PAST INDEFINITE

AND PAST
CONTINUOUS
TENSES
TENSES IN A LANGUAGE
Tenses in language refer to grammatical
structures used to indicate the time of an
action, event, or state.
USAGE OF TENSES
Tenses serve as a fundamental aspect of
language structure, allowing us to convey
the timing and sequence of actions or
events,
thereby ensuring effective communication
and comprehension.
IMPORTANCE OF
TENSES IN ENGLISH
❑Clarity and Precision
❑Effective Communication
❑Reading and Comprehension
❑Language Proficiency
❑Professional Academic Success
TENSES IN ENGLISH

PRESENT PAST FUTURE

❑ Indefinite
❑ Continuous
❑ Perfect
❑ Perfect Continuous
PAST INDEFINITE
TENSES
DEFINITION
The Past Indefinite Tense describes
Actions that occurred and ended at a
definite point in the past.
STRUCTURE
Affirmative: Subject + Verb 2nd form +
Object
Negative: Subject + didn't + Verb 1st form
+ Object
Interrogative: Did + subject + Verb 1 st form +
5
Object + ?
 EXAMPLES
Simple Negative Interrogative
Sentences (+) Sentences (-) Sentences (?)
She visited her grandmother She didn't visit her Did she visit her
yesterday. grandmother yesterday grandmother yesterday?
We visited the museum on We didn't visit the museum Did we visit the museum
Sunday. on Sunday. on Sunday?
He bought a new car He didn't buy a new car Did he buy a new car
yesterday. yesterday. yesterday?
They finished their project They didn't finish their Did they finish their project
last week. project last week. last week?
She studied for her exam all She didn't study for her Did she study for her exam
night. exam all night. all night?
PAST CONTINUOUS
TENSES
DEFINITION
The Past Continuous Tense describes
actions that were ongoing or in progress
at a specific moment in the past.
STRUCTURE
Affirmative: Subject + was/were + Verb 1 st
form + ing + object
Negative: Subject + was/were + not + Verb
1 st

Form + ing + Object 7

Interrogative: was/were + subject + 1 st

 EXAMPLES
Simple Negative Interrogative
Sentences (+) Sentences (-) Sentences (?)

They were playing football They weren't playing Were they playing football
in the park yesterday football in the park in the park yesterday?
yesterday.
We were hiking in the We weren't hiking in the Were we hiking in the
mountains. mountains. mountains?
He was studying at the He wasn't studying at the Was he studying at the
library yesterday. library yesterday. library yesterday?
We were swimming in the We weren't swimming in Were we swimming in the
pool this morning. the pool this morning. pool this morning?
She was singing at the She wasn't singing at the Was she singing at the
concert last night. concert last night concert last night?
 COMPARISON TABLE
Aspect Past Indefinite Tense Past Continuous Tense

Structure Subject + past simple verb Subject + was/were + verb-ing

Example (Affirmative) "She played soccer." "She was playing soccer."

Example (Negative) "She didn't eat sushi." "She wasn't eating sushi."

Example (Interrogative) "Did they visit?" "Were they visiting?"

Describes completed past Describes ongoing past actions

Usage
actions in specific moment
Duration at a specific time in
Time Frame Specific point in the past
the past
Emphasis Completion of action Continuous action in progress
SUMMARY

The presentation delved into the distinct

features of Past Indefinite and Past
Continuous Tenses. Past Indefinite,
representing completed actions in the past,
was highlighted with its structured forms and
usage in narrating specific past events. Past
Continuous, representing ongoing actions in
specific past moment, was highlighted with its
unique structure,
THANK YOU
Haroon Ahmed Hassan Baig
Somaan Khan Noman Ijaz
Wajeeh Abbas