Past Simple/Past Perfect/Past
Perfect Continuous
Form
Simple Past
Past Perfect Simple
2nd column of irregular verbs had + 3rd column of irregular
Example: I spoke
verbs
Example: I had spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed
Example: I worked
regular verbs: form of have +
infinitive + ed
Example : I had worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding ed:
•when the final letter is e, only
add d
Example: love - loved
•after a short, stressed vowel, the final
consonant is doubled
•Example: admit - admitted
• final l is always doubled in British English
(not in American English)
• Example: travel - travelled
• after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not
after a vowel)
• Example: worry – worried but: play - played
Use
We use Simple Past if we give past events in
the order in which they occured. However,
when we look back from a certain time in
the past to tell what had happened before,
we use Past Perfect.
Do you just want to tell what happened some time in
the past or do you want to tell what had happened
before/up to a certain time in the past?
Simple Past
some time in the past
Example: Jane got up at
seven. She opened her
birthday presents and then
the whole family went to
the zoo.
Past Perfect Simple
before/up to a certain time
in the past
Example : Before her sixth
birthday, Jane had never
been to the zoo.
Past Perfect vs Past Simple
These two tenses are both used to talk
about things that happened in the past.
However we use past perfect to talk
about something that happened before
another action in the past, which is
usually expressed by the past simple.
For example:
"I had already eaten my dinner when he
called."
In other words, First I ate my dinner,
then he called.
Signal Words
Simple Past
•first
•then
Past Perfect Simple
•already/yet/just/even
•up to then
•before that day
•after*
*Note: "After" is only used as a signal
word for Past Perfect if it is followed by
a subject + verb, meaning that one
action had been completed before
another action began (the new action is
in Simple Past).
Example : After the family had
had breakfast, they went to the zoo.
However, if "after" is followed by object
+ subject + verb, the verb belongs to
the new action and is therefore
in Simple Past.
Example : After her visit to the zoo,
Jane was exhausted.
When
More exceptions with signal words
Depending on the situation, "when" can be
used with Simple Past or Past Perfect.
Compare the following examples:
When Jane saw the elephants she was
amazed. (at the same time)
When Jane had seen the elephants,
she wanted to see the giraffes.
(second action happened after the first
action had been completed)
When Jane went to see the elephants,
she had already seen the lions.
(second action had been completed when the
first action took place)
Before
"Before" as well can either be used
with Simple Past or Past Perfect. If the
action after "before" is a new action,
use Simple Past. If the action after "before"
started (and was not completed) before a
certain time in the past, use Past Perfect.
Compare the following examples:
Example : Jane had read a lot about
elephants before she went to the zoo.
Jane went to the zoo before she had
finished reading her new book about
elephants.
Past Perfect Continuous
FORM
[had been + present participle]
Duration Before Something in the Past
Past Perfect Continuous
FORM
[had been + present participle]
Duration Before Something in the Past
Past Perfect Continuous
Examples:
You had been waiting there for more
than two hours when she finally arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous
Had you been waiting there for more
than two hours when she finally arrived?
You had not been waiting there for
more than two hours when she finally
arrived.
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to
show that something started in the past and
continued up until another time in the past.
"For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are
both durations which can be used with the
Past Perfect Continuous. However, the
duration does not continue until now, it
stops before something else in the past.
Examples:
They had been talking for over an hour
before Tony arrived.
She had been working at that company for
three years when it went out of business.
How long had you been waiting to get on
the bus?
Mike wanted to sit down because he had
been standing all day at work.
James had been teaching at the university
for more than a year before he left for Asia.
A: How long had you been studying Turkish
before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very
long.
Past Perfect Continuous
Cause of Something in the Past
Using the Past Perfect Continuous
before another action in the past is a
good way to show cause and effect.
Examples:
Jason was tired because he had been
jogging.
Sam gained weight because he had
been overeating.
Betty failed the final test because she
had not been attending class.
Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect
Continuous
If you do not include a duration such as "for
five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since
Friday," many English speakers choose to use
the Past Continuous rather than the Past
Perfect Continuous. Be careful because this
can change the meaning of the sentence.
Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect
Continuous
Past Continuous emphasizes interrupted
actions, whereas Past Perfect Continuous
emphasizes a duration of time before
something in the past. Study the examples
below to understand the difference.
Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect
Continuous
Examples:
He was tired because he was exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he
was exercising at that exact moment.
Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous
Examples:
He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he
had been exercising over a period of time. It is possible
that he was still exercising at that moment OR that he
had just finished.
Exercise on Simple Past and Past Perfect
Exercise 1
Choose the correct tense (Simple Past or Past
Perfect).
1. The wind (blew)…………….. away the leaves that
we (collect)………………………… .
2. She (throw)……………………… away the letter that
she (write)………………………….. .
3. They (show)……………… me the pictures,
they (take)……………. during their holidays.
4. In the evening, the children (tell)…..........
their daddy what they (see)………… at the
zoo.
5. The boy(be)…………… very sorry for what
he (do)……………….. .
Exercise 2
Put the verbs into the correct tense
(Simple Past or Past Perfect).
1. My friend (eat)…………. up all the
biscuit we (bake)……………….. .
2. She (throw)……………………… away the
letter that she (write)……………………. .
3. I (give)………………. them some of the
candies I (buy)……………………. .
4. My sister (see / not)………………. the note
that I (lay)………………….. on the kitchen
table for her.
5. We (want)……………………… to watch a
film that we (see / not) ……… before.
Exercise 3
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or
Past Perfect).
1. When Simon(go)…………….. out to play, he his
(do)………………….homework.
2. Jenny(come) home,(sit)……………………. down
and (switch)……………………………… on the telly.
3. Before that day in winter, the African
boy (see)………………….. snow in his life.
4. She (give)…………………. me the book that
she (read)………………….. .
5. We (visit)……………………. the museum
that our friend (tell)………………. us about
a month before.
Exercise 4
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past
perfect simple).
1. When he (wake up)……………...... , his mother
(already / prepare) …………… breakfast.
2. We (go)…………………. to London because the
Queen (invite) ……………… us for tea.
3. He (hear)…………………….. the news, (go)……….
to the telephone and (call)………… a friend.
4. When she (start)………………….. to learn English,
she (already / learn)……………………… French.
5. Jane (already / type)…………… ten pages when
her computer (crash)………………………. .
6. By the time he (arrive)………………. at the pub,
they (run)……………………… out of beer.
7. Before that day we…………………………. (never /
think) of going to Japan.
8. I (know) ……………….. him for a long time before
I (meet)…………………….. his family.
9. They (not / know) where to meet because
nobody (tell)…………………………. them.
10. It (be)………………….. cloudy for days before it
finally (begin) ……………………….. to rain.
Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past or past perfect).
1. I (go)……………………. to Disney World in
2002.
2. Before 2002 I (be / never) …………….. To
any of the Disney resorts.
3. Most of all I (like) …….. the wonderful castle
that I (see)…………………. so many times in
my favorite animated movie.
4. I also (enjoy)……………the other attractions
of the park.
Exercise 5
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Perfect).
1. Bob (wake)……………. up early in the
morning.
2. He (feel) very tired because he (sleep /
not) ……………… very well the night
before.
3. A strange noise in the garden (keep)……… him
awake.
4. Now it (be)……….. six o'clock and Bob (get)…….
up and (go)……………. to the bathroom where
he (have) ……………. a cold shower to wake up.
5. Then he (make)………… himself a nice cup of
coffee.
6. When Bob (look)………. out of the kitchen
window, he (believe / not)………… his eyes.
7. There (be)……………… a bear in his garden!
8. He (search)………….. Bob's garden for food
last night.
9. Bob (knock)…………………… at the window.
10. The bear (hear)………that and (run) …………
away.
11. But what a mess the bear (make)…………….
in the garden!
Fill the gaps with the correct tense. Use Simple Past or
Past Perfect Simple.
The Pilgrims
1. In the 17th century, there (be)……………lots of
religious tensions in England.
2. King James I (not / allow)……………freedom of
religion in England as he (have)………..problems
with certain religious groups in the past.
3. That's why during his reign some
people (leave)………………………... the country.
4. In September 1620 for example, members of
the English Separatist Church (go)………………
aboard the Mayflower to emigrate to America.
5. Before their journey to America, they (live
/already)…………………… in Holland for a
while.
6. Now on the Mayflower storms (make)
………….. the journey to America difficult.
7. The Pilgrims only (reach)………… America after
they (sail)………….. the Atlantic for 66 days.
8. Because of the delay, the Pilgrims (not /
build)……………. enough houses and they (not /
collect)……… enough food when winter (begin).
9. By spring, half of the 10 Pilgrims (die)…………
of hunger and cold.
10. But then, in March 1621, the Pilgrims (meet)
………………. the friendly Wampanoag.
11. One member of the Wampanoag,
Squanto, even (know)………….. English
because several years before he (spend)
……………….some time in Europe.
12. The Wampanoag (show) ………………….
the Pilgrims how to hunt and fish.
13. They also (give)……………. the Pilgrims seeds
to grow corn and beans.
14. After the Pilgrims (harvest)……………… the food
in autumn, they (celebrate)…..........................
their good harvest with the Wampanoag.
This event is known today as the first
Thanksgiving.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple
Past or Past Perfect).
1. The removal van(arrive)…………….. Before
they (finish)……………. packing.
2. Before they (move)……………. to this town,
they (live)………………. in Chicago.
3. After the kids (eat)……………. their lunch,
they (take)…………………. a little nap.
4. After school we (meet)……………… at the
youth club.
5. Soon after sunrise we (cycle)……………. To
an observation point that I (hear)…………
of before.
6. When I (come)………………… home, my
mother (prepare)………….. dinner.
7. When Monica (finish)……. her homework,
she (go)……… out to play with her friends.
8. When we (meet)……….. Andrew, we (tell)
him about our plans.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past
or Past Perfect).
1. When my alarm clock (ring)……… in the morning,
it (be)………………….half past five.
2. After I (switch)………………….the alarm clock off,
I (turn)…………..around and (fall)…………asleep
again.
3. After an hour I (wake)…………… up again.
4. When I (look)………………….. at the alarm
clock, I (get)…………… a fright - I (oversleep)
……………… .
5. When I (come)………… into the kitchen, I (brush
/ already)………………….. my teeth.
6. When I (take / just)……………… a few bites from
my sandwich, I (hurry)…………… to get dressed.
7. I (rush)………………………. out of the house before
I (finish)………………. my breakfast.
8. When I (reach)…………………………. the bus stop,
the bus (leave / already)…………………… .
9. So I (start)………………………………. to run.
10. I (run) ………………. about 1 km before I
finally (catch) ……………………….. a taxi.
11. I (arrive) ………………… at the station just a
few minutes before my train (depart)
……………………. .
Past perfect simple and continuous exercise
1. I must have a break. I ……………. (drive) so long.
2. Before we parked our car we …………… (collect)
the ticket.
3. I arrived on Sunday. I……… (be) at home for
two days.
4. The roads were blocked in the morning.
It………… (snow) all night.
5. They got to the beach after they………………
(walk) for hours.
6. She called the police when she ………...... (see)
(study)the light in the hall.
7. His English was perfect. He ………… (study) it since
he started school.
8. I was really hungry. I …………. (eat) anything since
the morning.
9. She doesn't go to work. She …………. (be) ill since
last week.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I
told you to meet me early because the
show started at 8:00. I (try) to get tickets
for that play for months, and I didn't want
to miss it.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
By the time I finally left the coffee shop
where we were supposed to meet, I (have)
five cups of coffee and I (wait) over an hour.
I had to leave because I (arrange) to meet
Kathy in front of the theater.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
When I arrived at the theater, Kathy
(pick, already) up the tickets and she
was waiting for us near the entrance.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
She was really angry because she (wait) for
more than half an hour. She said she (give,
almost) up and (go) into the theater without
us.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
Kathy told me you (be) late several
times in the past and that she would
not make plans with you again in the
future.
Past Perfect / Past Perfect Continuous
She mentioned that she (miss) several
movies because of your late arrivals. I think
you owe her an apology. And in the future, I
suggest you be on time!
Past tenses advanced test
Julie (walk) for hours when she suddenly
noticed that the sun (sink) in the sky. She
(lose) track of time because she (think)
about the most important decision she'd
ever had to make in her life.
Past tenses advanced test
Things (not be) the same between Julie and her
fiance, David, since he accepted a job in Paris.
They (know) each other for almost five years,
and in that time, they had never argued much.
Past tenses advanced test
Lately, though, their relationship (become)
stormy. They (seem) to be finding fault with each
other and disagreeing about everything. For the
first time, she (start) to wonder if she (be) ready
for marriage.
Past tenses advanced test
And with the wedding only twenty days
away, she (need) to make up her mind soon.
Everything in Julie's life (go) well until her
world fell apart just a month before.
Past tenses advanced test
A large company (offer) David an important
position that would require him to move to
France. As his wife, Julie would have to go,
too. Why hadn't he discussed his decision
with her?
Past tenses advanced test
Although Julie (always want) to live abroad she
felt very confused. Was she ready to move
halfway across the world, leaving behind her
friends and family and the only home she had
ever known?
Past tenses advanced test
If the answer was no, (she be) ready to say
goodbye to the only man she (ever love)?