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.
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