Past Simple vs Past Continuous vs Past Perfect

Exercises

Explanation

1. Past Simple

The Past Simple is used to describe completed actions or events that took place at a definite point in the past. These actions are viewed as finished, and the exact time—whether stated or implied—is usually important for understanding the context.

Typical time markers: yesterday, last month, in 2015, three days ago, on Monday, earlier today

Form

• Affirmative: V2 (regular verbs add -ed; irregular verbs use their second form)

• Negative: didn’t + V1

• Questions: Did + subject + V1?

Examples

• I completed the project last Friday.

• She didn’t attend the meeting yesterday.

• Did you visit the new museum last weekend?

2. Past Continuous

The Past Continuous describes actions that were in progress at a particular moment in the past. It highlights the duration or background of an event rather than its completion. This tense is especially useful for showing context around another action or for describing two actions happening simultaneously.

We use it for:
A. An action in progress at a specific time in the past
B. Two or more actions occurring at the same time
C. A longer action that was interrupted by a shorter action (usually in the Past Simple)

Typical time markers: at 7 p.m., while, when, all morning, during the afternoon, at that moment

Form

• Affirmative: was/were + verb-ing

• Negative: wasn’t/weren’t + verb-ing

• Questions: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?

Examples

• At 10 a.m., I was preparing a presentation for the conference.

• They were having dinner when the lights went out.

• While the students were working on the task, the teacher was checking their homework.

3. Past Perfect

The Past Perfect is used to show that one past action occurred before another past action. It creates a sense of sequence and helps clarify the order of events, especially when the timeline might otherwise be confusing. The earlier action is expressed in the Past Perfect, and the later action is generally in the Past Simple.

Typical time markers: before, after, by the time, already, just, until then

Form

• Affirmative: had + V3

• Negative: hadn’t + V3

• Questions: Had + subject + V3?

Examples

• She had submitted the application before the deadline closed.

• They hadn’t seen the announcement by the time we called them.

• Had you studied the topic before the class began?

4. Quick Comparison

5. Summary

• Use Past Simple to refer to a finished action at a specific past time.

• Use Past Continuous to describe an ongoing past action, often providing background or showing an interruption.

• Use Past Perfect to indicate the earlier of two past events, establishing a clear sequence in the past.