Narrative tenses

1BACH English
 Today we will be learning how and when we use:

The past simple

The past continuous
The past perfect
The past continuous
Past Simple
How do we form the past simple?
Past simple
Subject + verb ed (2nd column)
Subject + didnt + verb
Did + subject + verb

Yesterday I listened to music.

Yesterday I didnt listen to music.
Yesterday did you listen to music?
PAST SIMPLE
For actions and events that happened one after the other we
use the PAST SIMPLE.

He got up, had breakfast and got dressed.

For finished actions we use the PAST SIMPLE.

She was born in 1992.

Time phrases with the PAST SIMPLE
YESTERDAY
LAST NIGHT/MONTH/YEAR
A . AGO
PAST CONTINUOUS
How do we form the past continuous?
Past Continuous
Subject + was/were + verb ING.
Subject + wasnt/werent + verb ING
Was/were + subject + verb ING
PAST CONTINUOUS
To describe a scene in the past we use the PAST CONTINUOUS.
(The events were in progress at the same time)

The sun was shining and the children were playing football with
their friends.
Time phrases with the PAST
CONTINUOUS (usually)
WHEN
AS
WHILE
A CERTAIN TIME SPECIFIED: YESTERDAY AT 9AM
LAST WEEK ON SUNDAY
THREE YEARS AGO IN MAY
PAST CONTINUOUS AND PAST
SIMPLE.
We use the PAST CONTINUOUS to describe a longer background
event and the PAST SIMPLE to describe an action or event that
interrupted it.

While I was playing football, the ball hit me in the face.

PAST PERFECT
How do we form the past perfect?
PAST PERFECT
Subject + had + p.p. (3rd column)
Subject + hadnt + p.p. (3rd column)
Had + subj + p.p. (3rd column)
PAST PERFECT
We use the PAST PERFECT to talk about an event that happened
before another event in the past (the earlier past)

I was annoyed because I had forgotten my homework.

I didnt have any money because I had lost my wallet.

TIME PRHASES BEFORE/AFTER/BY THE TIME

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Subj + had + been + verb ing
Sub + hadnt + been + verb ing
Had + subj + been + verb ing
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
We use the PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS to talk about an earlier
event or action that started before the main event.

I was tired because I had been playing ultimate frisbee.

NOTE! STATE VERBS ARENT USUALLY USED WITH THIS TENSE (have,
be, know, etc.)