Past Perfect

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 426.

While, when, as, all morning/evening/day/night, etc.

Past Continuous

Yesterday, then, when, How long ago ...?, last night week/month/year/Tuesday, etc., three days/ weeks, etc. ago, In 1997, etc.

We use the past continuous:

• for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started or finished.

Iwas watching the football game on TV at 8 o'clock last night.

• for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action).

We were playing Scrabble when the lights went out.

• for two or more simultaneous actions.

Natalie was flyingher kite while her sister wasriding her bicycle.

• to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc., and give background information to a story.

The sun was shiningand the birds were singingthat summer morning in Nashville. Emily was gettingready for work and Joe was makingpancakes for the children.

Time expressions we use with the past continuous:

We use the past perfect:

• for an action which happened before another past action or before a stated time in the past. They had tidiedtheir room by the time their parents arrived,(before another action)

She had cookeddinner by six o'clock,(before a stated time)

• for an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past.

Frank had washedthe car, so the ground around

it was wet.

Note:The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.

She wasupset because she had losther purse.

(The action took place in the past and the result was visible in the past.)

She isupset because she has losther purse.

(The action took place in the past but the result is visible in the present.)

Time expressions we use with the past perfect: