Complete Guide to Past Tenses - English Grammar
Master all four past tenses with this simple guide. Perfect for Class 5-8 students. Learn when to use each past tense with clear examples and timelines.
1. Past Tenses at a Glance
| Tense | Formula | Main Use | Example | Time Visual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | S + V2 | Completed past action | I played yesterday. | ● [action] ● (single dot) |
| Past Continuous | S + was/were + V-ing | Ongoing past action | I was playing at 5 PM. | ─────[action]───── (ongoing line) |
| Past Perfect | S + had + V3 | Past before past | I had played before he came. | ● [1st] ● [2nd] ● (two events) |
| Past Perfect Continuous | S + had been + V-ing | Ongoing before past | I had been playing for hours. | ────────[action]───● (ongoing to point) |
2. Past Simple Tense
| Form | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Subjects | I played | I did not play | Did I play? |
| He/She/It | He played | He did not play | Did he play? |
When to Use:
- Completed action: I finished my work.
- Past habit: She walked to school.
- Series of actions: I woke up, brushed, and left.
- Historical events: India became independent in 1947.
Signal Words: yesterday, last week, ago, in 2020, when I was young
3. Past Continuous Tense
| Subject | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| I/He/She/It | I was playing | I was not playing |
| You/We/They | They were playing | They were not playing |
When to Use:
- Ongoing past action: I was studying at 8 PM.
- Interrupted action: I was sleeping when he called.
- Two simultaneous actions: While I was cooking, she was cleaning.
- Atmosphere description: The sun was shining, birds were singing.
4. Past Perfect Tense
Past Perfect shows which action happened FIRST when two past actions are mentioned:
| Situation | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| First action | I had eaten before he arrived. | Eating → Arriving (eating first) |
| Conditional | If I had studied, I would have passed. | Unreal past condition |
| Reported speech | She said she had finished. | Past of past |
5. Signal Words Guide
| Past Simple | Past Continuous | Past Perfect | Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|---|
| yesterday ago last night in 2020 |
while when as at 5 PM |
before after already by the time |
for hours since morning all day how long |
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| I was go to market. | I went to market. | Simple past for completed |
| When I called, he ate. | When I called, he was eating. | Ongoing action = Continuous |
| He came after I leave. | He came after I had left. | First action = Past Perfect |
| I was waiting since 2 PM. | I had been waiting since 2 PM. | Duration before past = Past Perfect Continuous |
7. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
1. I ______ (go) to Delhi last month.
2. She ______ (sleep) when I called.
3. They ______ (finish) work before we arrived.
4. He ______ (study) for 3 hours when the light went.
5. We ______ (play) cricket every Sunday in childhood.
📝 Practice Past Tenses
Test with our 20-question worksheet!
Download Past Tenses WorksheetIncludes answer key • Printable PDF
8. Memory Aids
Simple = Finished
Yesterday, ago, last = Past Simple
Continuous = Was happening
While, when, at 5 PM = Past Continuous
Perfect = Past before past
Before, after, already = Past Perfect
Exam Tip: Look for TWO past actions? Use Past Perfect for the FIRST one.
"He came after I ______ (eat)" → "had eaten" (eating happened first)
