Past Tenses in English: Simple, Continuous, Perfect

Posted on Feb 6, 2025 in English

Past Simple & Past Continuous

Past Simple	Use
We sold our car yesterday.	Completed action that took place at a specific time in the past.
He got up, handed in his exam, and left the room.	Sequence of actions that happened in the past, one after the other.
When I was young, I walked to school every day.	Past routine or habits (similar to “used to”).
It was late at night. We heard the front door opening, and then we saw him.	To describe the main events in a story.

Past Continuous	Use
We were watching TV at nine o’clock last night.	Action in progress at a specific time in the past.
I was doing my homework while Dad was watching the news.	Two or more unfinished actions in progress at the same time in the past.
She was taking a shower when the phone rang.	Unfinished action in progress (past continuous) interrupted by a shorter action (past simple).
It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.	To give the background information in a story.

Past Simple: a month/year ago, last week/month, yesterday, in 2010/January, when, the other day.

Past Continuous: as, while, at nine o’clock, yesterday.

Past Perfect Simple	Use
By the time we got to the party, the dancing had already started.	Action that took place before another action or a specific time in the past. Note: When there are two actions, the more recent action is in the Past Simple.
I had never been to Rome before, so I didn’t know how to get around.
John had returned from his walk before I arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous	Use
We had been waiting in line for half an hour when the ticket office opened.	Action which started in the past and was still in progress when another past action started.
I was tired because I had been running for an hour.	Continuous action that started and finished at a particular time in the past and the result was still evident at the present.

Past Perfect Simple: after, already, as soon as, before, by the.

Past Perfect Continuous: all night/week, for, since.

Past Simple: We bought our car last night. – Our car was bought last week.

Past Continuous: Dad was making the salad. – The salad was being made by Dad.

Past Perfect Simple: By noon, we had painted the flat. – By noon, the flat had been painted.

Past Perfect Continuous: It has no passive form.

Used To	Use
My friends and I used to meet every day. I didn’t use to go to the gym. Did you use to travel?	Action that happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.
I used to work in an office, but now I work from home.	Past habit, state, or situation that is no longer true.
Would	Use
I would often play tennis when I was young.	Similar to “used to”. Not usually used in negative or question sentences.