Past Tenses

Look at the tenses in bold then try to match them with their functions.

1) He graduated from university last year. (Past simple)
2) She was walking to work when I saw her. (Past continuous)
3) He had never seen snow until he visited Scotland. (Past perfect)
4) I had been living there for three months before I met Claire. (Past perfect continuous)

Which of these actions:

1. happened before another past action with emphasis on continuation.
2. happened at a specific time in the past.
3. happened before another past action.
4. was in progress at a certain time in the past.

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It is important to look at the time adverbials (linking time words and phrases) as these can help you understand the function (use) the tense has.

Peter had been working for the same company for ten years before he resigned.

They had been looking for a flat for six months before they found the right one.

We were watching a horror film when the lights went out.
While we were watching a horror film the lights went out.

Until last week I hadn’t been to London since 2009.

I was preparing the drinks while Sally was cooking.

Lesson by Tristan

Now choose the correct tense for these sentences:

• 1 When he ___ (arrive) home he realised that he ___ (leave) the TV on.
  
  had arrived - has left
  arrived - had left
  
  
• 2 He ___ (walk) home when he ___ (see) the accident.
  
  was walking - saw
  walked - was seeing
  
  
• 3 Tom ___ (already order) before we ___ (arrive) at the restaurant.
  
  already - had arrived
  had already ordered - arrived
  
  
• 4 He ___ (have) a shower when the lights ___ (go) out.
  
  was having - went
  had - were going
  
  
• 5 They ___ (live) there for fifteen years before they ___ (build) a pool in the garden.
  
  lived - had built
  had been living - built
  
  
• 6 Jane ___ (chat) to her friends on line while Tom ___ (watch) the football on TV.
  
  chatting - watched
  was chatting - was watching
  
  
• 7 I ___ (not have) breakfast this morning because I ___ (wake up) late.
  
  didn't have - woke up
  hadn't have - had woken up
  
  
• 8 She ___ (work) there for thirty years before she ___ (retire).
  
  had worked - was retiring
  had been working - retired