REFLECTION 1.

2 - TENSES
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THE PAST SIMPLE:
simple past, with finished time expression e.g. Last Saturday, I went to the supermarket.


THE PAST CONTINUOUS:
Use to say that something was going on around a particular time in the past e.g. at 8pm, I was
cleaning the house.


Past continuous can also be used with the simple past to describe background events Two things
happened in the past, but one happened while another was already going on. E.g. the phone rang
while I was driving. I was driving is the background.

I was driving




THE PAST PERFECT:
Refers to the earlier past, to go back for a moment when you are already talking about the past.
Common with verbs of saying or thinking.

e.g. the family had already eaten when I arrived home.




THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
used to talk about actions or situations which had continued to the past moment that we are
thinking about (or shortly before it)

e.g. I spoke to my tutor, because I had been struggling with my work.




PAST last Saturday NOW
PAST 8.00pm NOW
PAST the phone rang NOW
EARLIER PAST PAST NOW
EARLIER PAST PAST NOW