LESSON 4, THE PAST TENSE
What Is the Past Tense?
The past tense describes a past event or a state of being. For example:
I jumped in the lake.
(past event)
I was happy.
(past state of being)
Examples of the Types of Past Tenses :-
The past tense is categorized further depending on whether the action was in progress or has been completed. The four past tenses are:
The 4 Past Tenses |
Examples |
Uses |
Simple Past Tense |
I went. I wrote a letter to my friends. |
The simple past tense is used to describe a completed activity that started in the past and ended in the past. |
Past Continuous Tense |
I was going. He was communicating in effective English to impress his friends. |
The past continuous tense is used to describe an activity that was continuing in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action. |
Past Perfect Tense |
I had gone. When we reached the station the train had departed. |
The past perfect tense is normally used to emphasize an action that was completed before another took place. |
past perfect progressive |
I had been going. She had been painting the door before the dog scratched it. |
The past perfect continuous tense is used to show that an on-going action in the past has ended. |