Past Perfect & Past Continuous

Past Perfect & Past Continuous

Past Progressive or Continuous

It is used in a narrative context to set the scene and give background information

When I got the trade fair, it was still early. Some of the exhibitors were setting up their stands and others were unpacking their publicity materials.

Structure

• Verb to be in past (was / were) + -ing form of the action verb

• I was working / He was writing an email / they were looking for a definition

Negative & Questions

• was / were + not + ing verb

• I was not paying attention / I wasn't paying attention

• Questions: was/were + noun + ing verb

• Was she paying attention?

Past Continuous

Past Perfect

It is used when we are already talking about the past and want to refer to an earlier action, event or state.

Both actions happened in the past

I had already bought a coffee when I went to the office.

We use the Past Perfect to describe the action that happened first then simple past to describe the following action.

Structure

• You need verb had (to have in past tense) + action verb in Past participle

• I had studied very hard

• She had studied very hard

• We had studied very hard

Negative & Questions

• had + not + past participle verb

• She had not done the exam / She hadn't done the exam

• Had + noun + past participle verb

• Had she done the exam?