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1. NARRATIVE TENSES
PAST CONTINUOUS (WAS/WERE + V-ing)
Temporary activities in the past which happen
for over a period of time.
We were driving along the avenue.
PAST SIMPLE
Actions which start and finish in the past.
Short actions which interrupt or happen in the
middle of other activities (in the Past Cont.)
A dog crossed over the street.

2. PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS
The action in the Past Simple tense happens in the middle of the
activity in the Past Contin. or interrupts it.
To combine the PS and the PC we use when, while or as.
• We were driving along the main street when a dog crossed over
and we ran over it.
• While we were driving along the main street, a dog crossed over
and we ran over it.
• As we were driving along the main street, a dog crossed over and
we ran over it.
(WHEN + PAST SIMPLE / WHILE + PAST CONTINUOUS)
AS + PAST CONTINUOUS
* But see that when two actions were in progress at the same time,
you use the PC for both:
• I was reading as it was raining.

3. PAST PERFECT (HAD + PARTICIPLE)
An action which happens before another action in the
past (Past Simple).
• The dog had got lost.
PAST SIMPLE / PAST PERFECT
To combine the PS and the PP we use when, before or
after.
• When we ran over the dog, it had got lost.
• Before we ran over the dog, it had got lost.
• We ran over the dog after it had got lost.
(WHEN + PAST SIMPLE / AFTER + PAST PERFECT)
BEFORE + PAST SIMPLE

4. PAST SIMPLE vs PRES. PERF.
* We use the Past Simple tense for actions which started and
finished in the past (completed actions at a specific time):
PAST Past simple PRESENT
Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.
* However, the Present Perfect is used when the action still
continues:
PAST Pres. Perf. PRESENT
She has been away on business since last week.
or has a result or consequences in the present:
I'm afraid I have forgotten your name.

5. TIME ADVERBIALS
PAST SIMPLE
Yesterday
Last (week, year, summer,
…)
(3 days, six months,…) ago
In (september, 2002,…)
On (Tuesday)
At (Christmas, 9:00,…)
For (two months, …)
PRES. PERFECT
Already
Just
Yet
Still
Ever
Recently
For (ten minutes, …)
Since (I was twelve, …)

6. TIME ADVERBIALS
PAST SIMPLE
Yesterday
Last (week, year, summer,
…)
(3 days, six months,…) ago
In (september, 2002,…)
On (Tuesday)
At (Christmas, 9:00,…)
For (two months, …)
PRES. PERFECT
Already
Just
Yet
Still
Ever
Recently
For (ten minutes, …)
Since (I was twelve, …)