Past simple vs past continuous vs past perfect

We use this tense to talk about past finished actions.

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

We use this tense to talk about actions in chronological order in a story.

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

We use this tense to talk about habits in the past.

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

We use this tense to talk about situations that started and finished in the past (duration).

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

We use this tense to talk about actions in progress at some point in the past.

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

We use this tense to talk about events that happened earlier in the past.

• Simple past

• Simple present

• Past continuous

• Past perfect

PAST FINISHED ACTIONS

We ______ (arrive) last Friday.

• arrive

• arrived

• would have arrived

• are arriving

ACTIONS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

He ______ (open) the door, _____ (walk) into the room and saw him.

• opens, walks

• opened, walked

• opens, walked

• has opened, walked

HABITS IN THE PAST

Sarah always _____ (arrive) on time when she was still going to school.

• arrives

• arrived

• are arriving

• arrive

SITUATIONS THAT STARTED AND FINISHED IN THE PAST (Duration)

I ______ (play) football for twenty years.

• play

• played

• have been playing

• was playing