Mastering-Past-Tenses

1.

Mastering Past Tenses
Unlock the power of English by understanding when and how to use the Past Simple and Past Continuous tenses.

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CHAPTER 1
The Past Simple: Completed Actions
Use the Past Simple for actions that started and finished in the past.
Completed Action
Series of Actions
Something happened and finished.
One action followed by another.
I caught the train at 6:30.
The train arrived, I ran in and bought a ticket.

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CHAPTER 1
Past Simple: States and Opinions
It's also used for situations true in the past or with state verbs.
Completed Past State
Emotions & Thoughts
A situation that is no longer true.
With state verbs like like, believe, want, hear, understand,
I lived in Nigeria for two years.
know.
I didn’t understand what he said.
Important: We usually do NOT use continuous forms with state verbs.

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CHAPTER 2
Past Continuous: Actions in Progress
Use was / were + -ing for ongoing actions in the past.
Incomplete or Temporary Action
Interrupted Action
Actions that were happening for a period.
One action was in progress when another stopped it.
We were staying with my aunt.
We were waiting for class when they told us.

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CHAPTER 2
Past Continuous: Simultaneous Actions
Describe two or more actions happening at the same time in the past.
Two Actions at Once
Same Subject, Two Actions
Different subjects, same time.
You can shorten the second part.
The boy was playing while his sister was singing.
I was trying to make myself understood, crying with
laughter.
Remember: Avoid using the Past Continuous with state verbs.