PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Formulation: Was/Were + Ving Formulation: Had + V3 Formulation: Had + Been + Ving

1. I was playing 1. I had played 1. I had been playing
2. You were playing 2. You had played 2. You had been playing
3. They were playing 3. They had played 3. They had been playing
4. We were playing 4. We had played 4. We had been playing
5. She was playing 5. She had played 5. She had been playing
6. He was playing 6. He had played 6. He had been playing
7. It was playing 7. It had played 7. It had been playing
Usage: Usage: Usage:
- Action in progress in the past either: - Action that was completed in the past either: - Action that had started, had continued for some time and
1. When a shorter action took place 1. Before another action took place. was still in progress either:
2. At a very precise moment 2. Before a very precise moment. 1. Before another action
Examples : Examples: 2. Before a very precious moment
 We were playing cards when she arrived.  She arrived after we played cards. Examples:
 He was sleeping when the phone rang.  He had slept a little before the phone rang.  We had been playing cards for two hours when she arrived.
 It was snowing at 10 a.m. yesterday.  It had started to snow by 10 a.m. yesterday.  He had been sleeping for a long time when the phone rang.
 They were flying to Tokyo at this time yesterday.  They had left for Tokyo by this time yesterday.  It had been snowing for several hours by 10 a.m. yesterday.
Note :  I was sure that i had seen him before.  They had been flying to Tokyo for a few hours by this time
The shorter action is always in the Past Simple. It may stop the Note : yesterday.
action in progress or not The second (later) action always in the Past Simple. Note :
The second (later) action always in the Past Simple.

Timeline
Timeline Timeline
Common Mistakes :

1. Past simple instead of Past Continuous or Past perfect  I saw the accident when I drove.
(Continuous)
 I spoke whe he put the phone down.

 He was late because he missed the bus.

 I didn’t know that he left.

 I walked to work for 15 minutes when I realised I forgot my

key.

Notes:

1. If you use the Past Simple for both verbs, it means they happened at the same time.

Examples:

 He said hello when he arrived.

 I gave it to her when I saw her.

2. In the case of Past Perfect, if the first and the second actions are very close to each other, we can use the the Past Simple Twice.

Examples:

 She had switched off / switched offf the light before she went to bed.

 I left as soon as we had finished / finished.

 PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

Formulation : Have/Has + V3 Formulation : V2

Examples : Examples:

- I have played tennis - I played tennis

- You have played tennis - You played tennis

- We have played tennis - We played tennis

- They have played tennis - They played tennis

- She has played tennis - She played tennis

- He has played tennis - He played tennis

- It has played tennis - It played tennis

Usage: Usage:
 - Actions that is complete at the time of speaking. - Action completed at a specific time in the past.

Examples: Examples:

1. I’ve studied 3 sections until now. 1. I’ve studied 3 sections last night.

2. I’ve already done hal of the exercises. 2. I did half of the exercises before lunch.

3. He has driven 500 kilometres so far. 3. He drove 500 kilometres yesterday.

Common mistakes:

 Using the present perfect instead past simple

Examples:

1. We have bought this car two months ago.

2. I have slept well last night.

3. She has met him when she was at college.

4. I already called him.

5. She just came back.

6. Prices went up this month.