Simple Past
Past Perfect

action in the past taking place once, never or several times
action taking place before a certain time in the past

actions in the past taking place one after the other
sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive

action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
puts emphasis only on the fact (not the duration or course of the action)


Questions in Past Perfect Simple
Complete the questions in Past Perfect Simple.
(what / Bob / do)
that he was kept in after school?
(you / eat)
anything before you went to the theatre?
(he / live)
in London before he moved to Glasgow?
(she / find)
a new job by that time?
(they / book)
a room before they went to Dublin?
(how often / you / ring)
the bell before he answered the door?
(why / they / have)
dinner before they came to the party?
(Carly / wash)
the dishes when her mum came home?
(you / read)
the contract before you signed it?
(who / live)
in the house before we moved in?
The storm destroyed the sandcastle that we (build)
.
He (not / be)
to Cape Town before 1997.
When she went out to play, she (do / already)
her homework.
My brother ate all of the cake that our mum (make)
.
The doctor took off the plaster that he (put on)
six weeks before.
The waiter brought a drink that I (not / order)
.
I could not remember the poem we (learn)
the week before.
The children collected the chestnuts that (fall)
from the tree.
(he / phone)
Angie before he went to see her in London?
She (not / ride)
a horse before that day.
English Tenses – Graphic Comparison
Problems with the English tenses? Have a look at the time line, it might help you understand when to use which tense. As there is a similarity between past, present and future tenses, there are just a few rules to keep in mind.
If you know how to use the present progressive correctly to express present actions, you will as well be able to use the past progressive correctly to express past actions.
→ Legend


Legend

moment in time
action that takes place once, never or several times
actions that happen one after another
actions that suddenly take place


period of time
action that started before a certain moment and lasts beyond that moment
actions taking place at the same time


Result
action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the result


Course / Duration
action taking place before a certain moment in time
puts emphasis on the course or duration of the action

English Tenses – Examples
 
Explanation
Past
Present
Future

 
Simple Past
Simple Present
Future I Simple



action that takes place once, never or several times
He played football every Tuesday.
He plays football every Tuesday.
He will / is going to play football every Tuesday.


actions that happen one after another
He played football and then he went home.
He plays football and then he goes home.
He will play football and then he will go home.


state
He loved football.
He loves football.
He will love football.

 
Past Progressive
Present Progressive
Future I Progressive



action going on at that moment
He was playing football.
He is playing football.
He will be playing football.


actions taking place at the same time
He was playing football and she was watching.
He is playing football and she is watching.
He will be playing football and she will be watching.

 
Past Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Future II Simple



action taking place before a certain moment in time; emphasises the result
He had won five matches until that day.
He has won five matches so far.
He will have won five matches by then.

 
Past Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive
Future II Progressive



action taking place before a certain moment in time (and beyond), emphasises the duration
He had been playing football for ten years.
He has been playing football for ten years.
He will have been playing football for ten years.


Use
Simple Past
Present Perfect

action in the past taking place once, never or several times
action that stopped recently or is still going on

actions in the past taking place one after the other
finished action that has