PAST SIMPLE

+ Subject (S) + Verb (V) -ED / irregular verb

- S + didn’t + V
? Did + S + verb (infinitive)

Finished actions, states or habits in the past.

1. We use it with finished actions,

states or habits in the past when - I went to the cinema yesterday.
we have a finished time word - We spent a lot of time in Japan
(yesterday, last week, at 2 in 2007.
o'clock, in 2003).

2. We use it with finished actions,

states or habits in the past when - Leonardo painted the Mona
we know from general knowledge Lisa.
that the time period has - The Vikings invaded Britain.
finished. This includes when the
person we are talking about is
dead.

3. To express a sequence of
finished actions in the past. - Yesterday I drank some coffee,
then I turned the TV on and
watched a movie.

4. To express a finished action in

the past that is introduced by - I've hurt my leg. I fell off a ladder
the present perfect. This is when I was painting my
sometimes called 'details of bedroom.
news'. - I've been on holiday. I went to
Spain and Portugal.

5. For stories or lists of events, we - He went to a café. People were

often use the past simple for the chatting and music was playing.
actions in the story and the He sat down and ordered a
past continuous for the coffee.
background.
 PAST CONTINUOUS
+ S + was / were + V -ING
- S + was / were + NOT + V -ING
? Was / were + S + V -ING

Actions in progress in the past.

1. To talk about actions that were in - What were you doing at 9?’ ‘I
progress (not finished) at a was studying.’
specific moment in the past. - When I saw them yesterday, they
were arguing.
The specific moment in the past - They were swimming at 7 in the
can be described by a time morning.
expression (at 9 a.m., at midday, - At midday they were still
at lunchtime, all morning, all day, working.
etc.). - They were swimming when I
saw them.
Or by a simple past sentence.
- When she arrived, they were still
working

2. To express an action in the past

which overlaps (is interrupted - I was walking to the station
by) another action or a time. when I met John.
- I was shopping when I ran into
him.

3. To express actions that take

place simultaneously in the - I was preparing dinner while he
past. was setting the table.
- I was dancing while she was
singing.

4. To emphasize that something

lasted for a while. This use is - I was working in the garden all
often optional and we usually use day.
it with time expressions like 'all - He was reading all evening.
day' or 'all evening' or 'for hours'.
 - It was getting dark, and I was
5. We often use the past continuous walking fast. Suddenly …
at the beginning of a story to - The birds were singing, the sun
describe the situation. (We was shining and in the cafés
often use the past simple for the people were laughing and
actions.) chatting. Amy sat down and took
out her phone.

6. Temporary habits that happened

more often than we expected in - He was always leaving the tap
the past. We often use 'always', running.
'constantly' or 'forever' here. This - She was constantly singing.
is the same as the way we use
the present continuous for habits,
but the habit started and finished
in the past. This thing doesn't
happen now.

You can watch this video to learn more about the differences
between PAST SIMPLE and PAST CONTINUOUS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXc66gYWjJw
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

+ S + have / has + V (past participle)

- S + have / has + NOT + V (past participle)
? Have / has + S + V (past participle)

1. The action started in the past and - I have lived in Veracruz since
continues in the present. 1990.
- She has worked with me for ten
years.

2. A completed action that happened - I need to call my father, but I

in the past but has a have lost my phone.
consequence or a result in the
present.

3. It can also describe finished - He's lived in Japan.

experiences in the past, and can - I've visited a lot of amazing
refer to single or repeated actions. countries.
It is used when the time of the
experience is not important.

4. It can also describe actions that - He's (just) arrived at work.

were finished recently (a short - I've (already) cleaned the
time ago), and can be emphasized house.
with 'just', 'already'.
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR PAST SIMPLE?

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

Unfinished actions that started in the Finished actions:

past and continue to the present:
- I knew Julie for ten years (but
- I've known Julie for ten years then she moved away and we
(and I still know her). lost touch).

A finished experience in someone's life A finished experience in someone's life

(when the person is still alive: life (when the person is dead):
experience):
- My great-grandmother went to
- My brother has been to Mexico Mexico three times.
three times.

A finished action with a result in the A finished action with no result in the
present: present:

- I've lost my keys! (The result is - I lost my keys yesterday. It was

that I can't get into my house terrible! (Now there is no result. I
now). got new keys yesterday).

With an unfinished time word (this With a finished time word (last week,
week, this month, today): last month, yesterday):

- I've seen John this week. - I saw John last week.

You can watch this video to learn more about the differences
between PAST SIMPLE and PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM5trdispow
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

+ S + have / has + been + V -ING

- S + have / has + NOT + been + V -ING
? Have / has + S + been + V -ING

This tense expresses the sense of continuity of an action (i.e. it emphasizes the
duration of the action).

If we use the present perfect continuous without a time expression, it means "lately"
or "recently".

We use this tense when we want to - I can’t believe it is still raining. It’s
express an action that has started in the been raining for a week now!
past and is still going on in the present
(an ongoing action).

To express an action that has just - I have been watching tv for

finished. three hours.

It can be used to emphasize that

something is temporary. - She's been running a lot
recently. (She doesn't usually do
this).
- Usually I study at home, but I've
been studying in the library for
the last week.
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?

Present perfect continuous Present perfect simple

It can be used (often with 'since' and It can also be used (often with 'since'
'for') to talk about unfinished actions that and 'for') to talk about unfinished
started in the past and are still true in actions that started in the past and are
the present. (BUT! Of course, we don't still true in the present. It's often used
use the present perfect continuous with with stative verbs:
stative verbs):
- She's been living here for three - I've known John for three years.
years.

Sometimes there's really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. This
is especially the case with verbs such as 'live', 'work' and 'study':

- They've lived in London since 2004. / They've been living in London since
2004.
- I've studied French for ten years. / I've been studying French for ten
years.
- He's worked at the company since 2009. / He's been working at our
company since 2009.

The present perfect continuous can be The present perfect simple is generally
used to emphasize the length of time neutral.
that has passed.
- They've waited for hours. (This
- They've been waiting for hours! doesn't emphasize the length of
(This emphasizes the length of time).
time).

We cannot use the present perfect The present perfect simple is often used
continuous when talking about how when we're talking about how much or
much and how many. how many.

- (NOT: she's been drinking three - She's drunk three cups of coffee
cups of coffee this morning). this morning.

The present perfect continuous often The present perfect simple focuses on
focuses on the action itself. the fact that the action is completed.

- I've been reading the book you - I've read the book you
recommended. (I'm enjoying it, recommended. (I've finished it,
but I'm not finished). so we can talk about it).
The present perfect continuous is used The present perfect simple is used
when the result comes from the action when the action is finished, and the
itself. It doesn't matter if the whole result comes from the action being
action is finished or not. The result is finished.
often something we can see, hear,
smell, or feel: - I've eaten dinner, so let's go out.
- She's done all her homework, so
● I've been eating dinner, so there she can relax this evening.
are plates all over the table. - I've made a cake. Would you like
● She's been doing her some?
homework, so she's tired.
● I've been making a cake, that's
why the kitchen is such a mess.

You can watch this video to learn more about the differences
between PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS and PRESENT
PERFECT SIMPLE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncQ_PSr_TEo

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

+ S + had + V (past participle)

- S + had + NOT + V (past participle)
? Had + S + V (past participle)

The past perfect simple describes an action that took place before another action in
the past. The past perfect action always happens first.

- I had hoped to send him a message before I arrived, but I didn’t have time
to do it.
- When Dillon arrived to the office Hannah had written the report.

You can watch this video to learn more about the PAST
PERFECT SIMPLE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7TLPg9ISIA