UNIT 6

A
past perfect
 Formation of the past perfect simple

had (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) + past participle of the verb

USES:
We use the past perfect to refer to a completed action that happened before another one in the past. :
e.g.: When I arrived at the office, the meeting had started. (= The meeting started and then I arrived).

Positive and negative forms:

I had (n’t) met the manager before.

You
He she it
We you they

Question form:

I
you
Had he she it
we you they met the manager before? E.g.: When we got there, everyone had
left.

Look at time line below. Notice that the past perfect is always in relation
with another action in the past that happened later:

 The past perfect continuous is also used to talk about an action which lasted
for some time before another thing happened in the past.

1
 Formation:

had (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) + been + ------- ing form of the verb

E.g.: The meeting had been going on for about an hour when I finally got there.

B
past continuous
Formation:

was(I,he,she,it)
or were (we,you,they)+-------ing form of the verb

Past continuous

· We use the past continuous to talk about:

— the backg:round to events in the past (things that were going on at the time):
E.g.: He was having a shower when someone knocked at the door.
While I was climbing over a wall, I slipped and hurt my knee.

— scenes in the past:

E.g. The street was full of people. They were shouting and singing.

Positive and negative forms:

I, he, she was (n’t)

we, you, they were(n’t) working at the office.

Question form:

Was I, he,she, working at the office?

Were we you they

2
when & while
· when/while + past continuous:

When/While I was having breakfast, someone phoned.

Someone phoned when / while I was having breakfast.
· when + past simple:
I was having breakfast when someone phoned.