Past verb tenses are verb tenses that describe events that have already happened. There are three main past verb tenses in English: past simple, past continuous, and past perfect.

Past Simple

The past simple is used to describe events that started and finished in the past. It is formed using the base form of the verb and adding -ed for regular verbs.

For example:

  • I walked to the store. (walked is the past simple form of the verb “walk”)
  • She cooked dinner for us. (cooked is the past simple form of the verb “cook”)

We use the past simple to describe:

  • Complete actions in the past
  • Habits in the past
  • Past states

For example:

  • I visited my grandparents every summer. (habit in the past)
  • She lived in London for two years. (past state)

Past Continuous

The past continuous is used to describe events that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It is formed using the past simple form of the verb “to be” (was/were) and the present participle (-ing form) of the verb.

For example:

  • I was walking to the store. (walking is the present participle of the verb “walk”)
  • She was cooking dinner for us. (cooking is the present participle of the verb “cook”)

We use the past continuous to describe:

  • Interruptions in the past
  • Longer actions in progress at a specific time in the past
  • Two actions happening at the same time in the past

For example:

  • I was watching TV when the phone rang. (interruption in the past)
  • She was studying for her exams when I arrived. (longer action in progress at a specific time in the past)
  • We were having a party while the neighbors were having a barbecue. (two actions happening at the same time in the past)

Past Perfect

The past perfect is used to describe events that happened before a specific time in the past. It is formed using the past simple form of the verb “to have” (had) and the past participle form of the verb.

For example:

  • I had walked to the store before you arrived. (walked is the past participle of the verb “walk”)
  • She had cooked dinner for us before we arrived. (cooked is the past participle of the verb “cook”)

We use the past perfect to describe:

  • Events that happened before a specific time in the past
  • A completed action before another action in the past

For example:

  • She had already finished her homework before I arrived. (event that happened before a specific time in the past)
  • I had eaten dinner before I went to bed. (completed action before another action in the past)