1. PAST SIMPLE
a. For completed actions in the past.
b. Tell the
main events of the story in the order that they happened.
One day,
one of the sailors went for a drive in the cut back, and accidentally ran over
a kangaroo.
2. PAST CONTINUOUS
a. For a longer action that was
in progress when another (shorter) action happened.
While
the sailor was taking some photos, the kangaroo came round.
b. For background information that
isn’t part of the main story.
In 1987
the world’s best sailors were competing in the coast of Fremantel.
c. When two longer actions are happening at the same time.
While I
was watching TV, she was making dinner.
We often
use when, while, an as
in the Past Continuous
He
phoned me when/while/as I was getting ready to leave.
3. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE (PPS)
a. For an action
that was completed before
another action in the past
The
insurance company told the police what had happened.
b. If the order of past events is
clear, we don’t usually use PPS
I woke
up, got dressed, and made some breakfast. (Past Simple)
c. When we
are telling a story,
we don’t have to use the PPS every time we refer to something further in the past. When we have
established the time, we can use the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.
I started telling everyone about the wedding I had been to in Mexico two years earlier. My sister was getting married and I arrived late for the ceremony. When I got there …
d. Can use
by the time, when, because, so, before, after, as soon as, and until to make sentences with the Past Perfect.
By the
time I got there, most people had gone home.
e. Don’t
have to use the Past Perfect with because, so, before, after, as
soon as, or until because the order of events in usually clear.
I < had
> called her before I left the office.
I waited
until everybody < had > left.
f. Often
use the Past Perfect after knew, realized, thought, forgot, and remembered.
I knew
that she had been looking for a new job.
I
realized that I had left my keys in the office.
4. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
For a longer action that started before another action in
the past (and often continued up to this past action).
A man
had been searching for a biscuit and eventually he bought a box of 24.
Example:
I was feeling bored one
morning last week so I decided
to go on a nearby lake.
While I was driving there, I saw a man lying at the
side of the road.
I stopped the car and got out to see if he was all right.
The man
explained that he had been
running along the road and then suddenly collapsed.
He
didn’t remember how long he
had been lying there, but he thought that he had broken his leg.
I helped him into the car
and took him to the
nearest hospital.
I stayed there because I wanted to see if he was all right.
After I had been waiting for an
hour and a half, the doctor came
and told me that the man had
had a heart attack and I saved his life.
Note:
I woke up, had a bath ( a shower ), got dressed, had breakfast, then went for work.
I arrived late for the ceremony.
I was late for work.
