Past Tenses

We use the past simple for (a)   actions in the past.

We use the past continuous for actions (a)   at a time in the past.

We use the past perfect for actions completed (a)   another time or action in the past.

Match the following

• Past perfect

• Once he was travelling by 'bikecar' when a speeding car knocked him out of his vehicle.

• Past continuous

• He rode a tandem bike with a friend from Vancouver to Las Vegas in 2011.

• Past simple

• Before that journey, he had not swum more than 100 meters at one time.

They ___ hours in the car by the time they ___ at the station.

• spent/arrived

• had spent/had arrived

• had spent/arrived

• spent/had arrived

Something ___ to the engine before the plane ___ off.

• had happened/took

• happened/took

• happened/ had taken

• had happened/had taken

I ___ my grandmother to drive because she ___ her glasses.

• don't want/forgot

• didn't wanted/had forgotten

• didn't want/had forgotten

• haven't wanted/has forgotten

The roads ___ dangerous because it ___ the night before.

• are/had rained

• are/rained

• was/had rained

• were/had rained

Match the following

• I was packing the rucksack.

• While Sophia was making sandwiches...

• because she had fallen asleep on the station.

• I was listening to my MP3 player...

• when my friend called.

• The boys cycled home...

• when I arrived at her house.

• She was talking to a neighbor

• as soon as they heard the news.

• She missed her station...

While he ​ (a)   his bike to school he ​ (b)   an accident.

• was riding
• saw
• rode
• ride
• see
• was seeing