Thanks to Isabel Bastida

• Past Simple

• Past Continuous

• Past Perfect

• Past Perfect Continuous

• Time conjunctions.

Short and quickly finished actions, longer situations and repeated events in the past.

Peter threw a stone and broke a car window last night.

I spent all my childhood in Scotland

Every summer Rachel fell in love. (Used to/ Would)

It’s (high) time + past simple

We are destroying the planet. It’s (high) time we did something about it.

My shoes are falling apart. It’s (high) time I bought a new pair.

I would rather (I prefer)Compare:I’d rather be a vegetarian.I’d rather you didn’t eat so much meat.

I’d rather stay a little longer.I’d rather you could stay longer.

Different subjects past simple in 2nd clause.

Distancing

I wanted to speak to the manager.

I wondered if I could return this item without the receipt.

Did you want some cream with your coffee, sir?

They were quarrelling the whole time they were together

Action in progress during a period of time

What were you doing at eight o’clock yesterday evening?

We were getting ready to go out.

1. Background actions (AS, WHILE, WHEN, etc.)

As I was walking down the road, I saw Bill.

The phone rang while I was having a bubble bath.

The crowd was cheering them up. Photographers were jostling each other for the best positions. Suddenly a woman screamed.

2. Repeated and unexpected events (frequency adverb)

Aunt Mary was always turning up without warning and bringing us loads of presents.

* Some verbs do not exist in the continuous form.

I wondered who had left the door open with the keys in the lock.

After I told/ wondered/ thought

When I arrived at the party, they had just set fire to the sparklers.

AS/WHILE/ WHEN As/ While/ When I was watching a horror movie, I heard a noise outside.

As/ While/When I was slaving away, my brother was chilling out.

BEFORE/ AFTER Before we left, I (had) filled up with petrol.I (had) filled up with petrol before we left.

After I (had) filled up with petrol, we left.We left after I (had) filled up with petrol.

AS SOON AS(immediately after)

As soon as he went/had gone outside, it started raining.It started raining as soon as he went/had gone outside.

BY THE TIME By the time the police arrived, the robbers had run away.The robbers had run away by the time the police arrived.