Narrative Tenses

We use the (…) to describe the main events of a story, in the order they happened.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (…) to describe a short action that interrupts a longer action in the past continuous.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (…) to describe a longer or background action around a certain time.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (…) to describe a longer action interrupted by a short action in the past simple.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (…) to describe a completed action that happened before another time in the past.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (…) with sequencing expressions (when, after, by the time, as soon as) when one event happened before another event.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We use the (...) instead of the past perfect when we want to talk about a longer action that continued until another past action.

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

We form the (…) with had + been + verb(-ing)

• past simple

• past continuous

• past perfect

• past perfect continuous

Past simple, past perfect simple or past perfect continuous.

By the time our meal arrived we ___ (wait) for an hour and a half.

• had been waiting

• waited

• had waited

Past simple, past perfect simple or past perfect continuous.

My parents ___ (not believe) me when I told them I ___ (pass) every one of my exams.

• didn't believe / had passed

• didn't believe / passed

• had believed / passed