In this lesson we’re looking at expressing yourself in the past in English.
You can use lots of different tenses to tell a story in the past. In this lesson, we’re going to look at past simple, past continuous and past perfect.
Have fun with the lesson, and don’t forget to try the quizzes.
– James.
Lesson Contents
Three past tenses
Can you see the differences between these sentences?
When Chris arrived home, Dan cooked dinner.
When Chris arrived home, Dan was cooking dinner.
When Chris arrived home, Dan had cooked dinner.
The past simple
Past simple + past simple:
When Chris arrived home, Dan cooked dinner.
or
Dan cooked dinner when Chris arrived home.
This sentence uses past simple & past simple. This means that one action happened after another action. Both actions are in the past, and neither happened at the same time. So chronologically:
- Chris arrived home.
- Dan cooked dinner.
The past continuous
Past simple + past continuous:
When Chris arrived home, Dan was cooking dinner.
or
Dan was cooking dinner when Chris arrived home.
This sentence uses past simple & past continuous. This means that the continuous action started, and the simple action happened before the continuous action ended. So chronologically:
- Dan started to cook dinner.
- Chris arrived.
- Dan finished cooking dinner.
The past perfect
Past simple + past perfect:
When Chris arrived home, Dan had cooked dinner.
or
Dan had cooked dinner when Chris arrived home.
This sentence uses past simple & past perfect. The perfect sentence happened before the simple sentence happened. So chronologically:
- Dan cooked dinner.
- Chris arrived.
Can you use the past simple, the past continuous and the past perfect in context? Match the situations with the sentences.
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| Pos. | Name | Entered on | Points | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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- 1
- 2
- 3
- Current
- Review
- Answered
- Correct
- Incorrect
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Question 1 of 3
1. Question
Sort elements
- When I saw you, I went to the shop.
- When I saw you, I was going to the shop.
- When I saw you, I had gone to the shop.
-
1. I saw you.
2. I went to the shop. -
1. I started to go to the shop.
2. I saw you.
3. I arrived at the shop. -
1. I went to the shop.
2. I saw you.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 3
2. Question
Sort elements
- When I arrived at work, my colleague made tea.
- When I arrived at work, my colleague was making tea.
- When I arrived at work, my colleague had made tea.
-
1. I arrived at work.
2. My colleague made tea. -
1. My colleague started to make tea.
2. I arrived at work.
3. My colleague finished making tea. -
1. My colleague made tea.
2. I arrived at work.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 3
3. Question
Sort elements
- I texted you when the electricity cut.
- I was texting you when the electricity cut.
- I had texted you when the electricity cut.
-
1. The electricity cut.
2. I texted you. -
1. I started to text you.
2. The electricity cut.
3. I finished the text. -
1. I texted you.
2. The electricity cut.
CorrectIncorrect
Match the halves of the conversations, the second halves will use the past perfect.
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Question 1 of 2
1. Question
Sort elements
- Really? Had someone told you already?
- Why? Had you never flown before?
- Oh, I thought you'd already met him.
- What? I didn't know she'd been married before.
- Oh no! Had you forgotten to put petrol in?
-
I wasn't surprised by the news.
-
I was really scared on the plane.
-
I met the CEO for the first time yesterday.
-
My mother had a son from her first marriage.
-
My car broke down on the way to work.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 2
2. Question
Sort elements
- No, I'd read the book so I knew the ending.
- That's a shame. Had you never travelled before?
- Really? Had you never used one?
- Oh no! Had you never done it before?
- I know! Had you never eaten there before?
-
Were you surprised by the end of the film?
-
I was so homesick when I went to Germany.
-
I was completely lost when I had to use a computer at work.
-
That mountain trek completely exhausted me!
-
That Thai restaurant in town was disgusting!
CorrectIncorrect
Choose the correct auxiliary to complete the past sentences. The sentences will either use the past simple, past continuous, or the past perfect.
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- 1
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- Incorrect
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Question 1 of 8
1. Question
When I arrived at the picnic area, everyone ... left.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 8
2. Question
Everyone ... eating when I arrived at the picnic area.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 8
3. Question
... you have a good time at the picnic yesterday?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 8
4. Question
I ... never stayed in such a beautiful hotel!
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 8
5. Question
I looked out of the window and saw that people ... playing in the pool.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 6 of 8
6. Question
... you see the Eiffel Tower when you went to Paris?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 7 of 8
7. Question
I ... already been to Paris, but I visited it again last year.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 8 of 8
8. Question
I thanked Mark for everything he ... done to help me.
CorrectIncorrect
