. If he hadn't made the mistake, he would be happy now. Mary said she had not visited for a long time. I wish I hadn't done it! had not e.g. I/a dog etc. Subject + e.g. eaten/given/gone etc. Use (Use 1) Past participle

Auxiliary verb +

Past participle e.g. eaten/given/gone etc. Use (Use 1)

(Use 2)

(Use 3) (Use 4)

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PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS

The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home. I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married. If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park. She told me that she had been working as a teacher for over 40 years.

The Past Perfect Continuous is used to talk about actions or situations that were in progress before some other actions or situations. There are also other uses.
Use 1. 2. 3. 4. Duration of a past action up to a certain point in the past Showing cause of an action or situation Third conditional sentences Reported speech

USE 1: Duration of a Past Action

The main use of the Past Perfect Continuous is to express actions or situations that were in progress before some other actions or situations.
Examples:

The boys had been quarreling for half an hour when we arrived home. I had been dating Angelina for 3 years before we got married.

USE 2: Showing Cause

Use this tense to show cause of an action or situation in the past.

Examples:

John was in a detention because he had been misbehaving. The road was wet because it had been raining. I had to go on a diet because I had been eating too much sugar. Jessica got sunburnt because she had been lying in the sun too long.

USE 3: Third Conditional

Remember that this tense is also used in third conditional sentences.

Examples:

If it hadn't been raining, we would have gone to the park.

USE 4: Reported Speech

This tense also appears in Reported speech.

Page 14 of 23 Examples:

She said she knew Charlie had been lying to her.

Reported Speech Form Positive Sentences Subject Auxiliary verb + I/a dog etc. had

Auxiliary verb + been +

Verb + ing eating/swimming, etc.

[ Father: When I looked at our daughter Kathy I knew she had been crying. (Use 1) ]

I had been running for an hour when it started raining. (Use 1) Mary said she had never been swimming so much in one day. (Use 4) Kathy put on weight because she had been eating too much sugar. (Use 1) Everything had been going well in my life until my world fell apart several months ago. (Use 1)

[ He said he had been training. (Use 4, Reported Speech) ]

Questions Auxiliary verb + Had

Subject + I/a dog etc.

Auxiliary verb + been

Verb + ing eating/swimming, etc.

For how many hours had Fred been painting the house when the ladder fell? (Use 1) How long had the player been playing before he scored? (Use 1)

The difference between the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous Negative Sentences Subject Auxiliary verb + not + I/a dog /Mary, etc. hadn't

Auxiliary verb + been +

Verb + ing going/swimming, etc.

He said he wasn't tired because he hadn't been working that day. (Use 3) If it hadn't been raining, we would have played football. (Use 2)

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Had I not been studying all night, I would have problems with this test now. (Use 2)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINOUS

I have been working as a teacher for 30 years. What have you been doing?

The Present Perfect Continuous has a long and scary name. But don't worry! Read on to learn how to use it. Use 1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present 2. Actions that have recently stopped 3. Temporary actions and situations USE 1: Continuation in the Present We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continues in the present. Examples:

He has been painting the house for 5 hours. He's still painting it I have been working as a fireman since 1973. I still work as a fireman

USE 2: Past actions recently stopped Use this tense also to talk about actions that began in the past and have recently stopped. Examples:

I have been waiting for you for half an hour! I'm not waiting anymore because you have come Look at her eyes! I'm sure she has been crying. She stopped crying when she saw them

For and Since Since and for are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect Continuous. We use for with a period of time, for example:

I have been living here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use since, for example:

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I have been living here since 1960.

Learn more

Explanation
In this cartoon, you can see a mother asking her son: "What have you been doing?". The boy replies: "Nothing, mum".

Why is this in Present Perfect Continuous? Click on the button labled "event 1". You can see that the boy is playing a computer game. Now click on the button labeled "event 2". In this scene, someone knocks at the door. It's his mother. In the next scene, she asks him "what have you been doing?". The use of Present Perfect Continuous is correct here because in this last scene Marcus no longer is playing a computer game (he stopped the moment he heard someone knocking at the door). This is exactly use 2 described above.

USE 3: Temporary Actions and Situations

We use this tense when an action or situation is temporary.

Examples:

I have been living in Boston for two months. I have been working as a waitress for the past week.

Form

To form a sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous, you need:

1. The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb to have. 2. The auxiliary verb to be in the Past Participle form: "been". 3. The Present Participle of your verb (verb + ing)

1. Auxiliary Verb "to have" We conjugate the auxiliary verb "to have" the same way we would conjugate the normal verb "to have".
Person First Second Third I have You have He/she/it has Singular We have You have They have Plural

As you can see, the third person singular is irregular.

Page 17 of 23 More examples:

She has never seen my brother. Neither of my brothers has ever driven a truck.

2. Auxiliary verb "to be" The past participle of the verb "to be" is "been". This is also an auxiliary verb, and you must never forget about it

I have working as a teacher for 10 years. I have been working as a teacher for 10 years.

3. The Present Participle The present participle is of a verb is a verb form that appears with the present tenses. The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the verb.

talk + ing = talking be + ing = being

There are exceptions. Positive Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples I have been sleeping. Tom has been working as a postman for 30 years now. She has been learning English for 3 hours now. has/have Auxiliary verb + been Auxiliary verb + e.g. swimming/talking etc. Use (Use 2) (Use 1) Verb + ing

(Use 1)

Questions Auxiliary verb + has/have e.g. I/a dog etc. Subject + been Auxiliary verb + e.g. swimming/talking etc. Verb + ing

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Examples Have you been running? Has Tom been walking the dog? How long have you been learning English? Q: What have you been doing there? A: I've been eating. Negative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples No, I haven't been crying. I'm just cold. His car is broken, so he hasn't been driving it lately. has not/have not Auxiliary verb + been Auxiliary verb

Use (Use 2) (Use 2) (Use 1)

(Use 1 or Use 2)

Verb + ing + e.g. swimming/talking etc. Use (Use 1) (Use 2)

PRESENT PERFECT

I have read this book. The man has gone away. John has worked as a teacher for over 25 years.

The Present Perfect is used to express actions that happened at an indefinite time or that began in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used when an activity has an effect on the present moment. 1. Actions which happened at an indefinite (unknown) time before now 2. Actions in the past which have an effect on the present moment 3. Actions which began in the past and continue in the present USE 1: Indefinite time before now Use the Present Perfect to talk about actions that happened at some point in the past. It does not matter when exactly they happened.

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Examples:

I have already had a breakfast. He has been to England.

Remember You should not use this tense with time expressions like yesterday, a week ago, last year, etc. Examples:

I have seen it yesterday. We have gone to Paris last year

USE 2: Effect on the present moment We also use this tense to when an activity has an effect on the present moment. Examples:

He has finished his work. (so he can now rest) I have already eaten the dinner. (so I'm not hungry) He has had a car accident. (that's why he is in the hospital)

Explanation
In this cartoon, you can see a mother asking her son: "Markus, what's happened". Marcus replies: "I have been struck by a bolt of lightning".

Why is the Present Perfect tense used in this example? Click on the button labled as "event 1". You can see that Marcus was struck lightning bolt. Now click on the other button. The use of Present Continuous is correct here because the action has an effect on the present moment (it explains why he looks this way).

USE 3: Continuation in the present

We often use the Present Perfect when we want to emphasize that an event continues in the present.
Examples:

Mary has worked as a teacher for over 25 years. Patrick has achieved a lot in his life.

To understand this use better, click on the buttons and read the message:

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For and Since

Since and For are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect. We use For with a period of time, for example:

I have lived here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use Since, for example:

I have lived here since 1960.

More about time expressions. Form

To form a sentence in the Present Perfect, you need:

1. The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have". 2. The Past Participle of your verb.

1. Auxiliary Verb "to have" We conjugate the auxiliary verb "to have" the same way we would conjugate the normal verb "to have".
Person First Second Third I have You have He/she/it has Singular We have You have They have Plural

As you can see, the third person singular is irregular.

More examples:

She has never seen my brother. Neither Mike nor Tom has ever driven a truck.

2. The Past Participle The past participle of a verb is a verb form that appears with the perfect tenses. The past participle can be either regular or irregular.

The regular verbs are formed by adding -ed to the verb:

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Verb talk explain use deliver include achieve talked explained used delivered included achieved

Past Participle

The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should be memorized. Verb be become see go eat grow Past Participle been become seen gone eaten grown be become see go eat grow Learn more

Declarative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc.

Auxiliary verb + has/have

Past participle e.g. slept/taken/gone etc.

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Examples We have already had breakfast I have bought new shades I have already been to Paris John has been a plumber for 2 years Someone has just taken my bag! Jane has never been so angry He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man Questions Auxiliary verb + has/have Examples Have you ever seen this program? Where has she lived for the past 21 years? Have you found the telephone number? Have you ever been to France? Has anyone taken my bag? e.g. I/a dog etc. Subject +

Use (Use 1) (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 3) (Use 1,2) (Use 3)

(Use 3)

Past participle e.g. slept/taken/gone etc. Use (Use 1) (Use 3) (Use 1,2) (Use 1) (Use 1,2)

Trivia

In sentences with adverbials such as ever, already or yet, American-English speakers may use the Past Simple rather than the Present Perfect. So, an American would say:

Did you go to the post office yet? (Past Simple)

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rather than:

Have you gone to the post office yet? (Present Perfect)

Negative Sentences Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Examples

Auxiliary verb + not + has not/have not

Past participle e.g. slept/taken/gone etc. Use (Use 3) (Use 3) (Use 1)

He hasn't taken any drug for two years I haven't met my perfect partner yet They haven't contacted you, have they?