Past Perfect Tense. Use #1: A Completed Action Before Something in the Past The past perfect is used to describe the idea that something happened before another action in the past. We can also use it to describe the idea that something happened before a specific time in the past. Example: I was late for work…
Past Continuous Tense. Use #4: Temporary Habits or Habits that Happen More Often than we Expect in the Past We use the past continuous (often with words such as “always”, “constantly” and “forever”) to talk about habits that started and finished in the past and also to convey irritation (similarly with present continuous). Example: He was…
Past Continuous Tense. Use #3: Parallel Actions We use the past continuous to describe two actions occurring at the same time in the past. Example: I was reading the newspaper while he was making dinner. – Я читала газету, пока он готовил ужин. Example: What were you doing while you were waiting? –Чем вы занимались, пока ждали?
Past Continuous Tense. Use #2: The Background of a Story We use the past continuous to describe the background of a story or to create the atmosphere in the story. Example: When I arrived at the restaurant, people were chatting, eating and some were even having an argument. One man was talking loudly on the phone…
Past Continuous Tense. Use #1: An Interrupted Action in the Past We use the past continuous when we describe an action in the past which overlaps another action or time. The action in the past continuous starts before and often continues the other shorter action or time. Example: While we were walking in the park, it started to…
Past Simple Tense. Use #4: Practices in the Past The simple past can also be used to describe a practice which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as “used to.” To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I…
Past Simple Tense. Use #3: Duration in the Past The past simple can be used with a duration, which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc. Example: They sat at the beach all day.…
Past Simple Tense. Use 2: A Series of Completed Actions We use the simple past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on. Example: I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.- Я закончил работу, пошел на пляж…
Past Simple Tense. Use 1: Completed Action in the Past Use the simple past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind. Example: I was at the gym…
Present Perfect Continuous Tense. Use 3: Remember Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using present perfect continuous with these verbs, you must use present perfect. Incorrect: Sam has been having his car for two…