Past Tenses

For actions that happened or finished at a definite time in the past we use

• Past Perfect

• Past Simple

• Past Continuous

For actions that were in pogress at a stated time in th past we use

• Past Simple

• Past Perfect

• Past Continuous

For actions that happened before a stated time or another action in the past we use

• Past simple

• Past Perfect

• Past Perfect Continuous

For emphasis on the duration of an action which stated and finished before another past action or a stated time in the past we use

• Past Perfect Continuous

• Present Perfect Continuous

• Past Continuous

For actions happened immidiately one after another we use

• Past Perfect Continuous

• Past Continuous

• Past Simple

First we had dinner, then we...... the magazine.

• read

• were reading

• had read

The Rosens .... abroad for five years before they moved back to France.

• worked

• had worked

• were working

Ann was making the beds while Mark ..... the floor.

• was cleaning

• cleaned

• has beeh cleaning

Nick ......his office by the time it stated to snow heavily.

• reached

• was reaching

• had reached

She was very tired because she ...... for her exams all night.

• prepared

• was preparing

• had been preparing