Simultaneous and sequential past actions: review and expansion

Use ____________ to describe two simultaneous completed past actions

• the simple past tense

• the past perfect tense

Use _____________ to describe two sequential completed past actions, especially when context clarifies the order of occurrence.

• the past continuous

• the simple past tense

Use the simple past tense and _______________ to describe two sequential completed past actions.

• the present perfect

• the past perfect

Use _____________ to describe two simultaneous actions in progress at a time or during a period of time in the past.

• the past continuous

• the simple past tense

Use ______________ to focus on the fact that one past action was already in progress before another one occurred. It often emphasizes the duration of the action.

• the past perfect

• the past perfect continuous